I absolutely love using big, heavy long range double guns, for ducks, doves and the occasional turkey hunt. My 12/32" HE Fox, factory chambered in 3" length, weighs in at 9/8, as I recall, unloaded. My 12/32" 3E Smith is also factory chambered at 3" length, but not nearly as heavy as the Fox. I much prefer the big Fox with heavy loads for waterfowl. I also have a 3" chambered A grade Fox, 12/32", with a straight grip. I don't like it nearly as well as the HE with heavy loads.
I'm not a muscled up strongman, but I could never understand the obsession with lightweight shotguns for hunting. I have never had any problem chasing down a speeding woodie, or dove, with the big HE. I really enjoy trying to kill doubles (2 for 2) on ducks. With the heavy bismuth loads I use I just don't like the way a lighter weight double gun "jumps around" in my hands from the recoil of the first shot. Weight attenuates that a great deal, as does a pistol grip for me, which allows me to get on that second bird much faster and more accurately.
JMO, YMMV
|