Well Done! Mr. C....I used 2 ten bore Parkers this season for waterfowling a 30" T0 toplever and a 36" GH, both #3 frames. I used #4 bismuth handloads in Federal cases and #2 bismuth with 4 1/2 drams of FFG in RMC cases. Both were 1 3/8 oz loads and both worked well. Destry shot his new W&C Scott Bogardus Club Gun last Friday in MD as well. The old timers were very concerned with "penetration". This equates to mass and velocity. The use of lighter than lead non-toxics does not help the former so I tend to not scrimp on the powder side. Destry and I are after all followers of Robert Ruark's dictum...Use Enough Gun...

We would like to hear a report on the Chestertown shoot, Don. Remember, this is a "gun site" and we would like to hear about the guns and performance as well as the weather. Was it under or over 80 degrees F in the middle of the day?

The sun was warm, the skies clear, and the geese spooky. We finally managed a limit but it was an all day affair. We did get to hunt over the biggest rig of stuffers I've ever personally shot over, that was fun to say the least.

I shot the Bogardus Club Gun with a Jotsam Monte Carlo leather comb raiser that I borrowed from Don. For ammo it was the new RST NiceShot 1 3/8 ounce shells that I've been testing.

Don was using his Fox HE Buckingham Tribute gun with 3 inch bismuth BB loads.

Davis had his BH 12 bore and some Kent TM 1 3/8 ounce of #3 shells that he's borrowed from me.

The Colonel was shooting some sort of camoflage automatic with god knows what for ammo. He's a fine fella but his choice of guns sometimes makes me wonder.

DeHo, you young wippersnapper, you should have more respect...The Colonel was using a Benelli Super Black Eagle II with Remington Wingmaster HD #4s. His age and health make the light but light recoiling SBE an excellent choice (as opposed to the 25 double guns he leaves at home...). I am an owner of a LH version of same. If I had to earn a living waterfowling, I would use nothing else...

Judging from the angle of gun to ground, I'm thinking final approach - feet deployed wings flapping to stop the glide. Perfect for head/neck to keep breast undisturbed for one of many fine recipes. A bird dropped in the decoys makes for short retrieves. Nice shot (camera and Parker). Face paint and plastic guns not for me thanks, but I may have to check out BP hunting. :)
Cheers,
Jack

Kaas,

I understood about the gun really, but I still don't like 'em. Though I suppose if Nash could go to a light autoloader late in life, I shouldn't fault the Colonel.

He's certainly a fine companion in the field and has good stories to tell. It's always a pleasure to be out with him.


DeHo

Hi everyone and thanks for the replies. Yes, it was final approach and the toll was a real beauty but had a number of great tolls that day. I have 2 additional 10ga top levers that are eagerly waiting to be used next year...I cant wait... :)

I learned a few things on loading BP and was confirmed by others in the thread above.

- I went with the "heavy BP load" for 10ga. I was just a wee bit shy of 4.5 dr #2F BP. I had the gun is in great shape and was checked for functionality by my gunsmith.
- As mentioned above, I used niceshot #2 which performed well at short range.

One question for the group, I did not use a shotcup in these loads and went traditional with CircleFly. Would I get a better pattern if I added a shot cup?

KCordell: go to this site if you haven't already for good info on BP shotshells: http://www.tbullock.com/bpsg.html

Seems I've read that BP burns too hot and melts the shotcup bases. I'm sure someone else will chime in on this one.

Thanks Sir. Yes, I have read this sight numerous times and is kind of the Bible for BP shotgunning IMHO. Others have recommended using the shotcup hence my question to the board.

A shot cup may tighten your patterns up to 90% at 40 Yard's. I find that # 4 shot [ nice shot] like Elmer Keith, pattern's on theses super ten's the best all around. I use it on ducks and geese, at first not by choice, but by patterning them and the results I've had on birds I would highly recommend them a try.