In the third season after buying it I will surely take up-country the 0-framed 16 gauge VH, built in 1907, with its 26 inch barrels, factory choked, as per letter, cylinder and modified. It was sold to the original retail customer at the Boston, Massachusetts sporting goods store, of Iver Johnson. Thus, the fellow who sold it to me as a "typical New England bird gun" represented it accurately.

I have been a slow-learner in hitting targets (clay or otherwise) with such a light gun -- "whippy" being the preferred term for those of us who have blame the gun and not the gunner. I can thank Dean R. for raising my consciousness about adapting one's shooting technique to the properties of the light gun.

I had been in possession of my father's 16 gauge, 1-framed VH, with 28 inch barrels for several years. It was completed in Meriden in 1925, and has inherent chokes that are full and full; thus, it is more suited for open-country. My father may have used it in the water-fowling and Pheasant hunting, which he did in Eastern Massachusetts. But, since I have been hunting in the North Woods, I looked for and located the open-choked 16 gauge to add to my modest collection.

My schedule only allows for a later-season hunt, so a few rifles will probably be keeping the guns company -- probably the "pre-War", commercial Mauser, in 9.3 x 62; the octagonal barreled .30-30 Winchester and my Jim Corbett- evoking Rigby Mauser in 7 x 57 mm.

I will be going up, provided I still have my health and a job, that is. I say this in keeping with Hemmingway's observation that, with age, one develops -- not necessarily wisdom -- but caution.

Well, as you know, we ain't got no grouse out this-away unless you count prairie chickens, which are another story. But we do find the occasional quail, and this year I hope to have a chance at a few with this Fox A-grade 20, 26" barrels, which recently came back from Mark Larson after some stock repairs...

http://i.imgur.com/hXk6vXDh.jpg

Well there will be a couple of guns going out this year. My favorite, Holland&Holland 28 ga and then a DH 16 ga Damascus and maybe the A grade 20/28 ga.

Summer has been quite complicated for me--so, I am going to simplify my 2 week grouse hunting marathon by bringing only 1 gauge , and 3 guns.
The first, the venereble old VHE 20 with barrels cut to 26 1/2" and cyl/cyl--it aint much to look at, but sweet to carry on my all day death marches.
A grade 2 Ugartechea 20 w/ 27" IC/M and straight grip is another gun great for long days in the woods.
And finally, when hunting by myself, I will use the little Jos. Manton 20 ga 30" barreled hammer gun with open chokes.
All the 16's(9), will come out to play after I get home and start chasing pheasants.
Will post photos later, they are on laptop, which I left at home

[QUOTE=Steve Cambria;223957]Down here in the bay those that are in the know tell me December and January are the months to troll for big stripers .

I'd be up for that but December I'm still gonna be killing poor defensless deer . And January on the Chesapeake Bay doesn't sound like fun .

The stripers and blues are about gone by early October in my area, headed South on their fall migration. A big storm or a hurricane will push them out even quicker.
I never enjoyed trolling very much. I've always fished flies for them both spring and late summer.





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Grouse gun...
 

Here is a couple pictures of my 26" VH-16 that I spoke of early in this thread. The other is a Fox Sterlingworth that I just acquired. Sweet little 16 with 30" x-full both barrels at .034 6lbs-3oz and this will be a rooster gun. SXS Ohio

SXS Ohio

Looks to me like Ruby is wondering when the Fox guns are coming out.

I'll be toting a 16 gauge Damascus GH choked C/IC at 6 pds. 3 oz., or my 20 gauge Grade 4 Ithaca Flues choked IC/IC and weighing in at 5 pds. 10 oz. Although I am a Parker guy at heart, the opening day nod goes to the Ithaca with original 24" barrels. Since I spend so much time on my hands and knees looking for where they SHOULD have fallen, the short barrels come in handy.

Brett....Ruby is the energy bunny! she is weighting for me to throw her toy. Ruby will be 7 this Feb-5th We could not tell by her puppy attitude all day long...! Yes the Foxes will be in Kansas...(-: But my Parker VH-16 will be in the grouse woods....(-: SXS Ohio