It's interesting you say that, as this AM I had a rooster crossing about 35 - 40 yards out, but didn't shoot as I didn't want to risk crippling the bird with a 28 GA..? Later, in thinking about it - I probably should have taken the shot, as I had a hen riser about 25 yards out and she crumpled with one shot...? I dun'no - the more I shoot this little 28 - the more I really like it...

Best to you!

JD

I don't know how I ever wrote a whole thread about my 28 Parkers when I could have been talking about Bourbon whiskey. I am a bit on the tight side when it comes to Bourbon, probably because I was in the business for 29 years and know almost as much as my friend Harry C. does about how it is made and what is good and bad. Does anyone remember how George Herter made his Jack Daniel? He recommended that we take the cheapest, nastiest Bourbon we could buy, Town Club or Ten High, add a good slug of powdered sugar, shake it up and put it in a JD bottle. I love a bottle of boutique bourbon as well as the next guy, but prefer to take a good bottle of more common stuff on a hunting or gun buying trip. My best Bourbon drinking buddy, now ready to turn 93, likes Ezra Brooks. What do you think of old Ezra? I believe it is just a name bottled by Heaven Hill but does anyone know what they put in the bottle?

John, a good bird shot would just recommend that you shoot far enough ahead of a crossing pheasant that you don't put any shot into the body. That's easily said but not so easily done. Last season, I was in a good pond blind and some geese came in real close. I was shooting my favorite ten, picked a goose and body shot him. I was shooting with a couple of guys I had just met who were real waterfowlers and was embarrassed to have taken such an easy shot in the body. As a way to apologize to my new hunting companions for my poor judgement, I said "Dammit, I shot him in the ass." The fellow sitting next to me turned to me without smiling and said, "Yup, you shot him in the ass." Later I redeemed myself by saving an escaping goose at about 90 yards that one of the fellows probably hit a little light. I took him on my second shot but I still felt like I had paid back the body shot at 30 yards.

Bill,

I've killed a lot of geese and I always feel good when they fall no matter where they're hit. It's nice to bust ones neck at 30 yards but if I center him in the pattern he's just as dead. *wink*

Destry

John,

What size shot were you shooting?

Harry

Hi Harry!

I was loaded with Federal 28 Gauge Premium (wing-shock) #6, 2-3/4, 3/4 oz (which is about a 1300 fps load, I think??)... As this was in my 28 Repro - I had no hesitation about using a modern load...

What are your thoughts??

Best to you - and thanks!!

John

I am not quite there when it comes to drinking my bourbon neat. Guess I need to work on that "skill." Good thing hunting season has just started.

Cheers

I use a VHE 28 with 28 inch bbls choked skt/skt for Pheasants (both wild and preserve), Grouse, Woodcock and Quail. The Quail are alas preserve birds and I only use the 28 when a certain friend isn't letteing me use his VHE 410 skeet gun:)

Bill I have sampeled Izra Brooks and its not bad stuff still no Jack Daniels or Makers Mark however. I'll stick to what I know best which is JD and prefer the Gentalman Jack and REALLY prefer Singel Barrel but at $40+ a fifth those outings are few and far between.

Back to the 28 I usually shoot std skeet loads for everything but Pheasants and for them I have some B&P 3/4 oz 6's.

Jay what were you drinking when you moved 100 Grouse?:duck:

Water, Rich. Lots of water. Had to make sure I was not dreaming.:)

John,

That sounds like a cracker jack load. I load 7 1/2 shot for most all on my shooting, but would jump up to #6 shot for anything larger than dove or quail. My father loaded 8 1/2 shot in his 28 gauge for clays, dove and quail. I'm just not that good a shot and rely on the few odd pellets to kill. Would you hesitate to shoot your fast load in a 100+ year old Parker? Out of deference to the wood I might, but after all of Sherman Bells research I am inclined to shoot anything off the shelf through these old guns Damascus or not. Bruce may have gotten away with steel through a Damascus gun a few times and I got away with it through a stout VH for a season when the laws changed, but I would not recomend it.

Harry