The L.C. Smith Collectors Association
[ Message Archive | The L.C. Smith Collectors Association ]

    16 ga turkey Archived Message

    Posted by Jim Cantwell on June 1, 2008, 3:25 am

    I'll get pix to Doc to post for me. This is just the story part. Took my newly acquired and gunsmith cleaned Elsie (1945 field) to KY and then to N Y for sprng Turkey. This is the first SxS I have hunted with. The gun is all original, including most of the blue and case coloring. It is choked full and extra full. I used old Western Paper shells. NO.6, 1 1/8 OZ, 2 3/4" Super X, S, 16H6. My son Jimmy,111, who has a pre-1912 12 gauge, called in a nice 2 year old 19 lbs with 9 1/4" beard. At 25 paces the XF barrel stopped him in his tracks. Five days later in NY, my best friend Ted called in a Jake, which due to a combination of things, fooled me completely as to distance. I thought he was about 35 yards when he started to alarm putt and depart the area. I rolled him with the XF barrel, but he immediately went airborne, the F barrel dropped him like a sack of potatoes. Ted and I walked over the mound and picked him up. I paced back to my shooting position and was both amazed and embarrased to count 55 for the ground shot and 60 for the airborne. Ted, who is an oldtime turkey shooter, told me that it was the finest wing shot he had ever seen. I don't normally shoot at any bird at that distance with any shotgun, however the lay of the land fooled me completely. So I'm embarrased by the incident, but proud as H*** of the shot, and all turned out well. Ted has a number of trap awards, and in 1954 as a junior in high school was asked by Winchester to tour for them, shooting charcoal briquettes out of the air with a 22. So I cherish his remark. By the way I'm totally hooked by the SxS. What a pleasure to hold and carry in the field. My O/U's just became "closet queens." In closing, please say a short prayer for Ted, who just before the turkey season learned he was fighting cancer. Thanks. Jim...


    Message Thread: