BEST GUN FOR GROUSE
The Sporting Chance ‘Size isn’t everything’ cartoon [October issue] brought back memories of the many discussions and arguments about barrel lengths, chokes, shot and load size, and all the rest of the jiggery-pokery appended to game shooting. My sporting days are coming to an end; having spent many happy times on the fields, moors and high tops, I am ready to vacate my peg to the young and hope they have as much enjoyment and pleasure out there as I have had. In passing, I tender the following advice.
First, the most expensive guns or clothes may interest but rarely impress the true sportsmen. Safety and understanding the traditions and etiquette of the sport are more important. Learn, practise and apply. Secondly, safe and consistently good
Shots do impress. To achieve this status demands not only the correct tools for the job, but dedication and practice. When you are comfortable with yourself and your kit your shooting will improve, as well may those prodigious invitations.
This brings me back to the cartoon, and the subject of barrel lengths. The number of times on grouse moors I have seen Guns, often holding the most expensive pieces of artillery, struggling to hit a single bird. A delightful gun, beautiful stock and engraving, a perfect fit and balance with 28in or 30in barrels being swung around in uncontrolled desperation. Sadly not the tool for the driven day. They may have a slight advantage when shooting over dogs or walking-up, but the weight of a heavier gun will seem even greater as the day progresses. One day my loader, a moor keeper, described them as “misplaced scaffolding poles”. A gun of this specification would be perfect for the stratospheric pheasants one encounters when gill shooting in Yorkshire, but for grouse coming directly towards you at 70mph, jigging and curling 4ft above the ling with the wind at their tails, I think not.
A grouse butt can often feel as overcrowded as Waterloo station on a Friday evening, so great care must be exercised, especially when the drive is coming in and the excitement is high. To be unencumbered and fleet of foot is a great asset. I have found for driven grouse a lighter, shorter-barrelled gun is more suited, my own pair having 25in barrels choked at 1/2 and 3/4. It allows one more precise control and improves agility, especially when raising and swinging behind. It’s also less tiring as the day progresses.
Shot size and loads are omitted for future discussion. Not all will agree with me, but before dismissing the idea, first try it – you may be as surprised as the chap in the picture. Size may be everything, but not always.
Peter Tweddle, Suffolk