Gun Infidelity

[mobirdhunter]

Originally Posted by Craig Larter

Garry here ya go.

Thank you! Wow...just wow. What a special pair. I can see why you hold them with such reverence.

[Mike of the Mountain]

" One is a 10ga AH Parker show gun that I killed 4 drake mallards and one black on my first hunt with the gun with 4 shots, 5 ducks."

Craig, at first I read your post and the thing that popped into my twisted mind was that this was a blend of an AH Fox and a Parker Bros!! Then the proper synapses fired and I realized you had an A grade hammerless.

[Mike of the Mountain]

I have two firearms that I used a lot originally and haven't shot either in a loooong time. First is a Stevens (315 or 311, not sure which) in 16g that was my Pappy's go to bird and bunny gun. The only thing I did to that gun was add a recoil pad to give more LOP. Shot many a dove, bunny and rooster with that gun. The second is one I remembered I had from reading "I have this old gun..." in the March issue of American Rifleman. It's a Winchester 67A. Single shot bolt .22LR that also was my Pappy's go to chuck gun. He's walk the perimeter of the farm every evening, spring-summer-fall with that old rifle. I guess I have to take at least one chuck with it this year so it doesn't feel lonely.

[James L. Martin]

I have a 16ga Merkel o/u that has 29 " barrels weights 6lb 7oz and feels as good as any gun I have ever held. Made in the mid 1920's. It has killed many grouse and woodcock, haven't taken it out in years, hope to this year.

[mobirdhunter]

Originally Posted by Mike Koneski

I have two firearms that I used a lot originally and haven't shot either in a loooong time. First is a Stevens (315 or 311, not sure which) in 16g that was my Pappy's go to bird and bunny gun. The only thing I did to that gun was add a recoil pad to give more LOP. Shot many a dove, bunny and rooster with that gun. The second is one I remembered I had from reading "I have this old gun..." in the March issue of American Rifleman. It's a Winchester 67A. Single shot bolt .22LR that also was my Pappy's go to chuck gun. He's walk the perimeter of the farm every evening, spring-summer-fall with that old rifle. I guess I have to take at least one chuck with it this year so it doesn't feel lonely.

Mike, there are many ways a gun can be special. Your Pappy’s guns fit the definition in my view.

[Craig Larter]

Garry the weird thing about the hunt with the AH Parker was I was by myself in one of the slow blinds in our marsh. My partner couldn't hunt so it was just me and Lucy my lab. Just before dawn a pair of mallards came overhead and I killed the drake with one shot, Lucy retrieved the duck a ways back in the cattails . A couple of minutes later 50 mallards were over my pond and I killed a drake. Lucy made short work of that duck. A couple of minutes later another 50 mallards and blacks are over my pond, I killed two drakes with two shots. I line up Lucy for the retrieve and she keeps looking off line from the two mallards I have marked. Lucy goes left on my back command and she would not take a whistle. Lucy swims around the corner of the pond and picks up a big black duck drake (always believe your dog!) a willy I had not seen. After she picks up the black the two mallards were retrieved. I was done before 7am and back at the landing before 7:30am. For an old duck hunter it doesn't get any better.

[mobirdhunter]

Originally Posted by Craig Larter

Garry the weird thing about the hunt with the AH Parker was I was by myself in one of the slow blinds in our marsh. My partner couldn't hunt so it was just me and Lucy my lab. Just before dawn a pair of mallards came overhead and I killed the drake with one shot, Lucy retrieved the duck a ways back in the cattails . A couple of minutes later 50 mallards were over my pond and I killed a drake. Lucy made short work of that duck. A couple of minutes later another 50 mallards and blacks are over my pond, I killed two drakes with two shots. I line up Lucy for the retrieve and she keeps looking off line from the two mallards I have marked. Lucy goes left on my back command and she would not take a whistle. Lucy swims around the corner of the pond and picks up a big black duck drake (always believe your dog!) a willy I had not seen. After she picks up the black the two mallards were retrieved. I was done before 7am and back at the landing before 7:30am. For an old duck hunter it doesn't get any better.

My experience duck hunting is very limited, and even more limited with a good retriever. I love to watch a good, well trained dog do its thing. I would have paid to watch your lab on the morning you describe. To have a special gun to complete the gun-bird-dog triumvirate is something to remember. Hunting with a good friend is great. Hunting alone with your dog is equally so. What a nice memory.

[Andy]

What a great post Garry. You're suffering from a Truly First World problem, good for you! Other truly first world problems include dropping your cell phone in the hot tub, the 911 getting a flat, and your Leica has a light leak. I can't shoot all my pieces, but my Ithaca single shot 20g lever action with buck barrel has not been shot in 40 years. It took my first woodcock, first grouse, first squirrel and first cardinal on my neighbors bird feeder (that didn't go so well). I will never sell her. I'd dig her out for a photo but it's nothing to look at : )

[mobirdhunter]

Originally Posted by Andrew Sacco

What a great post Garry. You're suffering from a Truly First World problem, good for you! Other truly first world problems include dropping your cell phone in the hot tub, the 911 getting a flat, and your Leica has a light leak. I can't shoot all my pieces, but my Ithaca single shot 20g lever action with buck barrel has not been shot in 40 years. It took my first woodcock, first grouse, first squirrel and first cardinal on my neighbors bird feeder (that didn't go so well). I will never sell her. I'd dig her out for a photo but it's nothing to look at : )

Andy, my wife often asks, "What's your problem?" Now I know and will tell her. I'll not explain it, though. Not in my best interests. And if you ever meet her (BTW, she is of Italian descent, and I'm sure you both would have lots in common -- especially cooking), don't bring this up.

If you're ever out this way, bring your Ithaca. You can shoot deer from my deck.

[Andy]

Originally Posted by Garry L Gordon

Andy, my wife often asks, "What's your problem?" Now I know and will tell her. I'll not explain it, though. Not in my best interests. And if you ever meet her (BTW, she is of Italian descent, and I'm sure you both would have lots in common -- especially cooking), don't bring this up.

If you're ever out this way, bring your Ithaca. You can shoot deer from my deck.

Thank you for the invite Garry! Hope to meet you (and your wife of superior ethnic origins...) I'm hoping our 13 year old daughter will use the Ithaca someday for a deer, she's waiting on a new 20g youth gas gun now to lighten the recoil for skeet and sporting clays. Out of three kids she's the only one with interest, so who knows if she'll end up with a pile of Parkers someday.