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Joined: 11 Nov 2007 Posts: 72 Location: SE Wyoming

Just curious. How many here use an old beater for bad weather, & or tough hunting conditions instead of the gun you realy want to use? I'm torn between keeping my best guns for a better day & life is too short to hunt with an ugly gun.

caplock

Caplock,
That's all I use is ugly guns, they're a tool and when worn out I replace them. Still trying to wear out that M37 Ithaca, while the new Dehaan gets it's daily thrashings also.
I've bought all mine to use and will put all of the father in laws in the safe.
He's the collector Razz

Besides if I look at any of them to long, I just have to pull their trigger Rolling Eyes

Sorry man I'm probably no help, but just can't come to buying the VS model and then not use it Wink

Charlie

caplock,
I have been told I am a good example of a poor example but, here is my thoughts. I have a couple shotguns I use when the weather is good. Good means it is not pouring down rain. In all other cases I don't worry about the shotgun in the field. Wet weather a simple boxlock or my Rem. 11 or 11-48 goes to work. I just don't like to soak a sidelock if I can keep from it.
Best,
Ron

Member Joined: 15 Jul 2007 Posts: 230 Location: SW Idaho

I use CZ ringnecks in either 12 or 16 ga as my foul weather guns. Usually that means rain/snow is highly likely.

Member Joined: 25 Jul 2006 Posts: 781

Even my best guns go out in snotty weather.

With good wood finish and careful drying of the metal parts there is no reason not to....and a good gun looks so nice leaning in the corner of a weatherbeaten duck blind with a few beads of water and dog hair all over it.

Jeff

Caplock,

My beater is a Sears model 20 pump gun 16 ga. Don't know who made it for them,as it looks somewhat like a mod. 12 in the reciever,safety in front of the trigger(crossbolt),but the mechinism that feeds the shells from the magizine tube up to the chamber looks and acts just like a mossberg. All the 12 ga.s that I've seen were J.C. Higgins.
The 16 is marked with 2 astreiks for mod. choke. The bore mikes at .668 and the choke mikes out at .650 (.018). The bore is the best looking part of the gun. The reciever has a lot of shallow surface pitts and frekles all over. The barrel looks a little better, a few scratches here and there. No checkering was ever on the stock or forearm, just plain jane, but it shoots where you point it. It throws a slug pretty good too. I used it last weekend for the extended anterless season as it was rainey and trying to freeze. I will use it tomorrow as it is snowing right now. Expecting 6-8 inches by morning.
Best of all, I gave 50 dollars for it about 6 yrs. ago.

Griff

Member Joined: 06 Nov 2006 Posts: 128 Location: NE

Stack16
Your Sears model 20 was made by High Standard. I've never shot one in a 16, but a High Standard 12 ga. was my first and only shotgun for about 20 years.

berg

One man's "best" is another man's "beater". My "best" guns are Fox Sterlingworths. I have Stevens 5100's which my "bad weather" guns. Now, to some folks, my old Sterlys would be the beaters. And so it goes...

Some folks would clasify most of my shotguns as beaters,,

but thats their opinion...

they are my pride and joy..

rayb

Member Joined: 31 Oct 2005 Posts: 446 Location: Wisconsin

No beaters here, but if waterfowling will use either a Rem 332 or if its really going to be muddy an 870 but they all are treated with care.
The one thing I won't do is let someone purchase my guns that have been unused when I an dead!-Dick

Member Joined: 20 Mar 2005 Posts: 1522 Location: NH

My Merkels go to field no matter what the weather. I can always dry the wood off, clean and lubricate the metal parts and have it ready to go again. My 1620 got wet so many times earlier this year I thought I was going to clean the blue right off the barrels. Laughing

For deer hunting I use my T/C Encore with walnut stock/forend. Only time I change there is if we are driving in heavy brush etc. Then I put my Rem 1187 to use with a buckshot barrel on it. But it's got nothing to do with the weather.

Member Joined: 02 Feb 2006 Posts: 602 Location: western pa

I'm with budrichard on this one. Since passing the 1/2 century mark, I figure that I'll be the guy that puts the unintentional ( though all too common) marks on them. If they get wet, so be it, I'll be just as wet as the gun. Besides, half the fun of using guns is learning what makes them work and how to care for them. If a guy is uncomfortable about carrying a gun on an ugly day, he probably ought to leave it at home on a nice day too.

Member Joined: 15 Jul 2007 Posts: 230 Location: SW Idaho

Well, I have passed that magical half century mark also and I would disagree with Fred. Nothing wrong with using a beater. Most of my guns until just recently were beaters. But I see no sense in taking a $3,000 gun out in crappy weather when I have a $700 gun that will do just as well and not risk screwing up a fine piece of workmanship. Do I need it often, well only when I don't have a lot of time to clean for several days my good guns or when it is really wet out.

Why do I have $3,000 guns....I appreciate the fine workmanship and handling, pride of ownership for short. Can I use somethings less, hell yes, or I wouldn't have hunted for the last 50 years. Do I want to rust out a fine gun I could pass on to my grandsons? You make the call.

Guest

My "beater" is a high condition M-37 16ga. I intend to use it for a little duck hunting this season using T/M shells. I have a couple of Sears Model 20s in 12ga (father's and grandfather's) that don't seem to eject modern shells well. My father bought both of them in the 50s when paper/roll-crimped shells were used, and I guess were a little shorter than the crimped shells that we use now. Or maybe they need a good cleaning. I have used my Merkel 1620 and Jeffrey BLE guns in less than ideal weather. But the Jeffrey is 95 yrs old and needs to be handled with care. I have read that Merkels are "rust magnets" but have not found that to be the case with my 1620.