Shotguns-show us your kit

[gloworm]

Well Chaps, a quick search shows nothing so...
We have threads for rifles and pistols so I thought why not one for the venerable shotgun. Whether your leaning is towards putting food on the table or punching holes in clouds at the clay range or for those in more understanding locations, home defence. I thought we might have a show and tell, be it a humble bunny basher or a hand crafted masterpiece, we must have some real gems between us.

I start the offering with some of mine, they are old but much loved

From the top I have
1. A Midland Gun Co. sidelock
2. A Beretta 301 Semi
3. A Greener GP
4. A Winchester Model 12 (dated 1961)
5. A Winchester Model 97 (dated 1939)

They all get used, either on the farm or on clays or both

 

[Oddbod]

Bettinsoli Diamond

Beretta Silver Pigeon

1948 Beretta SxS which belonged to a former Home Army colonel & which has seen a lot of use. I might get the 'orrible butt pad replaced & the whole thing reblued.

 

[ugly]

There isn't enough bandwidth!

 

[gloworm]

There isn't enough bandwidth!

Well don’t tease, at least show a selection of the old, rare and out of mortal mans price range

 

[ugly]

Most of my decent stock is up in a shop in Derbyshire, I only have a handful here, something like 3 section 1 shotguns, five pumps, wait no thats actually three, an auto and a handful of oddball calibers such as 28 bore etc. I do prefer the English Game Gun even if made in spain or turkey but I own a really old Marocchi over and under which doesn't always want to work but hits birds like there is no tomorrow!

 

[skeetstar]

I do a bit of clay shooting, and I am a CPSA instructor, so I have a gun for teaching

In terms of what is in the gun cabinet... in order of being purchased

30 in Browning 425 grade 1, my first gun, never sell it, pretty wood, use it for game when I get an invite
28 in Browning 325 grade 1 daughters gun, and used for teaching.
32 in Miroku MK38 grade 1 Had it Teagued, my day to day clay gun
30 in Mk38 grade 3, bought for Trap, rarely shot nowadays
28 in Browning 325 grade 1, absolutely mint, bought it cos it was so clean and nice.
Beretta a400 semi
Browning Gold semi

the pic is the 425

 

[Effendi]

I would like nope want almost, need, yes, thats it. I most definitely need a Winchester 1897 - preferably a trench version.

 

[Oddbod]

I would like nope want almost, need, yes, thats it. I most definitely need a Winchester 1897 - preferably a trench version.

I applied the same logic to a left handed Benelli Super Black Eagle, complete with extended magazine tube.
It's taken some getting used to but I'm now seeing a definite improvement in my 3 Gun performance (your side of the Pond obviously).

 

[Ravers]

Just picked up my new grouse gun today from our very own @ugly.

It’s an old Westley Richards circa 1880. 28” Nitro proofed Damascus barrels. Box Lock Non-Ejector. Balances perfectly 1/4” forward of the crosspin (as all best guns should). 15” very well figured walnut stock.

It’s an absolute beaut. I’ll probably blue the pins, top lever and trigger bow when I can be arsed which is how it would’ve been when new.

Otherwise perfect.

Top tip: check out Westley Richards’ instagram page for some utterly stunning gun photography.

 

[Ravers]

The Turk.

Huglu handmade thing. 12b OU.

Looks and shoots a hell of a lot better than a £1000 Turkish gun has any business doing. The wood on this gun is spectacular. Most of the people I shoot with think it’s a £20,000 Italian.

My only criticism is it’s a little on the heavy side but I’m a big lad so it’s ok.

Full and full chokes so good for those high pheasants.

 

[plaster]

Well Chaps, a quick search shows nothing so...
We have threads for rifles and pistols so I thought why not one for the venerable shotgun. Whether your leaning is towards putting food on the table or punching holes in clouds at the clay range or for those in more understanding locations, home defence. I thought we might have a show and tell, be it a humble bunny basher or a hand crafted masterpiece, we must have some real gems between us.

I start the offering with some of mine, they are old but much loved

From the top I have
1. A Midland Gun Co. sidelock
2. A Beretta 301 Semi
3. A Greener GP
4. A Winchester Model 12 (dated 1961)
5. A Winchester Model 97 (dated 1939)

They all get used, either on the farm or on clays or both







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On the Greener what's the side lever for please

 

[HE117]

On the Greener what's the side lever for please

Its the safety catch..

 

[plaster]

Its the safety catch..

I was thinking the "button" was the safety

 

[Ravers]

Also got an old Lincoln 12b OU farm gun which I’m looking after for a mate and isn’t even worth photographing, but it’s a great crow basher and saves scratting around the hedgerows with the nice stuff.

And there’s the father in law’s trio of 1922 H&Hs which only come out on very special occasions.

 

[Oddbod]

I was thinking the "button" was the safety

I think you have to press the button in to operate the breech lever.

 

[plaster]

My martini Henry don't have one its what puzzled me

 

[Ravers]

Anyone any good at proof marks?

Just trying to make heads or tails of the ones on the Westley Richards.

In one corner it’s got LP74. Is this London Proof 1974? I’m a little rusty.

I expect this maybe when it got Nitro Proofed. It’s got the usual saracen’s swords with NP on it.

It’s also got 2 1/2” 3 tons on it. As well as the number 740” which I’m guessing means 740 bar.

Cartridges and pressures aren’t my strong point. I’m just trying to work out what’s safe to chuck down it.

I’m guessing from the proof marks that any 2 1/2” cartridges under 740 bar are OK (so any 2 1/2” CIP cartridges basically).

Just wanna be sure.

 

[HE117]

I was thinking the "button" was the safety

No.. the "button" on a GP is the end of the main action pin that the lever hinges on. In a "proper" Martini this has a cocking indicator in the form of a vertical pointer. The cocking indicator points back when the action is cocked..

You open a Martini by simply pushing down the lever..

Cocking indicators do not make much sense to the modern observer, but you have to appreciate that people looking at a Martini for the first time would have been used to seeing a cock or an external hammer on a gun which would tell you the state of the weapon. Many early firearms with hidden or shrouded firing pins had cocking indicators of various kinds.

 

[HE117]

Anyone any good at proof marks?

Just trying to make heads or tails of the ones on the Westley Richards.

In one corner it’s got LP74. Is this London Proof 1974? I’m a little rusty.

I expect this maybe when it got Nitro Proofed. It’s got the usual saracen’s swords with NP on it.

It’s also got 2 1/2” 3 tons on it. As well as the number 740” which I’m guessing means 740 bar.

Cartridges and pressures aren’t my strong point. I’m just trying to work out what’s safe to chuck down it.

I’m guessing from the proof marks that any 2 1/2” cartridges under 740 bar are OK (so any 2 1/2” CIP cartridges basically).

Just wanna be sure.

Nope.. your markings show the pre 1954 system.. the 2 1/2 cartridge used to be used in light game guns, but not seen much these days..

The standard proof pressure up to 1954 was 3 tons.. this is from the old lead crusher method which is equivalent to 867 bar in the new CIP copper crusher system..

12-2 ½ 3 tons can use CIP approved cartridges marked 12-65

.740" is the bore diameter!

 

[Skunkmiester]

I'll be on the lookout for a clay gun in a few months time. I have just started applying for my license at the moment. I'll also be going for a FAC but if I applied for both at the same time it will take a lot longer than going Shotgun first and that is the one I really want to get in to soon.
I have had a go with a F16 so far and that was very nice to shoot with. But I'll try a few more before making my first purchase.