686 Silver Pigeon take it in to the field or not?

[anapex]

Back awhile when I went home to PA last, I was showing my Dad the 28ga Beretta Silver Pigeon I had just got. I had mentioned how it should be good for grouse. He seemed really surprised that I would even think about taking the gun in to the woods. So what do you guys think? Should I take a 686 Silver Pigeon out grouse hunting or should I save it for the trap field?

 

[PJR]

Why was he surprised?

If it's because he thinks the 28 gauge isn't suitable for grouse he's wrong.

If it's because he thinks the gun is too nice to be taken into the rough places where grouse are found then that's a subjective view. My guns go where I go and that includes the nice ones too.

Personally, I think it's a fine choice for hunting grouse and would use it for that purpose.

Paul

 

[Bayou Boy]

I feel the same way. I take my Sig 20 guage over/under squirrel and rabbit hunting just because I like to. It makes me feel good. It would be a shame to only use the gun at the range.

 

[Preacherman]

If you didn't want to shoot it "for real", why buy it in the first place?

 

[Dave McCracken]

Take it. It was meant to be shot.

 

[GreenFurniture]

Yep. That's what it was made for.

Besides, if I didn't take my MX-2000 hunting I would have been wasting money too.

 

[kudu]

Do it, it was meant to be used as a hunting gun.

 

[JohnBT]

"Brer Rabbit says, "Do anything you want! ... But please don't throw me in the briar patch!""



JT

 

[anapex]

His thoughts for not taking it in to the field were because it was too nice looking of a gun for where grouse would be found. I had planned on using it for hunting whenever I could but I just wanted to see what everyone else would think.

 

[Coltdriver]

I decided a while back that all guns were to be used. And the more they are used in the field the better!

I sold my last safe queen a year or so ago.

If I were really rich then I might collect some art piece only type rifles and pistols.

But until then all of my rifles go to the field

 

[TrapperReady]

The first major stock ding I put in my Browning O/U was done while chasing a dog who was chasing a pheasant. The first real blemish I got on my Beretta 391 sporting clays gun was while duck hunting with it last fall.

They are character marks (or "memory stimulators"), and for guns that I own and use, they make them more valuable.

 

[LHB1]

Sure, why not? I hunt doves and quail with a 20 gauge Grade VI Browning Citori over/under with exhibition grade wood, satin silver receiver, full metal engraving, and several gold inlays. It shoots as well as it looks and I get immense satisfaction out of using it instead letting it sit in the gun safe.

Good shooting and be safe.
LB

 

[Hawk]

My SP3 is picking up some nice character. After the first little ding, the ones that followed didn't hurt anymore.

Years down the road you can always pay to have it refurbished but no amount of money will imbue a safe queen with memories.

My .02 only.

 

[Brian Dale]

Everything that makes the lines of the gun beautiful are the result of its lineage -- that of almost 500 years of Beretta guns going out into the field. The field is what they were designed for, and their beauty comes from their fitness for that purpose. Honor its lineage and take it out; your gun won't look worse when the eye can tell that it's a real gun rather than a sculpture.

 

[DJW]

I took my 686 bird hunting in the upper penninsula of Michigan years ago. Pretty rough country. As I recall I was extra careful and would have had more fun with my 870..........The 686 probably has 100,000 rounds thru it on the skeet fields in registered events so it is not a safe queen, just a fine competition shotgun. The 870 is also lighter and more manuverable in thick brush. Just my .02.........DJW

 

[sm]

Class and lineage tires of always having to make an appearance, be on their best behavoir, being doted on for fear of getting scratched, banged, bloodied ,muddy, brair-ed, sun-scortched, rained-on..

Be it a lady or fine shotgun.

Nothing sexier than a lady with signs of having a good time - Shotguns ain't no different.

 

[anapex]

The 870 is also lighter and more manuverable in thick brush.

I'll disagree with ya here DJW, I think the only thing (that isn't a single shot) that may have a 686 in 28ga beat for being lightweight and manuverable is a Winchester 59.

Man Steve for some reason you now have me picturing you going out on a date with a one-eyed, one armed, chain smoking woman!

Now since I've confirmed what I was thinking anyway. Who wants to go help me find some grouse in Maryland!

 

[sm]

Man Steve for some reason you now have me picturing you going out on a date with a one-eyed, one armed, chain smoking woman!

I do have Class and Couth.

Too many times I have assisted Ladies in learning to shoot. Ladies "stereotyped" as being too " goody too shoes", Prim , Proper...

Perhaps they had to dress a certain way for their Profession, maybe the Profession's "stereotyped" them, perhaps they did in fact have money, came from "Old Money"...some have / do modeling, were cheerleaders...

Take a 25 yr old Brunette, 5' 10" , with a figure most women would die for and men run into doors. That morning a fundraiser, wearing a short mini-skirt - men standing in wait to write checks.

" I gotta get some air before the shin-dig tonight" - she says.

We take her Benz that afternoon to 'pop a few doves' , dusty and hot, and we take the backroads...in a Benz mind you. We had to go through a patch of timber to get in the field we wanted, she wasn't fast enough when I said " watch out", the limb I was holding snapped back and busted her in the lip. Briars scratched her hands, and thru her jeans...

Little Black Dresses don't conceal much. Her daddy asked what happened and why she arrived in her "old Jag". Rich Mom and Dad cracked up when she told them she went to pop doves, the Benz was covered in Dust, and ....

"Yep, that's our girl they said"

And the men pulled out more checks and envelopes for the fundraiser again that night.

Why did we take the Benz? That is where the Winchester Custom Shop Model 101's , Super X 1's were . Two of each. and the cases of AA ammo .

Just one example, one experience - there are others...

Like I said -
...nothing sexier...