NOT A FINE DOUBLE BUT FINE FOR M E

[Steve Hodges]

So a recent issue with my right rotator cuff had me thinking that I could not shoot at Hausmann's next week. I would be relegated to pulling for my friends. But last week I had a thought when thinking about shooting my .410 turkey hunting this spring and not feeling any recoil from it. Maybe I could shoot a .410 at Hausmann's! But two issues. I did not own a .410 double, and I have never shot one at clays. The first I could solve, and the second will remain unsolved until I try it. So while on my quest for an inexpensive .410 double my friend from this forum, Clark, mentioned that Weatherby was making a .410 double called the Orion. Some internet research reveled that many reviewers liked the gun for the price point and that it had some good features. Well I ordered one last Saturday and it arrive at my FFL yesterday. Another issue. The LOP was 14 3/4", way longer than my 14 1/4" LOP. So a quick call to my gunsmith friend, Chet Matheson of White Mountain Classics, solved that issue at he said if I could get him the gun and a pad ASAP he would do the work for me. Great. But I had no pad. A trip to Clairmont, NH, to New England Custom Guns solved that. I purchased on of there pads they have made for them in Germany. Arrived at Chet's at 3:00 PM yesterday, and picked up my finished gun today at 11:00 Am.
Of course Chet did his usual great work and the gun looked very good. Now to the gun. It has 28" barrels with five extended choke tubes. Not usual for a SxS but not a deal breaker. Weatherby says they did that because Steel patterns better out of extended tubes and they wanted their guns to be suited to hunt upland areas where non toxic shot was required. There is a swamped rib, English stock with simple hand cut checkering, pretty decent Turkish walnut, articulated double triggers with very nice pulls, just over 5 lbs, and a matt finish. The gun weighs 6.1 Lbs, which does not feel whippy when you swing it. All for a whopping $975 delivered to my FFL. The jury is still out if I can hit a clay with it, but at least I can now shoot, and trying will be fun.

[Harold Pickens]

Great, we will see you there, Steve.

[Rick Roemer]

Good deal. The bonus is you have something to blame your misses on. Genius!

[David Noble]

Originally Posted by Rick Roemer

The bonus is you have something to blame your misses on. Genius!

What part does she play in this?

[J. Scott Hanes]

What are the stock dimensions on this little beauty? DAC, DAH.

[Steve Hodges]

Originally Posted by J. Scott Hanes

What are the stock dimensions on this little beauty? DAC, DAH.

DAH 2 1/4", DAC 1 1/2"

[Double Lab]

Looks like a lovely addition to your stable Steve. You may never go back to shooting a 12 or a 20 again once you find out how much fun you are having.

[Keith Doty]

The .410 may humble you, it did me.

[Cold Spring]

Good move Steve and a good choice on the Weatherby.

I had a cataract removed back in March and during my recovery period I decided to shoot my 410 Browning o/u to restart shooting but with low recoil. She’s a 725 with 30” tubes and I typically have (2) flush mount Mod choke tubes in it. I shot mostly 2-1/2” AA’s and about (10) 3-inch Federals on really far out clays for a total of 100. I don’t remember my exact score but it was only about 5 birds behind our high man that day with his Perazzi MX2000 in 12-gauge. A well fitted 410 can do wonders on a typical sporting course.

Actually I had some more recent surgery and am restricted on lifting with my left arm for two more weeks, and with Ernie’s approval I may shoot my 410 just for fun at Hausmann’s. I'm a right shoulder shooter and I won't shoot any overhead birds where I have to hold high with that left arm. Then I'm planning to stretch it to do some limited shooting at the Bo Whoop and Letterman SBT events with the 12 bores. Again if the birds aren't too high.

[Stan Hillis]

I hope you have a quick and totally successful recovery, Frank.

Fo' tens are FUN!