[Bud Tugly]

I bought my first shotgun at age 16. My dad used a 20 gauge with fixed modified choke and he let me use it a few times. I figured I could one-up and out-smart him so I went for the most bang I could get.

I bought a 12 gauge with fixed full choke. My thinking was that the 12 put more pellets in the air and full choke would guarantee that when I hit something it would go down.

That probably would have been fine if I'd been hunting ducks and geese, but I was going after grouse, rabbits, and woodcock. They move fast and most shots (at least around here) are in thick cover and close range.

Predictably (to me now) I missed lots and when I scored the occasional lucky hit the bird or rabbit was so shot up it was nearly inedible. For several years I thought I must just be a terrible shot since I rarely brought anything home.

Luckily I stumbled across a copy of "The Shotgunner's Bible" by George Laycock when it first came out and finally had a source of intelligent information. My eyes were opened and a few years later I switched to a 20 with modified choke and found out I was a pretty good shot after all..

The old man wasn't as dumb as I thought he was.

[Dksimon]

My brother has the same problem. He can beat me all day shooting trap but when it comes to birds hes no good. I guess it must be the fact that the birds are unpredictable. IMO its better to have a wide shot pattern unless you are hunting turkey or waterfowl. It takes a dang good shot to hit a pheasant with a full choke.

[sixgunner455]

Old guys don't get that way by being dumb.

fer'instance. I know this is the shotgun forum and all, still, it's a similar example.

Old guy I know and have hunted elk with, uses a .270 with handloads. He uses Barnes all copper bullets. Pre 64 Winchester model 70 that he bought new, and it shows decades of use.

His son wanted more gun, bought a fancy .300 magnum. Can't hit anything with it.

He was driving his old man around one day, just bumming, hunting sort of, but not serious, and a herd crossed the road. He grabbed the nearest rifle, the old man's .270, and ran up the hill. Stalked the herd, and took a cow w/one shot. DRT.

Road hunting? nah, old man can't hike far anymore. Just dad and son time, that happened to be in the mountains with guns like they did when he was younger and fitter.

[dagger dog]

In coming up, I hunted with several older fellows willing to let me tag along and ruin their day.

I had to have that 12 gauge also, they used 16's 20's .410"s and most were singles. It was hard for me to get a shot in when old cotton tail broke cover, when I did make a shot it was with the same results (butchery). Every once in a while they would take pity on the "kid" and let one run out where I could dispatch it with a shot that did not butcher it at the same time.

Looking back on these lessons.I find my self returning to the 16's 20's, but I'll be danged if I can make those shots with the .410 like they did , almost all being head shots.