I shot quite well at times, though was a somewhat sporadic winner.
Win a few, lose a few. This one was my most memorable win of my career.
This was on Calcutta day, where a 28 got me into a 6 way shoot-off
The club manager saved the score sheet for the shoot-off, and had it set in this frame.
Some might recognize a couple of the names.
Attachment 123655

The grave is in Elkhart, Illinois.

I'm a buyer for any and all varieties of live pigeon shells should anybody have some for sale.

My fantasy has been to collect pigeon guns from all makers and eras. A very unrealistic goal, but a fantasy, non-the-less.
I've owned a few good ones, and sampled quite a few others in 5 bird practice races.
A couple of my favorites from the vintage era: A 32" Parker Trap gun A1-Special that was upgraded by Runge/DelGrego, and then the highly modded GHE that I posted earlier.
Another was a Westley Richards side lock that was owned by this guy that made movies. (Milius)
This was my all time favorite Brit target gun, by far!
I highly lusted after that gun, but my finances were in decline, so had to pass.
There are some pictures of that gun somewhere if I could find them.

If you make the pilgrimage to the grave, you should stop in here:

https://www.wildharecafe-elk-il.com/

O shot a little twist on boxbirds Saturday a week ago and will this coming Saturday as well . The gentleman putting the thing on is using quail instead of pigeons . It isn’t as easy as I assumed it would be . I’ve only done boxbirds four or five times of which three were with quail . Colombaire however I find a bit easier , but it matters not I’ll shoot either and happy to do so . At these quail deals that second shot isn’t mandatory . But last week I used a Rio pigeon load in the right barrel and a Fiochi nickel plated in the left barrel . This upcoming shoot I may shoot 1 1/8 ounce target loads in the right barrel .

I’ve only used two guns in the ring an actual Parker DH 12 2 frame 32” live bird gun that left the factory safety less and the VHE 12 gauge 1 1/2 frame 32” vent rib Monte Carlo trap gun that left the factory as is . So as you can see I’ve NEVER tried an O/U in the ring although I’d be quite open to a Fabbri or Bosis someone wished to give away :whistle::rotf:

Springer puppy field trials used pigeons. That about as tough as live bird shooting can get, IMHO

The thing that makes box birds so hard is first: you don't know what box they are coming out of.
Second: the birds get an electrical shock at the same time they are ejected out of the box, which gives them a five foot head start.
And third: You have 16 yards to make the kill. Dead over the fence is a lost target.
I missed a 30 straight in Louisiana because one bird died stone cold dead 3 feet over the fence.
I've shot tons of field trials, and even a couple of retriever trials with mallards, and trust me, box birds are a lot tougher!

[QUOTE=todd allen;405199]The 3 1/4 - 1 1/4 load is the Gold Standard, in my humble opinion.

Also quite possibly the finest load ever for decoying ducks before the insanity of the steel shot mandate for waterfowl hunting.

I have shot the Fabbri on birds, and even had a chance to pick one up at a pretty reasonable price.
My friend, and mentor on pigeon shooting offered me a step ribbed Fabbri for $35k, which I should have jumped on. Could have made a hundred grand on that deal, but who knew they would make such a jump in value.
The last I heard that gun sold for 135k, and is now higher than p-tang on a Ferris wheel.
BTW, on a first barrel load, you should try a 1 1/8 oz load, and the standard pigeon load for the second barrel.
Pigeons often require a lightening fast second barrel.