[QUOTE=Andrew Thompson;4453]Good luck is right. Been looking for an HE or long range for 4 years and they are proud of those 21's. On another note, 3 inch shells can be brutal to the shoulder. I have had good luck with 2 3/4 3 dram loads. I still have a gunsmith check my guns every year to make sure everything is closing and staying closed when it should.[
Andrew, good post: I had an HE, sold it to a brother waterfower (built like Dick Butkus) who had been after one for years- Great gun indeed (over and above the Nash Buckingham/Burt Becker mystique)- but very heavy, and at .750 Nom. BD a 11 gauge (somewhat).
At my age (near 70) I went to a Smith 12 with 3" chambers, 32" Nitro Steel with factory ventilated rib, DT, AE- 8 lbs. even and I shoot the Cabela offered Classic Doubles non-toxic no. 4 loads in it- BUT, only the 2.75", NOT the 3" Magnums.
I agree, M21's are "pricey"- perhaps that's due to the shorter span of production- 1931-1959 then Custom Shop special order- Parker= 1869-1940? LC Smith- 1880's (?) then Hunter- 1945- Marlin- 1954? AH Fox 1905-1929 then Savage until 1940?
I have seen a few M21 12 gauge 3" DUCK guns advertised with Briley tubes on the various auction sites, I don't know enough about that to advise you. Good luck with your search for a 12 double waterfowler, whatever the make, and good shooting this Fall on "dem webfeets"!!
