Says who? British Guns are better than American Guns …

This video is going to ruffle some feathers. He makes some good points, and echoes many things I’ve said before. Do you agree with him? LMK what you think.

British Guns are better than American Guns, a video from The Gun Shop in the UK
British Guns are better than American Guns, a video from The Gun Shop in the UK

Watch: An inside look at Darne and Charlin shotguns….

Darne ~ Sliding Breech Shotgun ~ 20 Gauge
Darne ~ Sliding Breech Shotgun ~ 20 Gauge

Darne ~ Sliding Breech Shotgun ~ 20 Gauge: French Darne sliding breech side by side shotgun in 20 gauge. Overall condition is excellent with some minor wear to the case coloring to the rear of the sliding breech near the wrist of the stock. Chambers: 2 3/4, Metal Condition: Excellent, Wood Condition: Excellent, Bore Condition: Excellent, Barrels: 26″ Barrels, Triggers: Double, Fore End: Checkered Walnut, Butt Pad: Factory Plastic Darne Butt Plate, Sights: Brass Metal Front Bead, Chokes: CYL/CYL. Price: $1,599.99

Darne ~ Sliding Breech Shotgun ~ 20 Gauge
Darne ~ Sliding Breech Shotgun ~ 20 Gauge

Watch & learn: What to look for, engraving…

Gavin Gardiner is an expert on British and European sporting arms, and he holds some of the world’s best gun auctions. Check out this video to see some of his insights into engraving patterns and styles. (BTW: The intros to all of Gavin’s videos always make me smile).

Gavin Gardiner’s Guide to Sporting Guns | What to Look for – Engraving

Gavin Gardiner’s Guide to Sporting Guns | What to Look for - Engraving
Gavin Gardiner’s Guide to Sporting Guns | What to Look for – Engraving

Watch: Flushing Grouse – A Ruffed Grouse Society Film ….

I’m a pointing-dog guy, and for me, the sight of a dog locked up on a grouse or woodcock is crucial to the upland-hunting experience.

But some guys would disagree, including Fritz and Ric Heller. They star in this film, produced by Project Upland in association with the Ruffed Grouse Society.

Exploring the World of Ruffed Grouse Hunting with Flushing Dogs

“The primary reason I go (grouse hunting) is to get away from everything and to be in that moment. It’s really special to be 100% completely present and committed, and it probably talks a lot about the flushing dogs. You know, you’re not listening to a beeper or a bell in the distance waiting for it to stop, you’re 100% focused on what’s going on in front of you the entire time…”

Watch: Flushing Grouse – A Ruffed Grouse Society Film ....
Watch: Flushing Grouse – A Ruffed Grouse Society Film ….

Watch this: Chasing Pheasants in Fresh Snow – South Dakota 2019

This video captures the thrills and excitement of pheasant hunting in South Dakota. Check it now. The flush at 1:52 is just plain awesome. Chasing Pheasants in Fresh Snow – South Dakota 2019

Watch this: Chasing Pheasants in Fresh Snow - South Dakota 2019
Watch this: Chasing Pheasants in Fresh Snow – South Dakota 2019

How many are you making? Top 5 shooting mistakes and how to fix them …

The Gun Nuts over at Field & Stream are full of insights and information. In this video, Phil Bourjaily, one of the nuts (the right one?) and Shotgun Editor for the main magazine, gives you some tips on how to be a better shot.

I make mistakes #3 and #4 all the time. Which ones do you have problems with?

Top 5 shooting mistakes and how to fix them ...
Top 5 shooting mistakes and how to fix them …

10 reasons why you SHOULD buy a side-by-side shotgun…

A few weeks ago I posted this video: Is there a “problem” with side-by-side shotguns? In it, he makes a lot of good points and points out some of the same trends and attitudes I see every day.

Well, yesterday things got a little more interesting. The same outfit posted the video above. Did they have a change of heart? Did the side-by-side deep state get to him? Or did they realize what I’ve always known: SxSs are just ‘friggin cool? Watch it find out.

10 reasons why you SHOULD buy a side-by-side shotgun...
10 reasons why you SHOULD buy a side-by-side shotgun…

Watch & learn: T. R. White Son & Co, Gunmakers …

Watch: T R White & Co Gunmakers, a film  by Matthew Jopling

For 30 years now, T. R. White Son & Co, Gunmakers has been building its reputation as one of Great Britain’s top gunmakers. a background that includes time spent at W. & C. Scott.

T R White & Co Gunmakers, a film by by Matthew Jopling
T. R. White & Co Gunmakers, a film by Matthew Jopling

Established in 1989 by Tony White, whose background includes time spent at W. & C. Scott, the business includes his son, Matthew White, and gun maker Edward Atkinson. Together, they build SxS and OUs, boxlocks and sidelocks. In this video, you can learn a bit more about what drives them to create such beautiful firearms. Watch: T R White & Co Gunmakers, a film  by Matthew Jopling

Boxlock by T. R. White Son & Co, Gunmakers
Boxlock by T. R. White Son & Co, Gunmakers

Is there a “problem” with side-by-side shotguns?

Side-by-side or OU — which’s better? This debate that’s been going on for over 100 years now. In this video The Problem With Side by Side Shotguns, the folks at  The Gun Shop in Botley Mills, Hampshire, UK have their say on this issue.

They point some of the “problems” they see with SxS and also bring up some valid points on why these doubles are falling out of favor in the UK. Here’s a taste of what they have to say:

“They’re beautiful and anyone should be proud to own and use one. However, there are a few things to consider in the discussion of side by side vs over and under.”

The video makes several excellent points. Overall, I have to agree with him, and many of the trends he points out are also leading to the decline of the SxS over here.

The Problem With Side by Side Shotguns
The Problem With Side by Side Shotguns

A video worth viewing: YETI Presents: SAM…

YETI Presents: Sam
YETI Presents: Sam

Hunting dogs can be frustrating, exhilarating, and, when they leave us, heartbreaking.

This video introduces you a lab named Sam and a duck hunter named Steve Koehly. I learned something from both of them. They may teach you something, too.

Warning: If you don’t want to be seen with wet eyes, don’t watch at work.

The State of Quail: A video by Texas Parks & Wildlife …

The State of Quail: A video by Texas Parks & Wildlife ...
The State of Quail: A video by Texas Parks & Wildlife …

Everyone knows quail populations are falling across the U.S.

Texas is trying to reverse this trend. In this video you can learn a bit about what they’re doing to help these little gamebirds.

Check it out. There’s lot of great footage of all types of quail plus prairie chickens and other game.

Partridge Country, a video from Dangerous Cow Publishing …

Dangerous Cow Publishing is an interesting outfit. It looks like they’re media/branding company committed to promoting hunting, conservation, and sustainable practices. They caught my eye because of the cool videos they produce and post online. The one you see here is a great example of their work. Check it out — if you’re into upland hunting, you’ll enjoy it.
PARTRIDGE COUNTRY- A NORTHWOODS HUNTING VIDEO “Partridge Country is a cultural exploration of the traditions of Ruffed Grouse and Woodcock hunting in northern New England without the use of dogs.”

Partridge Country from Dangerous Cow Publishing on Vimeo.

PARTRIDGE COUNTRY- A NORTHWOODS HUNTING VIDEO from Dangerous Cow Publishing
PARTRIDGE COUNTRY- A NORTHWOODS HUNTING VIDEO from Dangerous Cow Publishing

Uplander. A quick video about what it’s all about…

Pheasant o2008 Pheasant opener in South Dakotapener in South Dakota
2008 Pheasant opener in South Dakota
A breeder I used to know was a blunt SOB. Within 30 minutes of our first meeting he cut me off mid sentence and said this: “Someday you’ll grow up and be done with that.”

We had been talking about pheasant hunting in South Dakota, and I had mentioned the numbers of birds we were killing out there. This was back in ’03, when we were seeing 4-500 pheasants a day on the ground we hunted. Limiting out wasn’t the problem. Limiting out before noon was.

But this arrogant breeder wasn’t impressed. He looked down on anyone who gauged success by the number of bird killed — especially if the birds were wild.

Back then, his attitude pissed me off. I get it now, though.

These days, even though I love to upland hunt, killing birds is far from my top priority. Feathers in hand are nice, and a dead bird every now and then does a lot to keep a bird dog interested in the game. but there’s a lot more that

Journey to the Northwoods: A great look at grouse hunting …

There’s killing and there’s hunting: One takes a life, the other makes our lives more  meaningful, while giving us the opportunity to show respect and admiration for the game we pursue and the world we all inhabit.

This video does a nice job of capturing hunting and what makes it so special.

Cool video: Building a Beretta SO-series shotgun…

New Beretta SO10 sidelock O/U shotgun with pinless lockplates
New Beretta SO10 sidelock O/U shotgun with pinless lockplates

Beretta is one of the world’s oldest gunmakers, and for hundred years they’ve used the innovative techniques to build their firearms. In this video, you can see the techniques the company is using to build their SO-series O/U shotguns.

Beretta’s SO-series over-and-unders are one of the world’s great doubles. Introduced around 1933 as the model S1, Beretta’s sidelock over-unders were the Italian maker’s response to Browning’s then new Superposeds.

Beretta’s in-house firearms designer Tullio Marengoni considered Browning’s O/U “..very high, heavy and ugly.” He set about to create a low-profile over-and-under similar to a Boss or Woodward that could also be mass produced in a factory like Beretta’s.

One thing that struck me: How much handwork Beretta has cut out of the gunmaking process.

Other than on the stock most of the gun’s part are machine made, and it looks like most of the work is done by programmers and machine operators rather than gunmakers. If the end result is best-quality work, I don’t know if this is good or bad.

A great look at pheasant shooting in North Yorkshire, UK….

Good friends, good dogs, plenty of birds. That’s all it takes for a nice day in the field – in the UK or over here.

This is one of the best produced shooting videos I’ve seen on Youtube. It was shot by Jonathan M McGee, a man who knows shooting as well as he knows cameras.

Pheasant Hunting in North Yorkshire, UK.
Pheasant Hunting in North Yorkshire, UK. Image from Jonathan M McGee Photography.