Grouse Guns

[stumpstalker]

In the third season after buying it I will surely take up-country the 0-framed 16 gauge VH, built in 1907, with its 26 inch barrels, factory choked, as per letter, cylinder and modified. It was sold to the original retail customer at the Boston, Massachusetts sporting goods store, of Iver Johnson. Thus, the fellow who sold it to me as a "typical New England bird gun" represented it accurately.

I have been a slow-learner in hitting targets (clay or otherwise) with such a light gun -- "whippy" being the preferred term for those of us who have blame the gun and not the gunner. I can thank Dean R. for raising my consciousness about adapting one's shooting technique to the properties of the light gun.

I had been in possession of my father's 16 gauge, 1-framed VH, with 28 inch barrels for several years. It was completed in Meriden in 1925, and has inherent chokes that are full and full; thus, it is more suited for open-country. My father may have used it in the water-fowling and Pheasant hunting, which he did in Eastern Massachusetts. But, since I have been hunting in the North Woods, I looked for and located the open-choked 16 gauge to add to my modest collection.

My schedule only allows for a later-season hunt, so a few rifles will probably be keeping the guns company -- probably the "pre-War", commercial Mauser, in 9.3 x 62; the octagonal barreled .30-30 Winchester and my Jim Corbett- evoking Rigby Mauser in 7 x 57 mm.

I will be going up, provided I still have my health and a job, that is. I say this in keeping with Hemmingway's observation that, with age, one develops -- not necessarily wisdom -- but caution.

[6pt-Sika]

[QUOTE=Steve Cambria;223957]

Originally Posted by Rich Anderson

Early September in my neck of the woods = hungry stripers !

Down here in the bay those that are in the know tell me December and January are the months to troll for big stripers .

I'd be up for that but December I'm still gonna be killing poor defensless deer . And January on the Chesapeake Bay doesn't sound like fun .

[Phil Yearout]

Well, as you know, we ain't got no grouse out this-away unless you count prairie chickens, which are another story. But we do find the occasional quail, and this year I hope to have a chance at a few with this Fox A-grade 20, 26" barrels, which recently came back from Mark Larson after some stock repairs...

[Opening Day]

Well there will be a couple of guns going out this year. My favorite, Holland&Holland 28 ga and then a DH 16 ga Damascus and maybe the A grade 20/28 ga.

[Harold Pickens]

Summer has been quite complicated for me--so, I am going to simplify my 2 week grouse hunting marathon by bringing only 1 gauge , and 3 guns.
The first, the venereble old VHE 20 with barrels cut to 26 1/2" and cyl/cyl--it aint much to look at, but sweet to carry on my all day death marches.
A grade 2 Ugartechea 20 w/ 27" IC/M and straight grip is another gun great for long days in the woods.
And finally, when hunting by myself, I will use the little Jos. Manton 20 ga 30" barreled hammer gun with open chokes.
All the 16's(9), will come out to play after I get home and start chasing pheasants.
Will post photos later, they are on laptop, which I left at home

[Dean Romig]

The stripers and blues are about gone by early October in my area, headed South on their fall migration. A big storm or a hurricane will push them out even quicker.
I never enjoyed trolling very much. I've always fished flies for them both spring and late summer.





.

[SXS OHIO]

Here is a couple pictures of my 26" VH-16 that I spoke of early in this thread. The other is a Fox Sterlingworth that I just acquired. Sweet little 16 with 30" x-full both barrels at .034 6lbs-3oz and this will be a rooster gun. SXS Ohio

[6pt-Sika]

Originally Posted by Dean Romig

The stripers and blues are about gone by early October in my area, headed South on their fall migration. A big storm or a hurricane will push them out even quicker.
I never enjoyed trolling very much. I've always fished flies for them both spring and late summer.

One of these years perhaps when I get to old and tired to climb thirty feet up a tree I'm gonna go to the bay for a week or so in December and or January with PLENTY warm clothes and fish however the captains say until I catch one striper 45 or so inches long .

[TOOL MAN]

Sadly, I couldn't hit a buffalo in the arrss at 20 paces with a sub-six pound double.....BUT if push came to shove and I found myself lathered in perspiration, swattin' skeeters in the Sept. grouse woods, either one of these would rate a most worthy companion.

B Grade Snip.JPG

[Brett Hoop]

SXS Ohio

Looks to me like Ruby is wondering when the Fox guns are coming out.