Ideal weight for upland guns

[6pt-Sika]

Like many here I’ve owned a veritable truck load of shotguns over the years . And featherweights were part of the equation ! I had a nice old Darne 20 gauge with 25” barrels a number of years ago , I shot it very well after grouse and quail but a round on the skeet field would beat the tar out of you the gun weighed 5 1/2 pounds . Had a Winchester 59 that I chopped the barrel to 22” got rid of the PG and made a straight grip and finally slimmed the forend way down , this was my attempt at a Frank Woolner grouse gun and again I shot it pretty well on birds unloaded I think it was about 5 1/2-5 3/4 . But for me atleast that 59 had no soul so I never really was wound up about it . Later I got an Browning Citori 16 gauge Upland Special 24” I think it was right at 6 pounds , I shot that gun really well at birds both feathered and clay both with mounted gun and low gun . I had however put a decelerator pad on the gun . Also recently had a first year Sterlingworth 20 gauge 26” that was an ounce or so under six pounds and shot it well at dove and clay targets if I paid attention . From years of shootingbtubed over and infers IE 9-10 pound guns I do very well on clay targets with heavy guns . At the moment my favs have to be a VHE 20 28” not sure the weight as well as a GH 0 frame 16 that’s 26” and of course my EH 28” 10 on a 2 frame and almost forgot I not to long ago picked up a Grade 2 top lever 1 frame 12 gauge with 30” barrels . But truth be known since I don’t really bird hunt that much other then occasional dove and game farm pheasants . Yeah as to weight I’d say as long as it’s more then 5 pounds and less then 12 pounds I can deal with it .

[Ron Scott]

Originally Posted by CraigThompson

Had a Winchester 59 that I chopped the barrel to 22” got rid of the PG and made a straight grip and finally slimmed the forend way down , this was my attempt at a Frank Woolner grouse gun and again I shot it pretty well on birds unloaded I think it was about 5 1/2-5 3/4 . But for me atleast that 59 had no soul so I never really was wound up about it.

Interesting .... I have never heard of anyone trying that. Thanks for the reminder -- caused me to reread his chapter on grouse guns in "Grouse and Grouse Hunting."

His grouse gun for those who may not own the book:

Winchester Win-Lite Model 59, 3 shot 12 gauge autoloader lightened by a gunsmith to weigh 5lbs 11oz. Barrel cut to 23" and left cylinder bore. Pistol grip "planed off." His preferred load was 1 oz of 8s or 9s in the early season and 7 1/2s later.

Which brings up another topic -- he mentions that he didn't shoot SxSs well and preferred a single sighting plane. Anyone else feel the same? I know that I shoot better scores with my O/Us than I do with my SxSs -- not a lot better but somewhat better. On one SxS (newly manufactured) I experimented with a large white bead and small center bead -- seemed to help. I think a raised rib would help but don't like to looks of them on a SxS.

As far as weight goes I shoot my 6lb 3oz Silver Pigeon I better than any other shotgun I own but I still prefer a light (6 - 6 1/2lb) 28 gauge SxS with 2 triggers (IC and Mod) for upland hunting. Straight or pistol grip, it doesn't matter but I like the lines of a straight stock with splinter forend. 28" barrels are fine, and I'd take 26" tubes before going to 30". If I had my choice I'd go with non-ejector over ejectors but that's not high on the priority list--good triggers are. They need to be crisp and both of equal pull weight (3.5 - 4 lbs)

Craig mentioned "soul" as an important attribute -- I agree even though it's hard to define -- looks, feel, balance, memories, wear marks, and nice wood is important.

Sorry Mr Woolner but I never met an autoloader with soul! I like being able to open the action quickly and silently when crossing a stonewall or when walking up to another hunter.