Shotgun Life | The Best in Wing and Clays Shooting

Briefs

A series of brief articles cataloging the sport and gear for wing and clays shooting.

The Browning Saltwood Shotgun: An Experiment Turned Sour

Wednesday, June 05, 2024
Written by Shotgun Life Staff
Categories: Briefs
Tags: browningsaltwoodshotguns, browningshotguns, saltwoodguns

One of the Browning’s most well-known shotguns is the Browning Saltwood. The Browning Saltwood, so named due to its unique salt-impregnated wood stocks, are a line of firearms that were produced in the mid-to-late 20th century. The inclusion of salt as a desiccant in the stocks was intended to prevent warping and moisture damage, offering a longer lifespan for the firearm. However, the salt also proved to be a formidable foe, often causing significant rust and corrosion to the metal components of the shotgun.

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Optimal Shotgun Choke Constrictions for Clay Targets

Wednesday, June 05, 2024
Written by Shotgun Life Staff
Categories: Briefs
Tags: claytargetshooting, shotgunchokeconstrictions, shotgunchokes

Shotgun choke constrictions play an essential role in trap, skeet, and sporting clays. The choice of choke can make or break a shooter’s performance, affecting the spread and density of the pellet pattern as it leaves the barrel.

Shotgun choke constrictions are designed to manipulate the spread of pellets, thereby determining the effective range of the shotgun. The level of constriction in a choke dictates the degree to which the shot will be condensed upon exiting the barrel. Generally, the more constricted the choke, the tighter the shot pattern will be, and the further the effective range.

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Tracing the Evolution of Beretta’s Iconic Silverhawk Shotgun

Saturday, June 01, 2024
Written by Shotgun Life Staff
Categories: Briefs
Tags: beretta, beretta471, berettasidebyside, berettasilverhawk, italiansidebysides

The Beretta Silverhawk Side by Side has left its mark on the history of shooting sports and hunting. It was first introduced by the renowned Italian firearms manufacturer, Beretta, in 1960. Known for their long-standing tradition of producing high-quality firearms, Beretta designed the Silverhawk to meet the needs of hunters and sports shooters who demanded precision, reliability, and quality in their firearms. The Silverhawk quickly gained popularity for its side by side barrel configuration, a design that was once the mainstay of the shooting world but had become less common with the advent of over-under shotguns.

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Top 5 American Vintage Shotguns to Collect

Monday, May 27, 2024
Written by Shotgun Life Staff
Categories: Briefs
Tags: browningautoa5, collectingvintageshotguns, Ithacamodel37, parkerbrothersshotguns, remingtonmodel31, vintageamericanshotguns, winchestermodel21

The story of American shotguns starts in the colonial era, with the flintlock fowling pieces used by settlers for hunting and home defense. As technology advanced, so too did the design of shotguns. The mid-19th century saw the introduction of the modern shotgun with the advent of breech-loading mechanisms and later the invention of the pump-action shotgun by Christopher Spencer in 1882. These innovations made shotguns easier to load, shoot, and maintain, leading to their widespread use in hunting, sport, and law enforcement.

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Exploring the Rise of .410 Shotguns in Turkey Hunting

Thursday, May 23, 2024
Written by Shotgun Life Staff
Categories: Briefs
Tags: .410shotguns, .410turkeyhunting, .410uplandhunting, turkeyhunting

The world of turkey hunting is seeing a surprising trend – the growing popularity of the .410 shotgun. Long considered as a beginner’s or small-game gun, the .410 has seen a new surge of interest amongst turkey hunting enthusiasts as a preferred choice for their hunting expeditions. This article delves into the reasons behind the rising popularity of the .410, its advantages, and practical tips for turkey hunting with this firearm.

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Decoding Skeet: Differences in International vs. American Styles

Wednesday, May 22, 2024
Written by Shotgun Life Staff
Categories: Briefs
Tags: americanskeet, internationalskeet, skeetshooting

In the world of shooting sports, skeet shooting is a popular and challenging option. Originating in the early 20th century, this sport involves shooting clay targets launched from two fixed stations in a semicircular arrangement. While skeet shooting shares a common foundation, it has branched into two distinct styles—International Skeet and American Skeet. These disciplines may appear similar to the untrained eye, but subtle differences in rules, techniques, and target speeds set them apart.

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The Ljutic Mono Trap Gun

Monday, May 20, 2024
Written by Shotgun Life Staff
Categories: Briefs
Tags: ljutictrapguns, trapshooting

Founded by Al Ljutic, a former professional boxer turned gunsmith, Ljutic Industries, based in Yakima Washington, has cultivated a legacy of manufacturing top-tier firearms since the mid-20th century. Among their creations, the Ljutic Mono Trap Gun has particularly gained a reputation for being a formidable ally in trap shooting. The ‘Mono’ signifies the gun’s singular and solid body design, which is a unique characteristic in the world of shotguns.

The Ljutic Mono Gun was the best-selling luxury trap gun in the United States from the 1960s to the early 1980s. It was known for its durability, balance, and light recoil. 

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The Artistry & Craftsmanship of Belgian Guild Shotguns

Sunday, May 19, 2024
Written by Shotgun Life Staff
Categories: Briefs
Tags: belgianguildshotguns, vintageshotguns

Belgian Guild Shotguns represent a unique blend of Old World artistry and modern functionality. These firearms, built with a history of gunsmithing dating back to the Middle Ages, are revered for their ornate designs, remarkable craftsmanship, and superior performance. Each Belgian Guild Shotgun carries within it a tale of dedication and skill, adding a touch of romanticism to the intrigue of the weapon.

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Are Your Shotgun Barrels 100% Regulated?

Thursday, May 16, 2024
Written by Shotgun Life Staff
Categories: Briefs
Tags: regulatedshotgunbarrels, shotgunpatterning

Shotgun barrel regulation refers to the process of ensuring that two barrels on a double-barreled shotgun both hit the same point of aim at a certain distance. In simpler terms, it means that both of the barrels shoot to the same point. This is a critical aspect of manufacturing double-barred shotguns as it determines the shotgun’s overall shooting accuracy.

In the manufacturing process, the shotgun barrels are usually soldered together in a way that they converge at the intended range, typically 40 yards for field guns and longer for trap guns. The process of regulation is no easy task; it requires high precision and specialized skills to ensure that both barrels align perfectly. Furthermore, the distance at which the barrels are regulated can vary depending on the shooter’s preference or intended use of the shotgun.

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Remembering the Poly Choke

Wednesday, May 15, 2024
Written by Shotgun Life Staff
Categories: Briefs
Tags: polychoke, shotgunchokes

Do you remember the Poly Choke? If you’re a seasoned hunter or shooter, the chances are you’ve come across this legendary shotgun choke at some point in your life. The Poly Choke was a game-changer in the world of firearms, offering shooters the ability to quickly adjust the constriction of their shotgun’s barrel to suit different shooting situations.

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