Who Uses a Double Barrel

[Fishnfowler]

Am I the only doofus out there chasing birds with double barrels?  How about you fans of older guns, does anyone else chase waterfowl with something your Great-Grandfather could have carried?  I love the instant barrel/choke selection, and don't have trouble with two shots when reloading is so quick.  My go-to gun is a 1910 LC Smith, but I fool around with others at times.  Throw up some photos of your escapades, here are some of mine.

[quadrafire]

Fish
I have hunted with double o/u, but picked up a "cresent arms" 20ga last year at the gun show. I haven't even fired it yet.
Do you need 2 1/2 in shells in those older 20's??
I really like the feel of the that splinter fore end and the swing is very crisp.

[Badhabit]

I shoot a SKB 200 12 ga now and then for ducks. I also shoot my old Browning BSS 30" barrels 3" mag. I'll only shoot bismuth or tungsten thru the BSS as it's choked full and IM.

[whitey]

I shoot a Ruger Red Label Stainless All Weather. Love it.

[huntingfool7]

Almost always carry two barrels.  Ruger Red or Ruger Gold. 

[Skillet]

Going to see if I can get this gun into shooting shape somehow to use with low pressure BP or nitro shells.   Early 1900's Syracuse Arms Damascus barreled 12 bore.  Pic of Great Grandpa Alvin with it in 1939, Remer, MN. 



Looking for ideas on barrel lining, or slipping a 20guage liner into the 12 bore, etc, if anybody's got them.  Yes, I know about the dangers of Damascus, but there are a lot of people shooting them and I'm perfectly willing to spend a reasonable amount of money to get the gun into shape for shooting 2-1/2" BP load if that's all I can do.

[CP]

Sometimes - both old and newer:

[Fishnfowler]

Going to see if I can get this gun into shooting shape somehow to use with low pressure BP or nitro shells.   Early 1900's Syracuse Arms Damascus barreled 12 bore.  Pic of Great Grandpa Alvin with it in 1939, Remer, MN. 



Looking for ideas on barrel lining, or slipping a 20guage liner into the 12 bore, etc, if anybody's got them.  Yes, I know about the dangers of Damascus, but there are a lot of people shooting them and I'm perfectly willing to spend a reasonable amount of money to get the gun into shape for shooting 2-1/2" BP load if that's all I can do.

Alvin was a stud.  I'm shooting low-pressure reloads through mine.  I hope you get that gun afield.  I'd bet it has 2-3/4" chambers, you should check it. 

[AntlerHound]

Inherited this 10 gauge double Mercury magnum from my great uncle...thing is a bad mamberjamber...perfect for cleaning up the woundies on big water

[CP]

Going to see if I can get this gun into shooting shape somehow to use with low pressure BP or nitro shells.   Early 1900's Syracuse Arms Damascus barreled 12 bore.  Pic of Great Grandpa Alvin with it in 1939, Remer, MN. 



Looking for ideas on barrel lining, or slipping a 20guage liner into the 12 bore, etc, if anybody's got them.  Yes, I know about the dangers of Damascus, but there are a lot of people shooting them and I'm perfectly willing to spend a reasonable amount of money to get the gun into shape for shooting 2-1/2" BP load if that's all I can do.

Alvin was a stud.  I'm shooting low-pressure reloads through mine.  I hope you get that gun afield.  I'd bet it has 2-3/4" chambers, you should check it.

Probably 2 5/8” – that was most common prior to the 1920s.   Which is close enough to today’s standard (2 ¾”) not to worry about. 

I shoot low pressure 2 ¾” handloads in my 1914 Fox – but it isn’t Damascus –

Be careful!

[Skillet]

Copy that.  I've read quite a bit about the damascus barrels... you just never know how good they will do.  I bet this gun hasn't been shot in 60 years, but has been kept in a dry closet in arid eastern WA since it came out from MN. 

Looks like when guys want to break out grandpa's old damascus, they shoot high pressure loads through them with the gun strapped to a tire and strings on the trigger to "proof" them, then only shoot lower pressure loads through after that.  I'd like to sonic test the barrels, or line them instead, but if that's how they do it and nobody's lost a hand... I believe it was Double Gun Journal did an extensive test on old Damascus barrels in good shape, and none of them blew up.

What model is that Fox? 

[ing]

16 gauge Winchester Model 24 and a 12 gauge Ruger Red Label All Weather stainless.

[CP]

Copy that.  I've read quite a bit about the damascus barrels... you just never know how good they will do.  I bet this gun hasn't been shot in 60 years, but has been kept in a dry closet in arid eastern WA since it came out from MN. 

Looks like when guys want to break out grandpa's old damascus, they shoot high pressure loads through them with the gun strapped to a tire and strings on the trigger to "proof" them, then only shoot lower pressure loads through after that.  I'd like to sonic test the barrels, or line them instead, but if that's how they do it and nobody's lost a hand... I believe it was Double Gun Journal did an extensive test on old Damascus barrels in good shape, and none of them blew up.

What model is that Fox?

The Fox is a Sterlingworth with 30” Krupp fluid steel barrels -  2 5/8” chamber


My Dad shot a Damascus SxS for years (don’t remember what model) until the barrel started to unravel at the muzzle – kind of like the cardboard tube in the middle of toilet paper roll.  He gave it to my Brother-in-law and he had it sawed off and nickel plated and as far as I know it is still operational.

[quadrafire]

CP
Does the fox say 2 5/8, or did you measure that somehow?  My Crescent arms 20 doesn't say, and I have been hesitant to shoot 2 3/4 in it. If memory serves me, i'm thinking 1930 ish

[CP]

CP
Does the fox say 2 5/8, or did you measure that somehow?  My Crescent arms 20 doesn't say, and I have been hesitant to shoot 2 3/4 in it. If memory serves me, i'm thinking 1930 ish

There are no marking on the Fox as to chamber size or choke, I’ve measured both and the findings are consistent with my research on the gun – 2 5/8” choked full/full.

[quadrafire]

 

[Special T]

Didnt use it for ducks but its a double.the westside birds were holding so tight that I switched it up and used my stage coach gun. Worked pretty good for those ring necked grouse on the bow hill release site. Lo gest kill was a 35-40yard crossing shot that I dumped one on. Mine takes 3" shells and I love it

[jackson7]

 fox 16 sterlingworth, fox 20 sterlingworth and another fox 20 with 30 inch tubes. not much of a duck hunter, mostly upland. will have to take some pics.

[BiggLuke]

I have a stoeger coach gun 20 gauge.... ok....  don't laugh.
I've shot plenty of perfectly good 23's at the range with it.   
Shot quail and rabbits with it, but mainly it's my grouse gun. Love my 20. Shot barreled handles awesome in thick woods.
Still haven't got any ducks with it because I usually just take it as back up on Duck trips.
But here's hoping.

[dawei]

SxS shotguns are my favorite and I have two.....
• Ithaca® Lefever® Nitro Special 16ga 28" barrels choked Mod & Full made in 1921 (1st year mfg)
• Remington® SPR220 (Baikal® IZH-43) 20ga 26" barrels w/choke tubes

Since all west side pheasant hunting requires non toxic shot I use Kent® Tungsten Matrix® UPLAND ammunition in my 16ga: http://kentgamebore.com/upland-loads/tungsten-matrix-shotshells.html

For my 20ga I use Hevi•Shot®: http://www.hevishot.com/products/ and Federal® Black Cloud® FS Steel®: http://www.federalpremium.com/products/details/shotshell.aspx?id=840
and Prairie Storm® FS Steel®: http://www.federalpremium.com/products/details/shotshell.aspx?id=942

[Special T]

I have a stoeger coach gun 20 gauge.... ok....  don't laugh.
I've shot plenty of perfectly good 23's at the range with it.   
Shot quail and rabbits with it, but mainly it's my grouse gun. Love my 20. Shot barreled handles awesome in thick woods.
Still haven't got any ducks with it because I usually just take it as back up on Duck trips.
But here's hoping.

I shot a bunch of hand thrown clays and did really well with it. Got some Dogs with it w/buckshot. They are lots of fun to shoot.

[magnus100]

Browning Citori with 26" barrels. Bought it when I was 16 years old. 34 years later and twice rebuilt and it still kills about every duck or goose I point it at. Im sure its killed 5000 plus ducks and geese.

[wadu1]

I got a Stoeger Longfowler for Sporting clays, and I used it most of the waterfowl season. I bagged 8 geese opening weekend with it, after that I was stoked. I role my own 2 3/4 and 3 inch loads all worked without a hitch. It's not a safe queen rough and tough but shoots well for me. 

[aaronoto]

I shoot a Cynergy and love it.  Recently bought a Maxus though as I was starting to miss that 3rd shot...




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[Fishnfowler]

I found this photo just today, I'd forgotten about it, but the gun on the left is a 1969 AYA, the one on the right a Lefever belonging to another member.  This is from Jan, 2014.

[GrampasGuns]

I love hunting with a sxs. I almost never take out my pump anymore. Now I need a 20 gauge!

[jeepster]

I bought a new Baikal 20ga sxs Chambered in 3 inch and a full set of carlson chokes about two years ago. If I'm not doing goose work, or shooting birds over the salt with my benelli nova 12 ga, all of my duck work is done with my Baikal 20ga. It may not be grandpa or great grandpas gun, but, one day it will be....

More people need to shoot doubles!!!! I'm after a 10ga sxs for goose work.....

[csaaphill]

love these pics cool

[caribou creek]

Got two LC Smiths in 12 and 16 gauge a Parker in 16 a Remington 1900 in 12 ga , an AYA in 12,a Steyr 12 ga  a Winchester model 24 in 16 gauge and a Zabala 10 gauge and an AYA in 12 ga. Also have a Browning superposed and a Miroku 20 ga.

Here is a turkey I shot with the LC 12 and black powder hand loads last spring.

   

My AYA with some late season birds




North Dakota pheasants with my 85 year old dad , he shoots a SKB.



My Steyr 12 gauge with auto ejectors and cocking indicators