You Call that a beater? This is a beater.
 

I have seen quite a few guys post there "beaters", so I figured I would show you guys what a real beater looks like. I got my cousin to weld on it and I filed away on it all day now it is locking up like the proverbial bank vault. It is a 1903 30'' VH 12 gauge 2 frame. The barrels are 1/8'' under 30'' and as far as I can tell they are uncut. Someone lost the buttplate and added a Winchester buttplate and they also decided to paint the entire gun black. There is still some paint left but it has mostly flaked off. I am going to take it shooting the first chance I get.

I see what you mean Eldon.

Some more pictures. I got about $260 into it and I figure it will be a good hunting gun.

It's hard to beat a beater in working condition.

elton that is a beater for sure.. but i bet she ll shoot as good as the day she left the factory.. i too have a beater in my stable the 8 ga mills gun its probably the worst beater around... charlie

Wish my photobucket account wasn't said to be full I'd post some pics of my LC Smith Field Grade 12 gauge with the sleaved Westley Richards barrels and the popsicle stick copper wire repair on the pistol grip !

craig the 8 ga now has 4 types of repair to the wrist area of the stock..first it has copper sheeting cut and fit to the wrist area it is full of screws and small nails.next it has the copper wire treatment. next it has silver soildered the whole thing together it then wears a new water hose clamp put on by yours truly myself.. charlie

Charlie if you ever think about selling that gun you let me have first dibs. I like guns with a lot of...... lets say character and that 8 gauge is one in a million.

Whattabeaudy Eldon!! Good on your for breathing life back into her. Good salt water duck gun. Send it to Destry for his upcoming Adak Island, Alaska Aleutian teal hunt!

Charlie, I didn't know you were a master gunsmith. Listen to you with a hose clamp. Sounds like a great idea and it must work well.

Eldon it sounds like you have a great shooter in that gun. It seems just the ticket for rainy or snowy days. You sure won't have to worry about getting a scratch on it.

Dennis

All that wear is a sign of a gun that shoots really well.

All guns of reputable manufacture generally shoot well !

The problem is finding those who have the ability to shoot them well :rotf:

Th t is not a lot of money for that gun. Perfect hunter.

I sold my favorite beater back to the guy who sold it to me. It was a 32 inch takedown Model 97 Winchester. Shot like a dream, looked like it had been buried in the ground. I'd owned it for 20 years, he asked if I'd sell it back and I figured I'd had enough fun with it.

DLH

i was cleaning on my beater gun tonite hopeing to get a picture and get it posted soon.. charlie

Charlie I am looking forward to those pictures.

No trick photography now charlie. We want to see the real deal.

My old beater has been turned into a beauty. Around 1990 , I picked up an A grade Philly Fox. The barrels had no bluing and were as gray as an old lead pipe. The wood was as weathered as an old locust fence post. An ill-fitting white lined recoil pad adorned the butt. There were no cracks or repairs to the stock and the screws were good. I carried that gun in some pretty foul weather.
I eventually had the wood refinished, recheckered, and a nice pad installed. The barrels were reblued, but I left the frame a nice silver patina.
An A grade Fox16 to me is the eqivalent to at least a GH or possibly a Dh O frame Parker. It is a light gun at just over 6 lbs. I wish I had some before pictures, I do have some after.