Dave McCracken
Moderator In Memoriam
They sit forgotten and forlorn in closets,safes,tack rooms and behind truck seats. Often neglected and patinated from insufficient corrosion protection, they are part of our personal histories and for the most part ignored.
Most major American makers had one or more models. Single shot economy guns that were used for everything by those unwilling or unable to pay more for a double or a high priced repeater.
Most had iron, not steel frames, though the Winchester 37(Not to be confused with the Ithaca 37 pump) was the exception. Most had mild steel barrels, stocks with lots of drop, and triggers on the heavy side. Made in all gauges and 410 bore, they helped farmers protect their stock and crops, oft riding on tractors or strapped to the handles of a mule drawn plow.
And they taught generations of kids to shoot. The inexpensive price meant opportunity to folks with more need than money.The light weight meant punishment until good form was developed. The barrel light balance meant one HAD to keep the swing going instead of relying on momentum. The slow lock time common to the hammer models meant better timing was needed. The single shot meant no second chances. My father wasn't the only Depression kid to feed his family with a 16 gauge H&R.
These were rugged, dependable, and could go for decades without major surgery.
Arnold Reigger, an early ATA Hall of Famer, used a Winchester 37 to shoot his way to being one of the first AA27AA trapshooters.
And while unfashionable compared to our new and shiny repeaters and doubleguns, they still maintain a high Fun Factor. Maybe it's nostalgia, or a yearning for simpler times. In any case, they're still around, to touch the boy or girl in old shotgunners' hearts.
Some caveats....
ALL old shotguns should be checked out by a good smith before use. And few of these are suited to non toxic shot. Stick with light lead loads, or superlights.
With the light weight of the shotgun, light loads are enjoyable, heavy ones are not. Trust me on this.
Some older guns are chambered for ammo shorter than we use now. If the piece is pre WWII, figure it has a 2 1/2" chamber.
Chokes run from none to superfull. Patterning is as crucial with these as with any other shotgun. And oft, with those crooked stocks, POI is low. You may have to adjust your form to do this well.
Don't worry about being caught by your shotgunning friends with one of these. After all, they probably have one too, and periodically yearn for a foray into the past with it, a pocket full of high brass shells, and some brushpiles to kick cottontails out of.
Now pull that thing out of the closet and go shoot it....
Most major American makers had one or more models. Single shot economy guns that were used for everything by those unwilling or unable to pay more for a double or a high priced repeater.
Most had iron, not steel frames, though the Winchester 37(Not to be confused with the Ithaca 37 pump) was the exception. Most had mild steel barrels, stocks with lots of drop, and triggers on the heavy side. Made in all gauges and 410 bore, they helped farmers protect their stock and crops, oft riding on tractors or strapped to the handles of a mule drawn plow.
And they taught generations of kids to shoot. The inexpensive price meant opportunity to folks with more need than money.The light weight meant punishment until good form was developed. The barrel light balance meant one HAD to keep the swing going instead of relying on momentum. The slow lock time common to the hammer models meant better timing was needed. The single shot meant no second chances. My father wasn't the only Depression kid to feed his family with a 16 gauge H&R.
These were rugged, dependable, and could go for decades without major surgery.
Arnold Reigger, an early ATA Hall of Famer, used a Winchester 37 to shoot his way to being one of the first AA27AA trapshooters.
And while unfashionable compared to our new and shiny repeaters and doubleguns, they still maintain a high Fun Factor. Maybe it's nostalgia, or a yearning for simpler times. In any case, they're still around, to touch the boy or girl in old shotgunners' hearts.
Some caveats....
ALL old shotguns should be checked out by a good smith before use. And few of these are suited to non toxic shot. Stick with light lead loads, or superlights.
With the light weight of the shotgun, light loads are enjoyable, heavy ones are not. Trust me on this.
Some older guns are chambered for ammo shorter than we use now. If the piece is pre WWII, figure it has a 2 1/2" chamber.
Chokes run from none to superfull. Patterning is as crucial with these as with any other shotgun. And oft, with those crooked stocks, POI is low. You may have to adjust your form to do this well.
Don't worry about being caught by your shotgunning friends with one of these. After all, they probably have one too, and periodically yearn for a foray into the past with it, a pocket full of high brass shells, and some brushpiles to kick cottontails out of.
Now pull that thing out of the closet and go shoot it....
". I used it to hunt with for 28 years also used for home defence, great little gun. Don't hunt any more and now use a 870P for protection.
