Dove hunting with old shotguns

[ez45]

Did a little dove hunting on the 1st. Brought my new to me 1897 winchester made in 1906 And my 1889 Remington made in 1901. Both in 12 gauge.

Loaded some brass shells with black powder and 7 1/2 shot and had a blast.

To me there's something special about using these old guns and wondering who used them before me and what their lives were like.

I also enjoy the challenge, if you can call it that, of having to work the action on the 97 and cocking the hammers and switching triggers on the 1889. It's more involved and rewarding in my opinion than using my remington 1100. Just keeps it interesting.

 

[Armored farmer]

Nice shooting.

I like the old guns too.
I'm hunting with a 3x great-grandfather's rifle in my avatar picture.

 

[entropy]

Nice I've hunted with a 97, a 16 ga. my Dad had, great pheasant gun. The old guns still can do the job, and with style!

 

[kBob]

Not hunting yesterday, but checking the safe with my 14 y/o daughter. I showed her the LC Smith her Grandfather left us that his grand father bought new before going into WWI service. Apparently Grampa Dave's dad had a rubber butt pad added just be for passing it to Dave, but other than that it is a looker.

"Wow, its over a hundred years old! It has, like, art work on it! In the metal!" She was rather excited by it and wants to shoot it.

EZ,

nice pictures and I really like the Dove with the barss shells in the '89 double shot.

Thanks for posting.

You, too, "Panzer Bower"

-kBob

 

[Armored farmer]

I really like the sxs . My '97 is a twin to yours. I may have to try it on doves.

Thanks kbob.

 

[red rick]

My nephew and his wife came over my house on my birthday ( she baked me a cake ) and he saw my dad's old Steven's double barrel and asked if he could use it this season for rabbit hunting . He doesn't take care of stuff very well , but I told him he could because I know that I will be hunting with him most days . I will remind him that it still looks and functions this good because we take care of our tools . I think my dad will be happy that his grandson is using his gun . I will get it back after rabbit season is over and let him know it will be his when I am gone , but I am going to take care of it until he shows me that he is willing to take care of things and make them last .

 

[Sniper66]

I bought a carefully restored Remington Model 17 20 ga with full choke barrel. Prior to opening day banging through a round of sporting clays I was surprised how well I shot. Opening day brought one of the best dove shoots I've ever experienced. Much of the credit goes to that fine old shotgun. It gets another outing next week.

 

[ez45]

Thanks guys. The other guys I was hunting with really enjoyed seeing and hearing the black powder shells go off. It's a louder deeper boom than smokeless and of course a lot of fire and smoke.

 

[dawei]

I bird hunt with my 16ga Ithaca® Lefever - Nitro Special™ SxS made in 1921 (96 years old).

 

[FL-NC]

I bought a carefully restored Remington Model 17 20 ga with full choke barrel. Prior to opening day banging through a round of sporting clays I was surprised how well I shot. Opening day brought one of the best dove shoots I've ever experienced. Much of the credit goes to that fine old shotgun. It gets another outing next week.

I;ve got an old 17 myself- great gun, but haven't used it in over 20 years. My "old gun" I hunt with sometimes is a ithaca 37.

 

[Sniper66]

I;ve got an old 17 myself- great gun, but haven't used it in over 20 years. My "old gun" I hunt with sometimes is a ithaca 37.

You probably already know that the 17 was the forerunner and model for the Ithaca 37. Great guns.

 

[FL-NC]

You probably already know that the 17 was the forerunner and model for the Ithaca 37. Great guns.

Yep, and the BPS was the "original recipe". Your model 17 probably says Browning Patent on the barrel.

 

[Sniper66]

The guy who sold it to me (and did the fantastic restoration) gave me the whole history of the 17 and this gun in particular. When he removed the butt plate he found a couple of old hunting licenses rolled up a stuffed in the hollow of the stock. Included in the sale was his description of how it was restored and the hx of the gun along with the 2 old licenses. It shoots great. The full choke is as tight as ever.

 

[PapaG]

Going to use my "old" Navy Arms 12 gauge "magnum" this weekend. Got it in '75, killed a bunch of doves, a few pheasants, and a couple squirrels with it. I used to use an original Belgian ml but retired it after a bore scope showed some serious erosion in the breech. Dove load, square load of ffg, #8s, 1 1/4 oz. No choke. Card and fiber wads.

 

[LoneGoose]

Has the bag limit in CA been lowered?

 

[ez45]

Pretty sure it's the same as it was last year. 15 mourning doves. Unlimited eurasians.

 

[Crawdad1]

Did a little dove hunting on the 1st. Brought my new to me 1897 winchester made in 1906 And my 1889 Remington made in 1901. Both in 12 gauge.

Loaded some brass shells with black powder and 7 1/2 shot and had a blast.

To me there's something special about using these old guns and wondering who used them before me and what their lives were like.

What amazes me is how incredibly well built these old American shotguns were. The harder you use them the smoother they become. Almost like they're laughing in your face saying, "Is that all you got?"






Walking out the door with this Model 12 the last thing I heard was, "You'll be long gone before that thing ever wears out."

 

[ez45]

Oooh I really like that model 12 and canvas case. I think that might be my next shotgun purchase. Where'd you get the case?

 

[farm23]

I bird hunt including doves with old 16 ga sxs. One was built in 1902 and the other in 1936. I also have a 20 ga Ithaca feather weight pump but it has been in the gun safe since the sxs arrived. I give in when duck and goose hunting and use a 12 ga Remington 1187. The important thing is to get out and enjoy God's creation.

 

[Crawdad1]

Thanks EZ!!! This Ithaca I bought back in 1984 came in that case. It was a private sell and I said if the gun comes with the case I'll take it.
I don't know EZ whether or not you can buy this type of takedown cases anymore. I've seen the newer styles but I haven't seen ones like this.

I think I bought those shoes in 1984 also!!!

 

[Gun Master]

Please watch out for those Damascus Twist Barrels, with modern ammo !

The results can be life threatening !

Really like the Winchester Model 12 !
They're OK .
Also, Stevens, Fox, Ithaca, L.C. Smith.........

 

[Gun Master]

Thanks EZ!!! This Ithaca I bought back in 1984 came in that case. It was a private sell and I said if the gun comes with the case I'll take it.
I don't know EZ whether or not you can buy this type of takedown cases anymore. I've seen the newer styles but I haven't seen ones like this.


You need to buy some more shoes, unless they are sooooo comfortable, then stick with them.
Don't know what you paid for the gun, but I think you got "A WINNER" !

Oppps! May be a double post.
Mine starts with, "you need some more shoes...."

I think I bought those shoes in 1984 also!!!

 

[Crawdad1]

Thanks Gun Master I used it for every kind of hunting even deer and bear.

I like that Ithaca a lot but I have to admit its not in the same class as EZ's Remington.

Now that is a work of art as well as a shotgun!!!

 

[paulsj]

Please watch out for those Damascus Twist Barrels, with modern ammo !

The results can be life threatening

One can still use those provided barrels are in good condition with enough wall thickness. One has to shop at RST for appropriate ammunition.

 

[loose noose]

My 1897 made in 1901 I've used for dove as well, however, I use only reloaded 12ga. very light loads of 7/8oz lead #71/2 shot., very consistent within 30-35 yards using Red Dot powder. BTW when I got it, it was a basket case, and I completely restored it to like new appearance. Do believe I've got a picture or two of before and after in my picture album somewhere here. Just can't find it though at the time.