Old school duck hunt

[fethrduster]

Had a fantastic hunt last weekend, shooting an 1890's damascus Lefever with 2.5" tungsten 6's to devastating effect out to 35-40 yds.  Yep, believe it or not, you can actually shoot ducks without having to use a 3.5" magnum howitzer. 

Giant drake;





Banded bird;



Obligatory tailgate shot:

[270Flat]

Awesome pictures!!

[h2ofowlr]

Looks like a good shoot.  Congrats.

[singleshot12]

Nice! that's the way to get her done

[full choke]

Cool!

[LeftCoastLoren]

Nice Work! That first Drake is BIG 

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

That is awesome, love those classic guns! I thought I heard  Damascus barrels were too dangerous to shoot? Most guys only sell them as wall hangers.  How many ducks you think that thing has killed in 120 years!!!

[fethrduster]

That is awesome, love those classic guns! I thought I heard  Damascus barrels were too dangerous to shoot? Most guys only sell them as wall hangers.  How many ducks you think that thing has killed in 120 years!!!

Thanks everyone.  Yeah, that's a common misconception.  As long as wall thickness is good though and there are no major dents, etc., they are safe to shoot.  Guns like these have probably been shot with every kind of magnum load imaginable over the last 120 yrs, but I shoot low pressure loads in them to be kind to the wood if nothing else. This gun has probably killed thousands of birds since it was made, and who knows how many more over the next hundred years.

[GrampasGuns]

A duck hunter of 45 years told me " son, if you cant kill a duck with a 2.75" shell, then you aint got no business shootin at ducks". Plain and simple. I am looking for a nice 12 sxs to swing on em!

[JLS]

Great photos. Agree on the shells, I shot a limit of mallards out of a field a couple of weeks ago.  When I got home I realized I had been shooting 2 3/4 shells without even realizing it. 

[Elkstuffer]

Very cool! nice photos and a piece of jewelery to boot. Good for you!

[sakoshooter]

Congrats on the old fashoned style hunt but comparing tungsten 6's to 3.5" steel is like apples to oranges. I'd take tungsten 6's any day over most any load of steel. I simply can't justify the cost of it.

[WCTaxidermy]

The grain on that stock is absolutely gorgeous!  Great hunt and very nice shotgun.

[Stilly bay]

that tungsten matrix hits em like a rifle. good job on the ducks.
was fishnfowler involved in this escapade?

[Quicksilver]

beautiful gun and nice hunt! you don't see this too often!

[fethrduster]

Congrats on the old fashoned style hunt but comparing tungsten 6's to 3.5" steel is like apples to oranges. I'd take tungsten 6's any day over most any load of steel. I simply can't justify the cost of it.

That's true.  I don't duck hunt all that much (I'd much rather eat a chukar than a duck), so I can justify a few boxes of tungsten a year.  It's cheaper than buying a new gun, it performs like lead, I get to use classic guns with soul, and without all the recoil and huge wound channels of magnum steel.   I hate steel.  Nothing good about it in my opinion other than the cheaper price. 

[fethrduster]

that tungsten matrix hits em like a rifle. good job on the ducks.
was fishnfowler involved in this escapade?

Yup.  That's his chessie Copper.   She's a really great dog.  Minds well, and found several birds that we wouldn't have otherwise.

[Fishnfowler]

Yep, I was witness to Mark's proficiency with that Lefever.  It was almost unfair to the ducks.  That was a particularly fine day.  I took along an almost new 45 year old AYA, I'm thinking all of my misses were because the gun isn't broken in yet.  No doubt about it, the next time we go I'm dragging my 100 year old Smith along.

[fethrduster]

That's ok Rob, it takes a while to get the feel of those newfangled modern guns.   I actually have the Lefever up for sale on gunbroker right now to fund some barrel work by Briley on my 16 (putting choke tubes in it so I won't keep missing those long range quail).   Auction ends tomorrow:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=325841268

I put a Belgian 12 damascus hammer gun on layaway though (the twin to my 16) to replace it. 

[Stilly bay]

  I actually have the Lefever up for sale on gunbroker right now to fund some barrel work by Briley on my 16 (putting choke tubes in it so I won't keep missing those long range quail).   

  your doing what to your 16?!? thats blasphemy!... I hear tell mike orlen can do them for much less coin than briley, and his turn around time is pretty quick. I am  contemplating having him install chokes on my fox pretty soon.

[Fishnfowler]

I've got another photo from that day, the transportation:



I managed to get out one last time today for upland and put a couple of Widgeon in the bag to boot.  This was with a 1909 20 gauge LC Smith:



I sure hope that Lefever goes to a good home. 

[bagmNtagm]

nice band! and love the old vintage gun

[fethrduster]

  I actually have the Lefever up for sale on gunbroker right now to fund some barrel work by Briley on my 16 (putting choke tubes in it so I won't keep missing those long range quail).   

  your doing what to your 16?!? thats blasphemy!... I hear tell mike orlen can do them for much less coin than briley, and his turn around time is pretty quick. I am  contemplating having him install chokes on my fox pretty soon.

The barrels were cut to 29" so it's choked cyl/ic now, and I desperately need more choke for anything but early season.  I'm having Briley install a permanent soldered tight imp. cyl choke sleeve in the right barrel (the right barrel is too thin for choke tubes), and thread for thin wall tubes in the thicker left barrel.  Mike Orlen doesn't do 16ga choke sleeves, I asked.  I've had Orlen do work for me before, and he does fine work.  We'll see how it turns out with Briley.  It's my first time using them.

[fethrduster]

I've got another photo from that day, the transportation:



I managed to get out one last time today for upland and put a couple of Widgeon in the bag to boot.  This was with a 1909 20 gauge LC Smith:



I sure hope that Lefever goes to a good home.

Sweet!  That looks cold.  Glad you were able to get out.   If I were you I'd glue that Smith to my side and never let it out of my sight.