Now the sceptical among you will say ‘cos he’s got some for sale’ or ‘now the old buggers 60 he can’t manage a 12 anymore’. Yes I have got several for sale and they are very good value for money.

They say wisdom comes with age and when I was about 50 I started to use a 20 bore, the main reason’s being:

•  20 bore cartridges today are as good and 12 bore cartridges were 20 years ago.
•  The narrow barrels and rib mean that the gun is a clinical instrument, not a fence rail.
•  Lightness means more speed and less fatigue.
•  You can carry more cartridges with less discomfort.

So, after five seasons of mostly shooting game with a 20 bore (the 12 bore Hammer gun gets used twice) I have come to the following conclusions:-

When shooting grouse, partridge and pheasant up to 35yds. (this would equate to the easier of Devon’s pheasants and higher than anything you will ever see in East Anglia) I am a better shot with a 20 than I would with a 12. However, for ultra high pheasant days I use a 12 bore coupled with 36g. 1¼oz. 5’s. Again, for flight-pond duck it’s a 20 bore. However, for wildfowling, other than over decoys, it’s a 12 bore coupled with 42g. 1½oz. Bismuth 4’s. We have several 20 bores at the school so come along and try one, but be warned you will probably want to buy one!

Just at the moment we have found a very nice o/u game gun in the Beretta SC. The action is case hardened, not the bright metal you would expect from a Silver Pigeon. Nor does it have the golden partridges of the more expensive grades. It is discreet and is truly an English ladies or gentleman's gun. It comes in 12 bore, as well as 20 bore, and we sell them at £1,200 (well, £1175 if you twist my arm). Pop in and have a look.

20/07/05

Clay Pigeon Shooting Lessons - Home Page