Sporting clays with a S/S

[Wes Shirah]

Thanks for the kind words Richard. It was more of a fun/charity shoot. The targets were not too difficult...Hence my score.

Funny story that relates to the thread. About 10 years ago, a really good friend got me to go shoot skeet for the first time - I was immediatley hooked. Having been a History Major and just being attracted to the nostalgia of SxS's, I eventually purchased a 12 Gauge Fox Philly "A" Grade - Mod/Full. She was choked a little tight for Skeet, but in the long run, eventualy made me a better shooter.

When my friend found out that I had bought a SxS, he was absolutley beside himself. He said things like "Everyone else shoots O/U's out here - I'd be embarassed...Your stupid.. You look like an Idiot!, Blah, blah, blah...." (He's a really good friend; we can say anything to each other. So it was no suprise that he didn't get bent outta shape when I told him he could shove his opinion right up his...). I told him about the wider shooting plane, double triggers, instant choke selection, natural feel....Nope, didn't matter, I was an Idiot.

Time went by, my skills improved and my collection of SxS's increased. Too this day I don't own a single O/U, and most probally never will. It's not that I hate them, they have just never spoken too me...You know what I mean.
Over the same period of time, my friend went through one shotgun after another - Never finding the one that he was truly satisfied with. He would buy one...two months later it was sold.

Time passed and one day he called - He wanted to shoot. Having recently gone thru a very nasty divorce, he found himself without a shotgun. Being the Truly Wonderful Friend that I am, I said "no problem...I'll lend you one of mine". Now, he assumed that I was bringing my Beretta Extrema (My goose gun). But no Sir! I brought him my 12 bore Arrieta Model 871 SxS...Wood to die for, Magnificent Engraving, Leather Covered Recoil Pad....She IS truly a beauty.

We met up at the Skeet Range. When he saw what I had brought him...Too say that he was disapointed at my selection is an understatement. He was TRULY disgusted (By the way, he's not someone you want to get cross with - Italian temper, 6'4" Tall, 290#, 3 year OL starter at Alabama).

Many expletives later, and after some coaxing, I finally got him out on the Skeet Field.

GUESS WHAT? I had N...E...V...E...R seen him shoot as well as he did that day. From the beginning, no matter the station, target after target disentegrated into Orange Powder. Both he and I were truly amazed at the improvement in his shooting. Halfway thru the first round, double triggers were no loner an issue. Time and time again...POOF....Orange Dust.

Too this day, when we shoot; Skeet, Sporting Clays or a Continental Pheasant Shoot, he always asks for "that SxS of yours". Of course, I on occasion will bring up how stupid I am...What an Idiot I look like. He just smiles.

A-Freaking-Mazing