CHOOSING THE RIGHT GUN: FOR BEGINNERS
old and new hunters will be considering a new shotgun in the coming weeks as the NT Waterfowl hunting season looms ever closer.
While there is a wide range of shotgun makes and actions, from Miroku under and overs, Fabarm side by sides, to lever action or the newly arrived straight pull guns, those wanting a double barrel gun face another question. Sporter, field, skeet or trap gun? Trap and skeet guns are as titled, more suited just to clay target shooting.
The sporter and field guns are at home just about anywhere.
In my opinion they are great all-rounders but have slight differences.
I found, when doing research for this article, it could be confusing picking the differences if a new goose hunter/clay target shooter from the Top End just took in all the info from one source via the internet.
For example, the first site I viewed was a British YouTube video that espoused field hunting and referred only to pheasants.
This is upland hunting and no consideration was given to waterfowling and the guns that suit our geese or the high-speed ammo used.
When I went to an American site, they did differentiate between upland and waterfowling, but were somewhat preoccupied with gas semiautos for waterfowling because they can.
So, I will endeavour to sort the wheat from the chaff in relation to how a Top End goose hunter who also would like to shoot clays will learn the differences between a sporter and a field shotgun.
A field gun will have shorter barrels from 26” to 30” and sporter longer ranging from 28” to 34”.
Shorter barrels will swing faster, but longer ones will swing more smoothly.
The mid rib on a field gun will be solid to avoid a build up of debris, while a vented rib in a sporter aids cooling when several shots are fired in succession.
Field gun chambers will be 3” and 3½” for magnum goose loads, while the sporters use 1oz loads and will be 2¾” in length.
Extended or flush choke tubes don’t really matter, but a sporter may have extended tubes, so they can be changed by hand between stations.
A hunter won’t have the time with an incoming duck.
The field gun will normally have a fixed comb that is lower allowing a straighter shot, with the sporter often having an adjustable comb that can be raised or lowered or offset for right or left-handed shooters.
A higher comb will help shooting rising targets.
Field guns are often lighter because they must be carried continuously.
This is usually the case in upland shooting for quail, pheasant and rabbits etc.
Sporters are heavier to soak up recoil from 100s of shells shot during a day’s competition.
For goose hunting, especially with heavy loads, I would recommend something closer to eight pounds than seven.
But I do love a light SXS under seven pounds when I go south for rabbit, quail and pheasant.
Length of pull will usually be shorter in field guns to allow for thick hunting clothes.
In the Top End we will only have a shirt on whether we are hunting or shooting clays.
Slings are handy in the field to help carry the gun but disallowed at the sporting clays range.
The wood grain in a field gun is often straight while a sporter has lovely figured walnut for the aesthetics.
Adjustable triggers help to refine the length of pull and are useful on all guns.
Keep the screw tight though. I saw an adjustable trigger drop out because the grub screw was loose.
A palm swell helps position the hand more consistently but small hands can’t cope.
Children and ladies therefore should shy away from palm swells.
Other features that don’t really matter are one or two beads, fibre optic beads and engraving.
I love high grade wood and engraving but it never made me shoot any better.
Usually a field gun will be cheaper than a sporter, due to the grade of timber used and the extent of the engraving.
Always spend as much as you can afford on the gun you want.
Then you can’t be disappointed down the track.
Quality does matter when it comes to durability.
Come out and try clay target shooting every Friday arvo at the NT Field and Game range, Brandt Rd, Mickett Creek Shooting Complex, Knuckey Lagoon from 5pm till 9pm.
Goose Fever Expo is looming on the horizon.
All the fun of that fair will take place, Sunday September 16 with both a Simulated Field shoot, trade displays and a novelty clay target event.
All welcome as usual. Join Field and Game, www.ntfieldandgame.com.au Join SSAA, www.ssaa.org.au Join Australian Deer Association www.austdeer.asn.au Like NT Field and Game on Facebook. Email: ntfieldandgame@gmail.com Or fnflodge1@bigpond.com - BART IRWIN