Dirty Barrel Bunch

[Jim Wescott]

Twas an absolutely remarkable Grand Spring Hunt for the Tenth Legion Guides!!
Truly a Target-rich environment in the northeast!!
Son Tim and I started in Rhode Island on April 24, followed by Maine April 28 & 30th. Then a quick side trip to Vermont where I started my turkey hunting obsession 44 years ago! My Rhode Island tom completed a New England slam and my 22 pound Vermont gobbler completed a mature gobbler with a Parker New England slam. PGCA member and dear friend Niles Oesterle hunted Vermont with me and passed on 13 jakes opening day! Niles return marked a 25 year absence from hunting his home state and ended my 40 year absence! What an incredible return with great friends Alex Brooks and Bill Cronin as our hosts!

[Jim Wescott]

Dear friends Lisa and Terry Smith from Nova Scotia joined us in Maine for an epic hunt! Lisa brought along Gracie Lou, a turkey dog in training!!

[Jim Wescott]

Hunting got harder as the weather turned rainy, windy and cold. Our attention turned to other pursuits but we managed to drop the hammers a couple more times! We're hoping for another great hatch of our beloved wild turkey as the Dirty Barrel Bunch will resume maneuvers over turkey dogs in the fall!

[Jim Wescott]

Parting shots

[David Livesay]

Great pictures, Thanks for sharing your hunt with us.

[Garry L Gordon]

Wonderful photos. So glad you have access to birds and good friends to chase them with. Thanks for bringing us along.

[Rick Roemer]

Great pictures and great memories with friends. What could be better?
Could you let me know when you got those slings for the lifters?
Thx

[Wayne Owens]

There is nothing better than calling in a turkey with a box call and taking the bird with a Parker hammer gun. Congratulations!

[Jones Cahill]

Great pictures and great memories with friends. What could be better?
Could you let me know when you got those slings for the lifters?
Thx

On Amazon. "no drill shotgun sling" Variety, from $10 to $55.

[Jim Wescott]

The original slings we used came from Levi's Leathers. Then we couldn't find them on their site so we went to a leather shop in Newfoundland and they used one of Levi's as a template. We carry our Parkers barrel down as the sling is apt to slip off the end when carried barrels up (don't ask how I know this as it still smarts to recall)

[Jim DiSpagno]

Great pics and equally great hunt with friends Jimmy. Did the "Space age gun" make the journey my friend?

[Jim Wescott]

Hey Jim! Yes the Space Age Parker is what Terry and I used so it saw lots of action. Son Tim uses an 1877 lifter, Lisa borrowed a 1878 lifter and Niles totes an 1881 lifter. Most birds were killed under 20 yards and with hand loaded full length brass. Terry and Lisa borrowed guns from me as their ATF forms weren't processed in time for them the bring their lifters. You played a huge part in arming the Legion, my friend!!

[Jim DiSpagno]

That's Great Jim. Enjoy the rest of the season and fishing as well

[Joseph Roth]

Details on the loads for shooting thru the "Lifters"?

Would like to get Granddad's old 1894 REM SxS out for squirrels.

[Jim Wescott]

For full length brass shells: 3 1/4 drams of FF black powder, two 1/8” felt wads, 1 1/8 ounce of shot (for turkey 5s, 5.5s or 5/6 blend) topped with two 11 gauge overshot cards then sealed with clear Elmers glue. Same load for paper except they are pre-cut to 2 5/8” and roll crimped to finish (no glue necessary) I sourced all the components through Ballistic Products and I’m always on the prowl for full length brass. Some of our lifters are quite finicky about the brass so I some shells get reloaded over and over while others wait their turn. I believe the thicket walled brass are As and thinner are Bs and the Bs chamber in the finicky guns. Lots of bore snaking during the season with a very through cleaning at the end. I find acetone does the best in these old barrels and I use peanut oil after dry swabbing. Hope this helps and good luck with the squirrels! You’ve got me thinking about making a Brunswick Stew!

[Steve McCarty]

Details on the loads for shooting thru the "Lifters"?

Would like to get Granddad's old 1894 REM SxS out for squirrels.

How do you shoot squirrels with a shotgun? How can you miss? Or do you wait for them to run and shoot them on the move? I guess that is sport. I hunt squirrels with a .22 and aim for their eye. Then you have to eat them tho. Their meat can be put in a stew....it's okay, but my wife isn't a fan, so I haven't hunted squirrels for some time now.

[Garry L Gordon]

We’re all better shots in our memories. :)

[Mike Franzen]

Hey Mr. Wescott thank you for posting about your turkey hunting. It’s good to
See Niles is still at it and Tim is using a Parker lol. I wear my Legion hat everywhere I go. Tell everybody I said hi. Keep those barrels clean my friend.