Year-End Wrap-Up

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TrapperReady

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Well, I finally got out and shot the 1930 Browning A-5 which some of you may remember from some posts a while back. The good news is that it functions flawlessly with the 2 1/2" 16ga shells I mail ordered. The better news is that there is a brace of pheasants now sitting in the fridge, awaiting the dinner table tomorrow (I think it appropriate to start the New Year with the bag from the final day of this year).

This particular shotgun is built on a 12ga frame, so it offers no real advantage when carrying in the field... but it fits well and I had no problem placing an ounce of #6 shot where I wanted. The recoil seemed almost negligible.

At one point I did think of the THR thread we recently had discussing various self-inflicted injuries while assembling/handling shotguns. This occured the first time we came back to the truck to rest the dogs. I had used the mag cut-off and ejected the chambered shell while we took our break. Before heading into the field again, I loaded a shell into the chamber and pushed the mag cut-off forward with my left thumb.

Hmm... it seems that the little piece of metal surrounding the cut-off lever is very thin (like razor thin), and capable of being pushed about 7 mm under my nail. Not quite like flaming strips of bamboo, but somewhat unpleasant nonetheless. It did provide my hunting buddy with some amusement, so at least it wasn't all bad.

In any event, I wish all of you a very Happy New Year!
 
Happy New Year to THG forumites, and to the Shotgun Forum aficionados. Special wishes for health and prosperity to the Shotgun Forum's elixir of life, Dave McC.

Rom
 
TR, I'm sure the mental picture of those ringnecks will last far longer than the discomfort did. Thanks for posting, it's nice to hear of an old campaigner back in action.

Rom, thanks, and the same back.
 
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Outstanding Trapper!! I think the fact that you did it with a 1930 16gauge and 2 1/2" shells is REALLY cool!
 
You are correct about the images. The second bird in particular was as classic as you get. It flushed about 20 yards in front and moved across to the left as it rose. The sky was sunny and I was able to admire it for a second or two before swinging through and watching it fold.

The first bird... um... well that's another story. My buddy's dog was acting VERY birdy directly in front of us. My attention was focused there, and when I turned around to look at my dog, he was behind us and at a dead run. The rooster he flushed was a good 35 yards away, and 45 by the time he was clear of the dog. My first shot caused the bird to wobble and lose some feathers. The second shot did the same, but he pumped his wings a couple more times and started to gain altitude.

I used that old A-5 to the full extent of it's name, firing the last three in rapid succession, trying to bring the bird down before it topped out over a small rise. Predictibly, that didn't work and it sailed on. Fortunately, I did find it very much dead after a short search.

Lessons reinforced from that bird:

#6 is good. #5 is better.

Late-season pheasants are tough buggers.

Pay attention to all the dogs (even the house pet with the questionable nose finds a bird once in a while!).
 
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