Two days to go

[Silvers]

I'd like to introduce a vixen that will be hunting for birds here in PA starting next week. She’s a New Britain XE Grade 20 bore that’s choked IC and tight Modified, stocked in Turkish and with a checkered butt. Check out the diamond grip section. Nope, she’s not gonna replace any of my older pets ..... but a new gal has to start somewhere, doesn’t she?

[kgb]

Do you know how much constriction went into those chokes? The diamond grip is gorgeous with that checkering.

[Silvers]

These chokes are 7 and 17 points of constriction, and throw 45 and 57% patterns respectively with 7/8 ounce Remington Gun Club shells - 7-1/2 shot. That's a 3 shot average from each tube.

[fullchoke16]

The way that the checkering pattern directs your eye to the butt of the well figured stock is really well done. When you sit down to take a break in the woods, you're going to be fascinated looking over that gun. Be careful not to look too long, us older fellows have a tendency to stiffen up a bit after a spell of pushing brush.

[Jeff S]

Wow! It's beautiful.

[Stan Hillis]

Very pretty gun, Frank. Hope your shooting does her justice ..........

Watch out grouse.

SRH

[mc15426378]

Sweet looking gun Frank. Diamond grips are really nice on small bores. How long are the tubes?

[Silvers]

Thanks everyone. So many gents fret the 26 or 28-inch upland decision. This barrel was ordered at 27-inches with a single ivory bead, no mid bead. Actually it's the #1 barrel of this XE's two barrel set. Gun is a svelte 5^11.4 as shown in the pics. I'm planning to chronicle this year's woodcock and grouse hunting in PA and NY, and that's about all I want to share here right now. Need to save most of the gun's details for a mag article. Thanks for your understanding.

[birdawg]

What a looker! I am sure in your hands it will preform with equal style.
Looking forward to more hunting reports.

[kgb]

You know, you could publish your entire article here and we'd still run out and pick it up on the shelves.

Looks like those Remingtons provide a good option for jungle-distance shots and I'd bet high quality, hard shot loadings would give you full or near-full choke percentages out of that tighter bbl. My 16's at .006" and .018", and though I've only patterned it at shorter distances I have gotten over 70% at 40yds with reloads of hard #5 shot in tubes of .020" constriction.

[DarylC]

What a beautiful piece of lumber on that Fox. Good luck with her and hunt safe.

[Silvers]

Here's the start of her hunting career in PA. Yesterday was the first day I was able to get out, but a partner had to cancel out on short notice. I hunted solo, did three coverts in about 4 hours, raised three birds but two were chancy shots in the leaves and I didn't shoot. This bird was more open and the right barrel did the trick at about 25 yards. I couldn't find any grapes, no beechnuts, very few wintergreen berries. The crop on this one was full of green leafy ground cover that's just about everywhere. Net, plenty of walking.

Cell phone pic, not the best, but I wanted to share a memorable day.

[Stan Hillis]

Great photo, Frank. First blood is special with a new gun.

SRH

[birdawg]

Awesome, The gun and the bird. A great start!

[abner]

Frank: What a beautiful gun, but I don't think it is the gun that gets the birds. I think you would get just as many if the gun was a J.C. Higgins. No matter what gun you hunt with, you come home successful. You are great shooter and I envy your shooting abilities--are you telling us you only used one shell?