Quote:
Originally Posted by Stan Hillis
Perhaps I'm too narrow-minded about gun weights. But, I don't think so. I can appreciate a lighter quail and woodcock gun, and have several of my own.
Just always seemed odd to me that so many men obsess over one or two pounds extra weight on a turkey gun, that they may carry a mile or more slung over their shoulder, but never complain about having to tote a 24 pound bird that mile back out.
Not all duck hunts are easy peasy walks in the park, either. I'm no stranger to hell-hole woodie ponds that require walking in through briar patches, devil vines, blowdowns and sharp beaver cut stobs that don't slow down punching through a set of waders.
Variety is indeed the spice of life, and I'm very glad so many people prefer lighter guns. They certainly have their place.
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Gosh, Stan, I don't think you're are narrow-minded at all. You obviously have great experience and have developed a good knowledge of your guns and yourself. And, by what I can tell from your posts, you're an excellent shot.
I like all kinds of double guns, and have a variety of weights, barrel lengths, etc. I tell myself I "need" all these variations for particular settings. I've got some 8-11 lbs. duck guns, a "heavy," long barreled gun for pheasants, a short barreled light weight arsenal for woodcock, and a wider variety of guns for quail (which I hunt the most). I choose the quail guns dependent upon the cover I'll be hunting, and my go-to quail gun is a 30 inch 20 gauge Parker that weighs 6 lbs. 10 oz (not exactly light). Most of my shooting is at close rising birds, often in thick cover. I like the maneuverability of a lighter gun then. At least for me, I get on birds quicker with that type gun. I can see the trade off when I need to take longer crossing shots, as I often end up stopping my swing. That's as much my poor shooting as it is the gun weight, but I know I shoot a more forward-weighted gun better on longer crossing shots. I just don't take many of those over the course of a season. Actually, I don't shoot that much at all any more, limiting my take to just a brace of quail on most days...if I'm lucky enough to find birds.
I've been think about getting a 3 weight Parker 12...and a .410 Parker. I'm sure I'd likely shoot the former better than the latter, mostly because of the potential dynamics of those guns. I'll never be a good shot at dove with a .410 like you obviously are(
), but I only go a few days a year at the season's opening...then all the birds head South and I'm left to those "other" birds. Thank goodness. Dove are a humbling experience for this mediocre shot.
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