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Thanks to Woodcock for this wonderful artical .

The Perfect Quailin" Gun

The perfect quailin' gun has many attributes, including light weight a decided advantage when sprinting after fast-running scalies and Gambel quail of our desert Southwest.
Above all else, quail hunting is the thing I like to do most with a shot gun. There is something about these sporty little creatures that quickens my pulse, increases my awareness, and warms my heart. I have fed my passion for their pursuit for 40-plus years through several states and have man aged to bag all six of our huntable North American species. I even passed up a couple of shots at

Japanese quail on the "Big Island" of Hawaii once before learning that they were legal game. Recalling how they zipped across the cane field, though, I probably would have missed them anyway.

I've shot at quail and hit a few-with about every type of shotgun made. My first quailin' gun was an old Stevens l6-gauge side by-side bored improved cylinder and full. For many years of my bird shooting, in fact, it was my "everything" gun. I don't keep a journal of my hunting scores as some do, but by the time I could afford

something different-I didn't say bet ter-I believe the quail count for this reliable campaigner had grown to about 1,000.

Through these intervening years, I have gone through the entire smooth bore spectrum while satisfying my ad diction for the gunning of quail. Gauges from the popular 12 through the diminutive 0410 have all been used from time to time in pumps, semi-au tos, and over-unders. On at least one
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occasion, I used a single-shot in my quest for quail. Some of this variety of usage has been due to necessity and simple curiosity, while part of it was to field test firearms for manufacturers. But through it all has been a serious desire to discover the perfect quailin' gun.

Many thousands of words have al ready been written about this subject,
and much of the resulting material is an exercise in hedging. Quail hunting viewed from all angles, you see, is a very varied sport. Our six species, with their individual personalities, coupled with the differing terrains in which they live, place a wide variety of chal lenges upon both the hunter and the gun he uses. Some writers, failing to understand this complexity, recom mend guns for quail as if all of these birds were taken in the classic style-

in the open field over staunch pointing dogs. Most of my quail have been killed otherwise.

What we are looking for here in the perfect quailin' gun is a firearm that you can take into any of our many quail hunting environments, and it will pass the test. Whether it's the bobwhite of the South, East, or Midwest, the Mearn's, scaled, and Gambel of the

arid Southwest, or the val

ley and mountain varieties of the West Coast, our chosen smoothbore must do the job. And I promise not to hedge. By the time we reach the last para graph of this article, you will have my exact speci fications for such a gun. You can applaud or throw stones as you see fit.

Let's take each feature of the perfect quailin' gun one at a time, and I'll ex plain my reasons for the choices as we go. First off, it must have two bar rels. And as I write this, I can see the frown on the face of Carl Yates, a quail hunting friend in Ft. Worth, Texas. Of course, if I specialized on the

bobwhite as he does and always over impeccably trained point ers like his Rex and Jodie, then perhaps I would agree with his choice of an au toloader as my firearm as well. But even when hunted with dogs, other quail species can be far more unpre dictable than Mr. Bob.

An open choke is almost always ad visable when quail hunting, but just about as certainly, a tighter choke will also be needed. So with two barrels, you have the best of both worlds, ready
Sporting Clays

either for that single from under your feet or the busted covey barely in gun range. And though I see you glancing admiringly at that faithful side-by-side sitting in the cabinet, I must bow to the wisdom of far better clay target com petitors than I and point out that a sin gle sighting plane, under varied condi tions, is superior to two. So our double-barreled perfect quailin' gun has to be an over-under.

Now I must make a few enemies among gun makers and users alike. Since our perfect quailin' gun gives us a choice of chokes, it should also pro-
vide us with an instantaneous, effort less manner in which to use that advan tage. And regardless of the immense popularity enjoyed by the single selec tive trigger, even the best of these se lector devices fails to equal the func tional value of two triggers. When that surprise flush occurs at maximum range, sliding the finger to the back trigger is far simpler and faster than thumbing a selector.

Did I hear someone say he wouldn't be caught dead shooting a cheap-look ing double-triggered gun? You might, then, wish to check out the new Sport-

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ing model by Holland & Holland of fered with twin triggers. You might also want to start looking for refinanc ing on your home in order to pay for one of these works of art.

It's probably going to break the hearts of Mr. & Mrs. Holland, howev er, to learn that the price tag on their beautiful bird gun effectively disquali fies it from receiving 01' Uncle Richard's perfect quailin' gun honors. The word "expensive" is relative, of course, depending upon the individual reader's bank account. But once you have chased all species of our quail un der the sometimes rugged conditions encountered, I think you'll agree that the guns we tote should be modestly priced. It's funny how the seriousness of dings and scratches seems to multi ply in direct proportion to a firearm's value.

In review, so far our perfect quailin' gun looks like an inexpensive over-un der with double triggers. Barrel length should be a compromise since we'll use the gun everywhere, and 28 inches seems about right. Chokings of skeet and modified prepares you for either close or reasonably long shots.

The bore we'll eliminate quickly from consideration as the perfect quailin' gun is the .410. I do, on rare occasions, enjoy using the pop-gun on quail, but only while in the presence of proven retrievers. Cripples occur too often with this little firearm to submit their recovery to human or untrained canine efforts; Also, in my opinion, the mountain quail, which our perfect quailin' gun must handle along with the rest, is just a touch too large a bird to be attempted with the baby bore.

I think, partly from an aesthetic standpoint, we must also eliminate the 12 gauge from our description of the perfect quailin' gun. But beyond the emotional aspect, it will be difficult to find one of the big-bore offerings that will meet our weight requirements. You see, considering the many gruel ing miles we must walk, the sprints we will make to catch those desert runners, the mountains we must climb, and the brush to be fought, the lighter the gun, the better. The perfect quailin' gun should tip the scales at under six pounds, and this usually means a smaller gauge. A given number of 12 gauge shells will also weigh more than those of its petite cousins, and carrying those extra ounces can make a long day a little less pleasant.

What I've done to this point is com mit a little self plagiarism. Several years ago, I wrote a piece for a small

Sporting Clays

.-

I
regional publication using this same ti tle. Bit by bit, I described this very same gun, but at the end, I had to ad mit that I did not own such a firearm and in fact had never seen one. Based upon my varied experiences at quail hunting, however, those would be the exact specs for a perfect quailin' gun.

Shortly thereafter, fate nodded in my direction. Jim Stephens, a longtime quailin' buddy who owns a successful sporting goods store in a San Diego, California, suburb, liked the article although he would never admit it and decided to take this matter into his own hands. Eventually he managed to acquire a discontinued Marlin Model 90 over-under in 16 gauge with 28 inch barrels and double triggers. First, he sent it off to Simmons to have years of abuse removed by their magic and to have its tight choking opened to my prescribed skeet and modified. Then he presented it to me as a gift .

For the past several seasons, I've used this firearm far and wide, and it is, in fact, the perfect quailin' gun. Its 51/2 pounds become more important each time my legs turn a year older, and it helps make possible some long days afield. Although quail are its spe cialty, in a pinch, it performs nicely on dove and pheasant, and as I found in Michigan last fall also presents itself quite well in the woodcock and grouse coverts. Without its light weight two Novembers ago, I'm sure I would have died alone in the thorny chachalaca tangles of South Texas.

Oh, I suppose cosmetically speak ing, the addition of an aluminum rib might help the appearance of this rather plain-looking gun, but I doubt it would point any better. Screw-in chokes would also make it a bit more efficient in specific situations, but its skeet and modified restrictions seem such a workable compromise, I've never considered going to the change abIes. It's pretty perfect just as is.

I wish I could furnish you with a list of new, affordable guns that fit the perfect quailin' gun requirements, but as of this moment, I have not discov ered even one. If there are manufactur ers who produce firearms that ap proach these specs, I would certainly welcome a chance to field test them. Surely there must be a perfect quailin' gun out there somewhere, and I urge the serious, multi-species quail hunter to seek it out. The rewards of owning one is certainly worth the effort of a lengthy search.

Mine, by the way, is ~

not for sale .. ~

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This is what Doc said to me one day about his Merkels and other PRETTY GUNS .

He said it is like a REALLY GOOD LOOKING BLOND IN A CONVERTIABLE SPORTS CAR , everyone loves to look at her, BUT IF SHE DOESN'T PERFORM WHAT GOOD IS SHE .

He said that he would much prefer to have a rather plain looking girl that DELIVERED PERFORMANCE .

This is how I see the Marlin 90 she is a rather homely looking ole girl untill I make the shot on that bird it goes down in a ball of feathers and do it time and time again , then she looks like a gal at closing time she starts to look real good.

This artical sums it up much better than this ole Hillbilly could hope to ever convey .

Regards Charles

Member Joined: 04 May 2005 Posts: 123 Location: Oregon

Charles, 5 1/2 lbs?????? Is that a misprint?

Larry

Hello Larry :

You caught that too I see , yes I think so but it could happen I have plans for such a weight but not from a factory gun the 28" in Deeley latch forearm weights in at 6 lbs 6 oz the spring clip forearm comes in at 6 lbs 4 oz and the 26" with springclip comes in at 6 lbs 2 oz but I have taken the one that I am shooting so well on birds a 26" to 5 lbs 15 oz with a .600 recoil pad installed , I will be posting more soon about that , I have an idea to make a few out of alum. and perhaps a titanium one or two as well , so the 5 1/2 lbs is perhaps a real possibility altho I want one breaking the 5 1/4 lbs mark for myself only .

Regards Charles

Joined: 28 Mar 2006 Posts: 247 Location: Wickenburg, AZ

http://www.winrest.com/fiveforfive.html

Read the "Five for Five" article. That comes pretty close to my definition of the "perfect" quail gun.

When I was 12, the perfect quail gun was an H&R Topper 20ga single shot that my father traded a typewriter for on my birthday.
When I was 20 and had my first real job the perfect quail gun was a Winchester #97 that I bought with one of my first paychecks..
When I started making a little more money the perfect quail gun was my Remingtom #32.
For a number of years the perfect quail gun was a Winchester #12, 16ga that was like new when I bought it and through the years became like a perfect-fitting old shoe so that I didn't have to do any thinking when a bird got up,the gun seemed to point itself.Still don't know why I sold it.
When I started haunting gun shows the perfect quail gun was the Churchill 20ga S/S that I had to sell a couple of guns to be able to buy.
For a couple of years when the quail were as thick as grasshoppers in AZ my perfect quail gun was my Winchester #42 with solid rib.
My latest perfect quail gun is my new RBL 20ga that I waited 1 1/2 years to get.
What will my next "Perfect Quail Gun" be? Your guess is as good as mine!!! Cool

Joined: 19 Jun 2004 Posts: 1480 Location: Mpls, MN.

Walt,
That may be the first time I've ever seen someone put in print that...a Remington 32 is...a perfect quail gun.

Yea, I'm going to say for sure that is the first time I've seen that.
Best,
Ted

Joined: 28 Mar 2006 Posts: 247 Location: Wickenburg, AZ

Almost anything decently made in 28 ga. between 6.25 to 6.5 pounds IMO. Anything lighter just comes up too quick and stops quick too. I find a .410 with 1/2 ounce of 8.5 or 5/8 ounce of #8 more than enough for most stocked quail. I shot my share of wild Florida Bobs too over Palmetto fields with a .410 with 11/16 ounce of #8 shot. They died in the air as often as not and were the biggest quail I've yet hunted.

In Florida, I learned to not look down on a covey. I kept my eyes soft focused at head height, picked up the first bird quickly as it rose through my field of vision. I go two as often as not, because my eyes were in the right place to see the birds quickly. Your eyes must beat barrels to the bird or you will stop swinging every time. If you see them quickly, and can mount a gun well, you can hit the first one inside of 12 yards regularly, and the second inside 20. I've seen a man with a Remington LT-20 dump three for three about 2/3rd of the time. He was a very good shot. He also never looked down for them.

Quail are small and look fast, because they are harder to focus on, especially if you are looking down when they flush. They aren't that fast. Snipe are smaller, faster, spookier, and even trickier to see quickly, because they almost always fly low for about 30 yards before they tower. If you can dump snipe, quail are not that hard. Ruffs are a lot quicker and faster than quail. Look down for them, and you're dead. A good 28 is fine for them too. I've never hunted western quail yet. I doubt they are faster than a ruff. A 28 should do there too I'd wager.

A 12 is too much. Even a 16 is overkill with today's ammo. However, a 3/4 ounce 16 ga. handload would do the job perfectly. Seeing them quickly is the key. Once they are out past 30 yards, they are usually gone. They are a small bird. If you are that slow to see them, get thee to a skeet field and practice. Also, learn where to put your eyes before the birds flush.

Member Joined: 28 Oct 2005 Posts: 665 Location: Louisiana

Charles, just prior to discontinuing the Model 90 in 1960, Marlin conducted strength tests on an aluminum receiver but no aluminum guns were reported to have been made.
As long as you're crankin' on this, consider a 28ga.--maybe on Marlins .410 receiver? Naaah. Just a nice 16 with barrels for the non-toxic shot we will all be using for everything in the future.

If I can ask a question. At what age should we start looking for this 5 1/2lb. gun? When are we to old to carry any thing heavier in the field?

Member Joined: 28 Oct 2005 Posts: 665 Location: Louisiana

Oldhunter--I start looking for that gun about 2:30pm; having started walking just after dawn.

Member Joined: 01 Dec 2006 Posts: 524

Perfect or not my hunting buddies and I have been killing quail from a young age with everything from bird shot filled .22's to hand me down pumps and semi's to adult level costly stacks and SXS's. When I really stop and think about it we all shoot 12GA's as our "go to quail gun". I only know one guy who uses a 28GA and thats because he has 4 smashed vertebrae in his back. We were all raised "country boys" and felt lucky we even had 12GA's, or in my case my grandpa's borrowed 16GA Ithaca sxs. Let's not fool ourselves, as much as we all love the 16GA, the most versatile of all shotguns is still the 12GA. I have loaded it down to 3/4oz and all the way up to 2oz's. Gun weight, we never considered because as young men it was never a factor. As middle aged 40 somethings gun weight still doesnt really bother us because we're all in such great shape from the sports we do including chasing WILD quail and chukars. Now I don't know if any of you (especially midwesterners and easterners) have ever had the chance to chase public land wild chukars out west, but it is a thing of absolute brutality.
Of all the hunts we do out here the only thing that comes close in brutalness is Mountain goat. But its really even worse than that because there is no break. Anyway, didnt really mean to go into that. But the perfect quail gun is the one you have. other than that, there is no pefect quail gun because quail gun selection is a regional thing based upon the environment being hunted. Bob Brister got his 26" little 20GA so caught up in the swamp thickets once he took a hack saw to he gun in the field an cut it down to 20". It worked like a champ, then the gun was almost useless for anything else afterward and he got rid of it - just didnt balance anymore. He swore by a 28GA he'd been using for texas quail when he was invited to hunt quail with a friend in the windswept prairies of New Mexico boldly betting his fellow hunter who was armed with a 3" 20 GA with mod chokes that he'd outgun him with his 28GA gA open choked gun. Well, he lost the bet and swore that guy had used 3" magnums in his 20GA in those windy prairies. So there you have it. He even went on to say "it was as if nothing was coming out of my gun".Where I live, I would say (because I have flushing dogs) I like a 16 0r 12GA with 26" bbls with a SK1 and Mod to even full choked 2nd bbl. It is often windy, the birds flighty and the terrain very hilly - not too far removed from chukar hunting, though the quail do tend to hang out a tier lower on. the shelf when we're lucky. Think sage brush, rock and towering foothills flanked by majestic mountains.

Woodcock. I hunt with a few younger guys then me. They think I' a wuss hunting with a sixteen gauge A-5. After 4 hours they're ready to go home. I'm just getting started. I'm only 68 so I guess that's not a big deal. Compared to carrying 32 foot ladders for 30 years or a 7 ot 8 lb shotgun, no comparision. So I bought the Remington SPR 310 16 gauge O/U. Not one of those guns they keep arguing about. Not my grousr gun as I use my LC Smith which only weighs in at 8 lbs 3 ozs. It's funny my pheasant gun is lighter. A browning A-5 sixteen.

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