Quote:
Originally Posted by Frank Srebro
Just my opinion and I know it goes against the grain of purist collectors but so often it seems gents take the tact of trying to sustain a 99% museum piece even though not warranted. If the gun isn't in very high original condition what's wrong with PROPERLY opening the tight choke(s) on a 26 or 28" double gun that its owner wants to use for serious upland hunting? No I'm not talking about some shade tree gunsmith using an adjustable reamer from the muzzle ends and going to something like Cylinder and IC for spray & pray shooting. But in 16b something like 12 and 20 thou choking (Lt Mod and I-Mod) is the nuts for a good upland and clays combo. And the more you shoot clays with that gun the better you and it do when out hunting.
Again all this is my opinion but it's based in part by seeing so many gents at shooting events doing upland-oriented courses with tightly choked vintage double guns and coming back in tearing up their cards and with excuses galore. Net they own a gun that might be good to look at and show around at events or in the gun room, but is a handicap where it counts. And often that's the opposite of their intent in buying the gun.
Surely there are different perspectives on things and I value that. This is mine from a lifetime of shooting and upland hunting with double guns.
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I appreciate that perspective Frank. I don't know if I've posted this within this or other threads but I'm not quite sure I even know what a "collector" is. I belong to the PGCA but I don't consider myself a collector. I'm more of a "user" and "preserver." I have a friend who has several Porsche's and Corvettes in those damn blow up garage bubbles to keep them absolutely pristine. They are fine cars, but none of them are likely to increase in value much (ie he doesn't have an original 959 there or 968 Turbo S.) Personally I think I would get more enjoymnent driving them (the Porsche's anyways not the Vettes). So my point is, what is a collector? I don't think either is wrong since I don't control other's pocket books. But I would surely check with folks on here as a sounding board if I were to alter a gun before I made a potential mistake.