So when I got back into shotgun shooting recently after a 30 year layoff, I found myself a nice old 16 gauge Model 12. I've really enjoyed it a lot, it functions perfectly and has all the class and character you'd expect of an American shotgun made in 1952. It's not a collector's item, I bought it to use. So - sorry to offend purists - but I had Briley fit it for screw-in chokes to give me some more versatility. When my dog comes (September!!) I plan to do some bird shooting with this gun (it's the top one in the photo).
At a recent show I picked up the middle gun in the pic, a 1949 12 gauge with a fixed modified choke. I just did some skeet/trap with it yesterday and it's really a great gun. I like having the 12 gauge for target practice because shells are so easy to come by. But my intent is to have the 16 gauge as my bird gun. I went chukar hunting on a preserve with it last fall with a friend and the gun performed very well, that was before the Briley chokes.
Anyway, I just wanted to share. It's not the prettiest or most modern gun, but I think this ol' 16 will make a nice upland bird gun.
