Quote:
Originally Posted by harry gietler
I use Browning Bss shotguns 12ga. for serious hunting. They handle any load you feed them and they are built like a bank vault. The12ga. will do anything the smaller ga. guns will do and do it better. With that being said here is a quote from THE SHOTGUNNERS BOOK by Askins 1958 The perfect shotgun is the 12. If, man or boy, a gent isnt stud enough to shoot a 12 then he should take up ping pong. The other gauges are makeshifts that do a killing job but never with the lethality of this remarkably versatile gauge Harry
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Conversly, Elmer Keith's favorite bore for upland shooting was a 16. Many of his birds were taken at long range and he swore by the 1 1/8 heavy 16 load. I can't imagine a better bore for all around upland shooting than the 16. I hunt wild pheasants extensively (I plant acres of sorghum for them every year) and the 16 bore is perfect. I do use a light DHE 12 bore also, but only because I like shooting this gun at game. I can't notice any difference in birds taken with both guns, although I don't take any shots over 40 yards.
From a practicle perspective, gauge should be determined by the bird hunted and the cover. The little 28 bore is good for ruffed grouse in tight cover and quail. Conversely, I never use it on wild pheasants nor do I hunt them with a 20. You can get away with it early in the season, maybe, but later on the pheasant is a 16 or 12 bore bird.
I don't feel the need to carry a heavy 12 when I can do the job as well with a smaller bore. It has nothing to do with manhood. It has everything to do with chosing the right gun for the bird and area hunted.
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