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< 16ga. General Discussion ~ ~30 days to Grouse Opener & my Brit 16 will ride again! |
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Posted:
Wed Aug 16, 2023 2:25 pm
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Joined: 17 Jan 2014
Posts: 1391
Location: Denver, Colorado
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The recent ammo drought which caused me to sideline my old Brummie double has seemingly passed so... accordingly my circa 1905 William Richards will re-emerge from it's now 2-year hibernation and join me on the trails this year once again. I will be taking several firearms up with me to my former father-in-law's place in Nowhere, MN (including a new to me hammergun!) but it's likely that my 16 will get the nod first. We've had fall-like weather here off & on for the past week and it's really got me contemplating my next tour through the grouse woods.
Every season is special, but... as you roll through your 60s they take-on a sweetness and a sense of heightened awareness of the "ephemeral" nature of these things. I've had several dear friends and folks depart for the happy hunting grounds in this past year (and I'm even sensing my own diminished-energies more-so than ever before). I'd normally rush-out and go crazy walking and dieting and fretting about it all but this year I'm just going to let it happen. I've certainly picked up the pace in my walks with the dog (and the cooler mornings and evenings make that all the better) but...no more frenzy left in me these days I'm afraid. I'm happily done with all that.
Bring on Grousmas, I am ready.
[url=https://imgur.com/v3iIEIm]
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Last edited by Lloyd3 on Thu Aug 17, 2023 9:02 am; edited 3 times in total _________________ 'Tis better to burn out than it is to rust...... |
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Posted:
Wed Aug 16, 2023 4:36 pm
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Member
Joined: 19 May 2006
Posts: 323
Location: Too far south in New England
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Congratulations on breaking out that beloved gun! I will be in a similar situation hopefully next year as my WL Citori is with the smith for a stock repair, and he’s also going to fix my Flues which has been laid up for almost 20 years.
I have been fortunate enough this year to help out a fellow who offered me a guided grouse hunt in his neck of the woods. Him and his coworkers were mandated to stay at our location for a job that I knew wasn’t going to happen. He offered to share his spots if I got them out, and so I made some calls and it happened. My work schedule would prevent me going to my normal location, but his area starts a couple weeks earlier, so I’m happily getting some grouse hunting when I thought all was lost.
I succumbed to the gun lust and bought a 16 ga Sarasqueta sxs, 6 1/4 pounds. It was originally going to be my long hike gun and backup to the Citori but this year it will be the main gun for upland and I’ll use my Savage for waterfowl. I had Mike Orlen open up the chokes to IC/Cyl, then I put a Pachmeyer sporting pad on it to get the LOP to my liking. My first time at the club I shot a 23 with it, so now I’m shooting it as much as possible to bond with it.l before the opener.
I, too, am ready for Grousemas! |
_________________ "You keep saying that word. I do not think it means what you think it means" - Inigo Montoya |
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Posted:
Wed Aug 16, 2023 5:57 pm
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Joined: 25 Jan 2014
Posts: 233
Location: MN
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Lloyd
I hope you have acquired enough shells of the proper gauges. From I what I saw near Bemidji/Walker this spring, the good ol days in MN are coming back in fall 2023.
Drumming counts were high
https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/wildlife/grouse/reports/ruffed/rgrouse_survey_2023.pdf
And the spring weather was perfect for MN Grouse production. A Moderate to late snow melt delayed nesting until the weather is a little warmer. This was followed by a warm and very dry spring with no cold wet spells.
Grouse broods were everywhere. Enjoy it. |
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Posted:
Wed Aug 16, 2023 9:46 pm
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Joined: 17 Jan 2014
Posts: 1391
Location: Denver, Colorado
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fourtown: Wow! |
_________________ 'Tis better to burn out than it is to rust...... |
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Posted:
Thu Aug 17, 2023 10:16 am
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Joined: 17 Mar 2017
Posts: 2815
Location: Endless Mountains of Pa
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Lloyd3,
Outstanding old gun, pick up some RST SpredR shells for her. Bring on Grousmas for sure!
all the best,
Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man |
_________________ "L.C. Smith America's Best" - John Houchins
Pine Creek Grouse Dog Trainers |
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Posted:
Thu Aug 17, 2023 11:08 am
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Joined: 17 Jan 2014
Posts: 1391
Location: Denver, Colorado
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[url=https://imgur.com/Drci9mZ]
[/url]
This 118-year old gun only eats RST these days. It's too-light and too-old to stand much more abuse. |
_________________ 'Tis better to burn out than it is to rust...... |
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Posted:
Mon Aug 21, 2023 12:22 pm
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Joined: 17 Jan 2014
Posts: 1391
Location: Denver, Colorado
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[url=https://imgur.com/Y7MLF1N]
[/url]
Waiting patiently for this day to happen again... |
_________________ 'Tis better to burn out than it is to rust...... |
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Posted:
Thu Sep 21, 2023 5:48 am
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Joined: 17 Jan 2014
Posts: 1391
Location: Denver, Colorado
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Can't get my phone to transfer photography to my laptop for some reason, but I had a very good day here yesterday. Because of Covid 19 interrupting the supply chain for ammo ( & the cast-on somehow changing?) I hadn't shot my W. Richards here for some time (3-years?) but yesterday (& my favorite gunsmith) changed all that. Seeing very good numbers of birds here this year and confirmed that by limiting out before noon. I just love it when a light & lively 16 is the right choice! |
_________________ 'Tis better to burn out than it is to rust...... |
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Posted:
Thu Sep 21, 2023 9:35 am
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Joined: 17 Oct 2019
Posts: 456
Location: New Jersey
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Posted:
Thu Sep 21, 2023 11:28 am
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Joined: 17 Mar 2017
Posts: 2815
Location: Endless Mountains of Pa
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Swampy16,
Looks like you may not get an answer to that question!
all the best,
Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man |
_________________ "L.C. Smith America's Best" - John Houchins
Pine Creek Grouse Dog Trainers |
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Posted:
Thu Sep 21, 2023 3:55 pm
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Joined: 17 Jan 2014
Posts: 1391
Location: Denver, Colorado
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Swampy: I'm sorry, northern Minnesota! |
_________________ 'Tis better to burn out than it is to rust...... |
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Posted:
Wed Sep 27, 2023 6:54 am
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Joined: 17 Jan 2014
Posts: 1391
Location: Denver, Colorado
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The season is progressing nicely here. Walked 12k steps yesterday and saw lots of birds including my first spruce grouse of the year (don't see nearly as many as we used to, which is good [for purely selfish reasons] as they don't eat as well as ruffles do). Having killed several sprucie hens by accident, I try not to do so. The male birds are easy to identify, not so much for the hens.
\[url=https://imgur.com/qbw0lBW]
[/url] |
_________________ 'Tis better to burn out than it is to rust...... |
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Posted:
Sun Oct 01, 2023 11:41 am
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Joined: 17 Jan 2014
Posts: 1391
Location: Denver, Colorado
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[url=https://imgur.com/2Njgn9z]
[/url]
[/url]
All is good in the world again... |
_________________ 'Tis better to burn out than it is to rust...... |
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Posted:
Sun Oct 01, 2023 10:50 pm
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Joined: 17 Mar 2017
Posts: 2815
Location: Endless Mountains of Pa
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Lloyd3,
Nice shooting buddy, congrats again and it looks like the old gun still does a great job!
all the best,
Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man |
_________________ "L.C. Smith America's Best" - John Houchins
Pine Creek Grouse Dog Trainers |
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Posted:
Tue Oct 03, 2023 1:21 pm
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Joined: 17 Jan 2014
Posts: 1391
Location: Denver, Colorado
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Thanks Dave, yeah...it's been a great couple of weeks. Two to go. |
_________________ 'Tis better to burn out than it is to rust...... |
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