Yes, that was Charlie Herzog that wrote it up.

Daryl asked what you might bring to a modern day organized live bird shoot if you were to be invited and so inclined. Of course you could field any shotgun capable of the required two shots per bird, and use anything from low pressure/low velocity loads to the more effective "high brass" 1-1/4 ouncers at 1330 speed - assuming your gun could handle a steady diet of the latter and you were comfortable with old dry wood etc without checking the gun after every two shot string for cracks or chunks split out of its head. One additional consideration at modern organized box bird races at least in one legal state is that the minimum rise (shooting pad) is at 30 yards and it goes back to 35 yards. Compare that with the 1901 Live Bird GAH where the handicap rise started at 25 and went to 33. For example Ansley Fox was shooting his Winchester 1897 at 30 yards rise and the other 23 way straights were at varying distances within that range. Griffith was at 28 with his Parker.

Letsee, you're gonna pay maybe 9-10 bucks per bird and probably drop about $350-400. for the day, assuming you don't get heavy into incremental races or the side betting. Then there's the cost of travel, lodging, etc. Dance with the gal you brung and have at it. :whistle:

Oops I forgot to include the cost of practice birds. :)

A day quail hunting at Morrison Pines is a grand with everything included and I wouldn't give it up for anything. A weekend of live bird shooting might run about the same and I wouldn't pass on the opportunity. I'd take the BHE 1oz 8's in the right barrel and 7 1/2 in the left and enjoy the step back in time.

This will make for a good article in the Parker Pages, Fall edition, I will try to do a little write up on what I believe is a true pigeon gun, I would like to see a true pigeon shoot, although It would be useless for me to enter I could not hit the broad side of a barn, but it would be interesting to watch and see the type of guns used. It seems as these shooters ordered their guns they were ordered with very special dimensions to fit them, and as they got later in years and they ordered another gun the specification of the gun changed a little, anyone noticed this? Gary

DH live bird gun
 

I acquired this gun over thirty years ago cheap because it had no safety and It would break open when fired. Years later I found out why and fixed it. Oscar Gaddy informed me about the live bird option and that I should not mess with it as I was considering adding a safety. This live bird was made in 1901. It has 32" barrels choked Improved modified in both tubes. Measurements are LOP 13.75 over Hawkins pad, DAC 1.5, DAH 2. It has a repair code of LK3. It received new barrels as it now has ejectors that are Parker for sure with the overload proved stamp. There is a small 3 on the back of the barrel flats close to the ejector. I had never seen a number there so I checked the chambers and they are 3". I would like to know if anyone else has encountered the small 3. It will really smoke clays.