Do you go afield with “hunting” or “nice” shotguns

[casey]

I use a Parker Reproduction 28ga for grouse and Remington and Browning 10 and 12ga for waterfowl. I dont abuse any gun but I use them.

 

[BAY]

16ga AYA #2 in the uplands. 12ga SBE2 and 28ga SBE3 in the marsh.

 

[Kdgj]

I try to use a vintage Brit shotgun when I go out. If it’s miserable weather I won’t go hunting for birds.

A 12 gauge Dickson.

A 16 gauge H&H.
Ken

 

[Old3Toe]

No room for safe queens

 

[steve white]

Funny how I don't mind putting normal wear on a nice shotgun, but find myself really babying the nicer rifles. (I cringe when I read of Sir Samuel Baker wearing 1/2 inch off his buttstock by beating back brush with it as he went through the Veld) Upshot is I will never hesitate to take a nice shotgun out, even in weather.

 

[Hagler.450Ex]

I go with the nicest I own. We only have this short time here. Not bothered with how they look after I hand them down, because I won't be here, and definitely won't be worried about it.
Plus, some honest wear adds character.
It's odd how, when I get a new rifle/shotgun, I'm scared to get the first little nick or scratch on the wood, but after some time with it in the field, the character grows and you no longer think of it. But those first few times are like walking on needles.

 

[Ridge Runner]

I go with the nicest I own. We only have this short time here. Not bothered with how they look after I hand them down, because I won't be here, and definitely won't be worried about it.
Plus, some honest wear adds character.
It's odd how, when I get a new rifle/shotgun, I'm scared to get the first little nick or scratch on the wood, but after some time with it in the field, the character grows and you no longer think of it. But those first few times are like walking on needles.

+1. Use it and protect it then after that first nick, scratch, etc suddenly the firearm becomes a work horse and not so much a safe queen.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I hunt VERY hard. Nice wood wouldn't last three seasons. The quality Browning upland vest in this photo taken three days ago is only five years old. Already it's worn out.

 

[8 x 60]

No safe queens for me. Even in the pouring rain.

 

[DocHolliday]

Whenever it’s time to go out on a hunt using a shotgun, do you usually take what I think most people would call a gun that is far too nice to use? Maybe like a fox, holland and holland, aya, kreighoff or whatever.

Or do you take what’s considered a more typical modern hunting shotgun? Like a benelli or Winchester and the like.

Perhaps you have 2 dozen shotguns that are a mix of both where each one has a specific quarry, condition, and phase of the moon.
Secondly, does traveling to different states or countries affect this decision?

I ask because I’ve no problem trudging through the briars and rain with something with costs into the 5 figures. Although I should point out another one of my favorite shotguns to hunt with is a savage 311a worth no more than a few hundred dollars. Really it depends on my mood.

But then I have a couple friends who won’t go out to the duck blind because there’s a chance of rain and their day would be nearly ruined if so much as a drop gets on their beretta a400.

Well, I just returned from a duck hunt in the sloppy south Louisiana salt marsh.... I carried a 95 yo AH Fox AE grade 16 bore. I bought it to use it. It does little for me reposing in my safe in luxury. She's a working girl!

 

[Schüler Jumbo]

I employ dedicated waterfowl “hunting” shotguns designed to endure the rigors of inland and coastal waterfowl hunting. No problem with best quality “nice” shotguns on upland game bird hunting.

 

[Altitude sickness]

I going on the big water Friday for sea ducks. Longtails and others. I’ll be carrying my new to me plastic Benelli.

Primarily because of the shot used and choke options. It’s definitely going to get wet, beat up in the layout boat and risk of losing it make it an easy decision to leave the SxS’s home.

 

[HankBuck]

Whenever it’s time to go out on a hunt using a shotgun, do you usually take what I think most people would call a gun that is far too nice to use? Maybe like a fox, holland and holland, aya, kreighoff or whatever.

Or do you take what’s considered a more typical modern hunting shotgun? Like a benelli or Winchester and the like.

Perhaps you have 2 dozen shotguns that are a mix of both where each one has a specific quarry, condition, and phase of the moon.
Secondly, does traveling to different states or countries affect this decision?

I ask because I’ve no problem trudging through the briars and rain with something with costs into the 5 figures. Although I should point out another one of my favorite shotguns to hunt with is a savage 311a worth no more than a few hundred dollars. Really it depends on my mood.

But then I have a couple friends who won’t go out to the duck blind because there’s a chance of rain and their day would be nearly ruined if so much as a drop gets on their beretta a400.

@TennesseeHunter - YES, I hunt All my guns, I use them for what they were “made for”.
ie: you might Marry a lovely Virgin but do you really want to keep her that way?? Hunting with a fine firearm “consummates” your relationship with that firearm AND if you Never use it then you should get Divorced (sell it) to someone that will. So what if over the years she shows some “wear & tear” - you’ll still love her quality and have a fond memory of every “scratch-wrinkle” reminding You of adventures shared.

 

[HankBuck]

I going on the big water Friday for sea ducks. Longtails and others. I’ll be carrying my new to me plastic Benelli.

Primarily because of the shot used and choke options. It’s definitely going to get wet, beat up in the layout boat and risk of losing it make it an easy decision to leave the SxS’s home.

@Altitude sickness - for me Sea Duck hunting was usually in Salt Water and a lot of Fun (we Never lost a gun & safety/life jackets were a top priority).
The boating aspect and being a mile or more off shore is nice part of what makes Sea Duck hunting Fun AND you never know what you’re gonna see out in the Ocean. But you mention an “layout boat” so assuming you might be on a large lake? We never used layout boats Off the NJ coast as hunting in the ocean 1 to 2 miles off shore they are Not seaworthy enough for anything but flat-calm-water…..also Not needed as Sea ducks decoy readily regardless of boat (although a Layout boat certainly never hurts).
Years ago in the early season (Sept./Oct.) I’ve seen dolphin, sea turtles along with the surf & white winged scooter we expected. Old Squaw were usually more abundant in the bays then 2 miles off shore but they showed up as well. Sea Duck hunting was a lot of work and in the Ocean highly weather dependent - winds over 10-15mph caused problems and safety concerns….also very difficult to retrieve downed birds and we didn’t like our dogs in the water in white capped conditions - so we paid close attention to the Marine Weather Forecast before heading out.
I like Benelli and especially the SBE (plastic/ugly) - never minded (or noticed) a few scratches from banging around in the boat. I did always immediately “clean & oil” the gun when I got home - took apart the bolt/trigger guard/spring etc…. It seems the “spring” is most prone to rusting but that’s also easily replaced if needed.
Hope you have a great hunt - it’s really different than any other type of duck hunting. Do they have Eider where you will be hunting? Those birds seem to be extending their range South over the past 20+ years and are now off the coast of NJ.

 

[HankBuck]

View attachment 723505
View attachment 723506
View attachment 723508
View attachment 723509
I do use a Beretta auto for waterfowl

@Wyfox - Very nice photos, “magazine cover quality”…can you shoot as well as you take pictures? (I’m guessing YES)

 

[Altitude sickness]

@Altitude sickness - for me Sea Duck hunting was usually in Salt Water and a lot of Fun (we Never lost a gun & safety/life jackets were a top priority).
The boating aspect and being a mile or more off shore is nice part of what makes Sea Duck hunting Fun AND you never know what you’re gonna see out in the Ocean. But you mention an “layout boat” so assuming you might be on a large lake? We never used layout boats Off the NJ coast as hunting in the ocean 1 to 2 miles off shore they are Not seaworthy enough for anything but flat-calm-water…..also Not needed as Sea ducks decoy readily regardless of boat (although a Layout boat certainly never hurts).
Years ago in the early season (Sept./Oct.) I’ve seen dolphin, sea turtles along with the surf & white winged scooter we expected. Old Squaw were usually more abundant in the bays then 2 miles off shore but they showed up as well. Sea Duck hunting was a lot of work and in the Ocean highly weather dependent - winds over 10-15mph caused problems and safety concerns….also very difficult to retrieve downed birds and we didn’t like our dogs in the water in white capped conditions - so we paid close attention to the Marine Weather Forecast before heading out.
I like Benelli and especially the SBE (plastic/ugly) - never minded (or noticed) a few scratches from banging around in the boat. I did always immediately “clean & oil” the gun when I got home - took apart the bolt/trigger guard/spring etc…. It seems the “spring” is most prone to rusting but that’s also easily replaced if needed.
Hope you have a great hunt - it’s really different than any other type of duck hunting. Do they have Eider where you will be hunting? Those birds seem to be extending their range South over the past 20+ years and are now off the coast of NJ.

Yes, I should have clarified. Big fresh water. Michigan. Yeah winds 10-15 mph and one foot chop is about max for the low profile layouts. Sea ducks are not nearly as leery (almost seem stupid comparatively) so can be shot right from the tender boat. But there is an occasional wiley bird that’s been shot. Primarily after Old Sqaw (longtails) and Scoters, maybe bufflehead, along with other diving ducks like redheads and goldeneyes. Maybe a Harlequin

Luckily we don’t have to worry about salt. Friday the concern will be the icing up of gear.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Hopefully see a Harlequin

 

[HankBuck]

@Ontario Hunter - the nice thing about wood (at least decent straight grained wood) is that it lasts forever from a functional standpoint - just gets scratched up, checkering might flatten out…. Looks like “honest wear” and same with bluing - a gun that shows it had a Life-well-lived and just like the old hunter that carries it —- shows some age. Unlike the Hunter, the wood stock can be refinished and look Good-as-new…or if it ever cracks badly - replace it. Wood belongs attached to a gun - like a good marriage.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

@Ontario Hunter - the nice thing about wood (at least decent straight grained wood) is that it lasts forever from a functional standpoint - just gets scratched up, checkering might flatten out…. Looks like “honest wear” and same with bluing - a gun that shows it had a Life-well-lived and just like the old hunter that carries it —- shows some age. Unlike the Hunter, the wood stock can be refinished and look Good-as-new…or if it ever cracks badly - replace it. Wood belongs attached to a gun - like a good marriage.

Not if you own an old A5 and shoot it as much as I do. Both ends of the wood were designed poorly. The barrel ring that guides the recoiling barrel slams into the wooden fore end during cycling. Eventually the wood breaks down. The butt stock is held on with a tang screw through the weakest point, the wrist. Every time the gun is fired that tang screw is stressed by recoil back and action spring inside the stock shoving it back forward. Eventually the tang screw hole stretches, the stock loosens, and cracks. Black plastic is ugly but it won't crap out. And amazingly it fits me better than Browning's walnut. Looks like shit but I shoot lights out with that gun at the range or afield. Another limit of roosters yesterday in as many shots. Gotta give my Lab some credit for that though. The last two days she has set me up with points so close Helen Keller could have made the shots. Get my legs in position, safety off, unwrap some chewing gum, check my email, okay I'm ready. "Gittem out there." Boom.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

And here they are.

Lab is ten, Fr Britt is fourteen, and I'm 73. Browning A5 shotgun is sixty-four years old. Receiver anyway. Trigger group is from 1975 and barrel is 1980s. Refugees from the geriatric ward.