Who Killed the Side-by-Side Shotgun?

Above, the Manton side-by-side shotgun. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

At present, I have several shotguns in my gun collection. The most recent purchases were my Winchester Model 12 (or Model 1912) and a Remington Model 870 Express. Both are in 12 gauge.

I also have a Mossberg 500E .410 Pump Shotgun that I inherited from my dad. 

I also inherited from my dad is a side-by-side (or double-barrel) Manton shotgun made in the 1800s. I didn't know I had it until I found a gun case with something in it and opened it to find the shotgun. I believe it is also a 12 gauge. The Manton is the only side-by-side shotgun I have.

Side-by-side shotguns is the topic of an article from Outdoor Life that was originally published in 1972. It was posted yesterday. The title of the article is "Who Killed the Side-by-Side Shotgun?"

By the way, cartoon character Elmer Fudd is occasionally depicted carrying a side-by-side. 

The Outdoor Life article begins with: 

No other type of firearm conjures up such images in the mind of the beholder as does the side-by-side shotgun. The true believer has only to open the action of a classic side-by-side and he is transported to a land where autumn leaves flutter across frosty earth, where great hunting dogs hold motionless points, where a flannel shirt and old wool tie feel just right under a worn-in shooting coat, and the whole world smells of damp tweed, Rangoon oil, leather hunting bags, and the smoke from old-fashioned paper shotshells.

Reams of manuscript paper have extolled the virtues of the side-by-side, but to my knowledge no one has actually succeeded in divulging its mystique. Whether the 1970’s will go down in history as the golden decade of the side-by-side double remains to be seen. Frankly I doubt it. However, there is no doubt that the side-by-side is making a rather startling comeback from its low point of the 1950’s. At that time, rumor was that the side-by-side would soon be as extinct as the dodo.

While researching for this blog post, I did notice a great number of side-by-side shotguns are for sale.

To read the full article, go here. 

The Winchester Model 12: A Look Back

Above, the 1919 Winchester Model 1912 I bought last year. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last year, I was looking for a 12 gauge shotgun more suitable for skeet shooting than my Remington Model 870 Express. I am a member of several Winchester Facebook pages and members in each were raving about the Winchester Model 12 (or Model 1912). So I started looking around for one.

I found one at Guns.com that was made in 1919. Most of the bluing was worn away, but there's no evidence of pitting or rust on it. Plus, the price was right: $349.99. So I bought it. As it was made in 1919, it was a definite antique and was called the Model 1912 until after 1919. 

Shooting it in our community shooting area was fun and I found it to be nicely accurate. 

The NRA's American Rifleman website posted an article on the Model 12 in 2017. 

Here's a snippet:

The Model 12—as it became known after 1919—was made from the finest steel alloys of the time. Parts were forged and required extensive, and often complicated, machining to produce them. Winchester’s marketing guys immediately christened it the “Perfect Repeater,” and like a lot of those old Winchester nicknames, it struck a chord with the shooting public and became common in usage. All of this came at a price, of course. The Model 12 was about 40 percent more expensive than the ’97, yet it consistently outsold its older brother during the 45-year-span they shared in the Winchester catalog.

When it was introduced, the Model 12 was only available in 20 gauge, 12- and 16-gauge Model 12s became available in late 1913. A 28-gauge Model 12 was brought out in 1934. Sadly, this is the rarest of Model 12s, probably as a result of The Depression and the fact that the 28 gauge—as wonderful as it is—was the prerogative of those with a fair amount of discretionary cash, something sorely lacking during The Depression and World War II. In 1933 a completely scaled down version of the Model 12—the Model 42—came out in .410 bore.

 To read the full article, go here.

MSN: Guns For Post-Collapse Survival

Above, the Remington 870 12-gauge made the list at number 3. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Suppose you're on the road and disaster strikes. What would you need for protection?

Well, a handy firearm such as a pistol, shotgun or rifle would be in order. But you're limited in the amount of room you may have in your RV or other vehicle.

MSN posted a slideshow list of must-have "bug out" guns to survive any collapse.  

They begin with:

If disaster strikes and you need to leave home fast, what guns are going to keep you safe on the road?

Emergencies are unpredictable, and traveling puts you in a vulnerable spot. You’ll be exposed, low on supplies, and likely headed somewhere unfamiliar. The right gun could save your life.

You won’t have room for an entire gun collection. The key is to pack versatile firearms that cover all your needs without taking up too much space. Here’s what you’ll want to bring for post-collapse survival.

I have one firearm that made the list (number 3): a Remington 870 12-gauge shotgun. 

To see more, go here.

Winchester Model 12 Pump Shotgun Review

Above, the Winchester Model 12 shotgun after I first brought it home. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The only gun I bought this year was the Winchester Model 12 shotgun. It was manufactured in 1919, but age hasn't caused any problems with shooting it (since I had Loeffler's Guns Etc. in Grants, New Mexico coached me on its workings). I had to buy it in April as New Mexico started imposing a 7-day waiting period in May.

I shot it last month and it worked great. It hit what I was aiming at (an old political yard sign). Not bad for a shotgun over 100 years old.

Before buying it, I was on the lookout for a shotgun best suited for trap shooting. I bought a Remington Model 870 Express last year, but that wasn't suited for trap shooting. I couldn't hit the broadside of a barn when we went trap shooting in Lake Havasu, Arizona. I did much better with a borrowed shotgun during a previous trap shoot. Still, I like the Remington for regular target plinking.

Guns.com (where I bought the Winchester Model 12) posted a review of the Model 12 and it begins with:

The Model 12 is a pump-action 12-gauge shotgun that is iconic in that it has the classic features that make a pump gun so appealing. It may not be the first, but it certainly trained generations how to shoot airborne game among many other things. The Model 12 was also used by the U.S. military, with roots going back to before World War I.

My father grew up shooting an old Model 12, and he was barely a teenager when it was given to him by my grandfather. He used it for hunting pheasants and ducks in the marshy wetlands beyond grandpa’s pasture. As a child, I remember seeing dad tinker with it amongst his other guns.

The Model 12 uses traditional wooden furniture, with an easily identifying ribbed front grip. A shallow rib runs the length of the barrel, with a targeting bead on the muzzle end. The barrel itself is 30 inches long and has a 3-inch magnum chamber. It features a familiar safety at the front of the trigger guard and an action release just behind it. The tubular magazine holds six 2.75-inch shot shells, and it is clamped to the barrel at the front of the tube.

I looked up the serial number and, if the internet is to be believed, this gun was manufactured in 1917, making it 105 years old.

To read more, go here. 

The Winchester Model 12

Above, picking up the Winchester Model 12 at Loeffler's Guns Etc.

The Winchester Model 12 shotgun first caught my attention in the Facebook Winchester groups. I was reading raves from different members on how they loved shooting it. 

Another reason why it caught my attention was that people were saying it worked great while trap and skeet shooting. I went trap shooting last year while visiting friends in Lake Havasu, Arizona. I bought a Remington 870 Express 12-gauge while there. However, its shorter barrel didn't seem suited for trap shooting when I tried it later. I had better results with a borrowed shotgun with a much longer barrel during a previous shoot.

As the Model 12 has a 30-inch barrel, it seemed to be better suited for trap shooting than the Remington. I still like the Remington. I found a Winchester Model 12 12-gauge made in 1919 for sale at Guns.com at a reasonable price and bought it. I had it sent to Loeffler's Guns Etc. in Grants, New Mexico. I shot it a couple of weeks ago and I found it as enjoyable to shoot as did the posters at Facebook. It was quite accurate as it hit what I aimed at (an old campaign lawn sign). Not bad for an antique made 105 years ago!

Above, my little Winchester collection. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Truth About Guns website posted a review of the Winchester Model 12. 

It begins with:

Oliver Winchester’s legacy won’t ever be tied to a specific gun. The Winchester Repeating Arms Company is one of multiple legacies and successes throughout its century and a half of production. They started life as a lever-action rifle company and won the West. They transitioned to one of the premier shotgun companies at the turn of the 20th century and ended as a bolt gun company. We are going to cling to the second legacy and focus on shotguns, specifically the Model 12.

I initially thought about doing an Obscure Object of Desire article, but what’s obscure about the Model 12? TTAG tends to write and review new guns, but why not step back and appreciate a classic? Almost two million model 12s were produced, so they aren’t uncommon these days. You’ll pay a pretty penny for a Model 12 that is in good shape, but if the condition is a bit ratty, they can be had for a reasonable price. A ratty Model 12 is still better than any Freedom Group 870 you might find on the used market. 

The Model 12 – The Perfect Repeater

The first successful pump-action shotgun was the Winchester M1897. This gun is legendary, and the Model 12 often lives in its shadow. However, the Model 12 is the superior shotgun. The M1897 was great but a bit complicated and fragile, and the exposed hammer and guts out of the bottom design weren’t the best. The Model 12 took the 1897 and fixed some of its flaws. The gun became known as the “Perfect Repeater.”  

Production of the gun began in 1912. Winchester was creative and innovative with its guns, but its naming conventions were a bit boring. Production lasted until 1964, with occasional special runs of the guns.  

Winchester enclosed the hammer, beefed up the forend and built a refined gun. It’s smooth as silk and was originally built to supplement the 97. Winchester released the guns in 20 gauge at first. They didn’t want to compete with their own 1897. However, in 1913, they dedicated to releasing 12- and 16-gauge variants. A .410 variant was never produced, but the Model 42 was a scaled-down Model 12 for the .410 crowd.

 To read more, go here.

Love The Smell of Hoppe's In The Morning...

Above, cleaning the Remington 870 Express shotgun. 

As usual, following target shooting, the time comes for cleaning and oiling the guns to keep them in good working order. It's a task I don't mind doing since I like the smell of Hoppe's No. 9 solvent.

Above, about to clean the Winchester 94. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I took care of that this morning after I took a quick jaunt to Gallup for some grocery shopping.

So now, the guns are ready for the next session of shooting.

Shootin' Day

Above, Larry and Victor. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today, Larry Lucier, Victor Gomez and I headed to the shooting area to do some target shooting. We were later joined by Roger Slape.

The day was very warm and cloudless. 

We did some plinking with rifles and pistols. I fired the Winchester Model 12 shotgun for the first time. This was after I went to Loeffler Firearms a few months ago to figure out how to operate it. It shot great. As it is a 105 year old gun, I limited the number of shells I fired to four. 

I then concentrated on my Winchester 94 and my Remington 870 Express shotgun. I used old campaign signs as shotgun targets. 

Naturally, pictures were taken and here are some of them.

Above, my target for the Winchester Model 12 shotgun. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Larry trying to get his brother's spotting scope to work. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, yours truly shooting the Winchester 94. Photo by Larry Lucier.

Above, targets Larry brought. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, yours truly with the Winchester 94. Photo by Larry Lucier.

After we were done shooting, some of us headed to Denny's at the Flying J to cool off over milk shakes. Those definitely hit the spot!

Tracking Of California Credit Card Gun Purchases

Above, the Remington 870 shotgun I bought last year was a cash purchase. Photo by Mitch Geriminsky.

There's a very big reason why I and many other gun owners purchase firearms by cash only. Some states are allowing credit card companies to code firearm and ammunition purchases with a code to track them. This amounts to a registry of firearms and firearm owners.

Other states have passed laws outlawing this practice.

California has passed a new law allowing this and it is going to effect.

The Truth About Guns posted:

California gun owners have long been besieged by a lengthy list of unjust, unconstitutional firearm laws that make practicing their Second Amendment right more difficult. And a new law that just took effect is going to make freedom even more scarce in The Golden State.

The new law, passed by the legislature last year and signed by anti-gun Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom, required credit card networks to make a new firearm-specific Merchant Category Code (MCC) available to banks and other financial institutions by Monday.

At issue is a special MCC for gun and ammunition purchases adopted last year by the International Organization for Standardization. MCCs are used by payment processors (like Visa and Mastercard) and other financial services companies to categorize transactions.

To read more, go here. 

Remington Arms Moving Out of New York

Thanks to hostile liberal anti-gun policies of New York state, another firearms manufacturing company is abandoning a northeast liberal state for more friendlier surroundings. 

First, it was Smith & Wesson leaving Massachusetts, now it is Remington. The company is heading to Georgia.

Law Enforcement Today reported:

ILION, NY- The residents of the small community of Ilion are discovering firsthand that the anti-gun stance adopted by New York's legislature would result in numerous job losses. This is evident following Remington's decision to relocate to Georgia, marking the end of over 200 years of the oldest firearms manufacturer's presence in New York, Fox News reported.

Ilion, located approximately 230 miles northwest of New York City, has been identified with Remington for over two centuries, and with the move, that history is now gone. 

“Two hundred and eight years of history. Gone…gone,” Ilion Mayor John P. Stephens told The New York Times. “Ilion is Remington. Remington is Ilion.” 

The move to relocate the remaining portions of the company shouldn’t come as a surprise since RemArms, the current version of Remington Arms, announced last year to union officials that the company would be pulling up stakes and ending New York manufacturing operations effective this March. The remaining operations are moving to Georgia, where company officials say the firearms industry is supported and welcomed. 

Residents of the small community are now bracing for life without Remington, which some say will take a part of the town’s identity with it. 

“When Remington leaves, it’s not going to be like a facility leaving, it’s going to be like part of your family has moved off,” said Jim Conover, a Remington retiree who started with the company in 1964, to the Associated Press. 

Last year, I bought my first Remington, a Remington Model 870 Express shotgun.

To read more, go here. 

Ordered Ammo

Above, the Winchester 1894 and scabbard. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since the cost of ammunition is bound to be going up in 2024 (along with possible shortages), I decided to order some .30-30 Winchester and 12 gauge shot shells while the prices are still reasonable through Cabela's (their shipping cost is only $5.00) and they're having year-end sales. I'll be ready for some target practice when it gets warmer this coming spring and summer.

I decided to try out a different brand of 12 gauge shot shells. Previously, I was using Remington target load shells. I have no problem with them, but decided to see if Federal's Top Gun Target Load performs better. 

As for the .30-30 Winchester, I decided on Hornady American Whitetail .30-30 Winchester 150 Grain. I could have bought 170 grain, but decided on making it easier on the Winchester Model 1894. After all, it is only for target practice. Their under-$26.00 price/box is much better than the $70.00 price/box I saw last week in a Lake Havasu gun store.

Love The Smell of Hoppes No. 9 In The Morning

Since it is a whopping 30° outside, I will be deferring working on The Beast (motorhome) until tomorrow.

Instead, I cleaned and oiled my Ruger 9mm pistol and Remington shotgun. I had to do it anyway, so I might as well get it done. It was something to do since it is too cold outside.

Ready To Go, But...

Everything's ready to go for tomorrow's skeet shoot in Lake Havasu. That is, unless the weather does not want to cooperate.

We're supposed to get rain today, tonight and maybe tomorrow. That would not be good enough weather to attempt to go shooting. 

Saturday Rain Forecast For Lake Havasu

Above, the skeet range in Lake Havasu in October. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It looks like we'll be able to do some skeet shooting Saturday morning in Lake Havasu, Arizona.

It is expected to rain there, but mainly during the afternoon. Since the group Mitch Geriminsky shoots with heads out to the range in the morning, it will probably be okay.

From the National Weather Service:

Saturday

Showers likely, mainly after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 64. Calm wind becoming south southwest 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Saturday Night

A 20 percent chance of showers before midnight. Mostly clear, with a low around 52.

I am looking forward to use my new Remington shotgun. I have already fired it so I know what to expect. 

Rainy Day Gun Cleaning

Above, cleaning and oiling the Winchester 1894. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It's a good thing that I waited until today to clean my guns.

Since this morning, we've had our real sustained rain in Jamestown, New Mexico. It has been a dry autumn and we've only had very little precipitation. This storm has given the ground and, most importantly, the trees, a good soaking. 

So, I stayed inside since we had breakfast this morning at Denny's and cleaned the guns I used yesterday. What a difference a day makes.

Maybe we'll get our first snow soon.

Conclusions After Yesterday's Shoot

Yesterday's outing told me that we need to go shooting more often. It had been a couple of years since the last time I went shooting at the shooting range near our subdivision. The shooting area is on Cibola National Forest land. I used three guns yesterday.

Here's some takeaways from yesterday:

I started with my Winchester 1894 .30-30 lever-action rifle. It worked great. One thing that helped was a few days ago, I watched a YouTube video on the correct way of loading and unloading the 1894. That helped quite a bit. I was fighting the loading gate and the video showed how avoid this. It is a fun rifle to shoot. 

Here's the video: 

Next was the Ruger 10-22. The rifle operated fine, but the ammo apparently was old and starting to corrode. Twice a round got stuck. The first one had the bullet partially detach from the brass casing. I had to use Larry Lucier's knife to dig them out. I am going to go through my ammo and check to see if any more bullets are corroding. The ones I had yesterday were Fiochi .22 rounds. I was using my 25-round magazine with the bad bullets. I then switched to a 10-round magazine that had newer bullets already loaded and those were smooth as silk when shooting. The scope I have on the rifle was a great aid and the body shots on the target's silhouette hit their mark.

After that, I tried out the new Remington 870 Express 12 gauge shotgun. I fired three shells. The gun worked nicely. It was comfortable to shoot, despite the kick from the shells. But it was easier to use than the heavier shotgun I used last month in Lake Havasu while skeet shooting. 

One thing that was apparent during yesterday's shoot: I need a shooting bench/table. Some idiot smashed up the two big wooden spools we used as tables. I shot freehanded. I am going to look around for a table to use. 

After this morning's coffee and breakfast with the gang at Denny's, I will be cleaning the guns. Nothing like the smell of Hoppe's No. 9 gun solvent cleaner in the afternoon. Smells of victory!

Shoot 'Em Up Friday

Above, Victor Gomez watches as Larry Lucier shoots his Henry .22 lever-action rifle. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This afternoon was a good one as three of us headed over to the shooting area near our subdivision in Jamestown, New Mexico and did some target shooting.

The shooting area is actually on Cibola National Forest property.

Above, Victor shooting his .410 shotgun. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

We mainly concentrated on rifles and shotguns. Larry Lucier also brought a couple of pistols and Victor Gomez brought a shotgun and a .357 revolver.

I started with my Winchester 1894 .30-30 lever-action rifle. Then I switched to my .22 caliber Ruger 10-22 rifle. I had problems with the .22 ammo. They were Fiochi brand cartridges and were beginning to corrode. They jammed twice. After getting home, I dumped the remaining .22 bullets into the trash. I'll have to inspect my ammo, particularly the .22 for any more corroded bullets.

I finished off with shooting three rounds of 12 gauge in my new Remington 870 Express shotgun. It worked just the way I expected it to do. It was easier to handle than the gun I used for skeet shooting last month in Lake Havasu. 

Above, yours truly with the new Remington Model 870 Express. The silhouette
targets at right were what we were shooting at with the rifles. Photo by Larry Lucier.

Larry brought his Remington 870 shotgun. His was a different version than mine and with a wooden stock and a longer barrel. The stock on mine is synthetic. Like me, he never shot his before and I coached him on it. He was surprised how simple it was to operate. 

We were at the shooting area for two hours. We had a lot of fun and the time seemed to go by fast.

What's A Shotgun Magazine Plug?

Above, the shotgun magazine plug. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When I unpacked my new Remington 870 Express shotgun, I found a plastic rod about 6-7" long in the box. I had no idea what it was for and put it into my gun safe. 

This morning, I did some searching and found that it is a magazine plug used in bird hunting.

According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department:

Pump action shotguns are very reliable because the action is powered by the shooter. Apparent (felt) recoil is greater than a semi-automatic. Both pump action and semi-automatic shotguns have tubular magazines. When hunting migratory birds, the tubular magazine must have a plug inserted so that the total holding capacity of the shotgun does not exceed three shells (one in the chamber, 2 in the magazine).

Since I am new to shotguns (although I had a pistol grip one briefly back in the 1980s before I sold it) it was new to me. 

You learn something new everyday.

New Shotgun Scabbard

Above, the shotgun in its new scabbard. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For when I take my new Remington shotgun to the target or skeet range, it will be protected in its own scabbard.

I got this Voodoo Tactical Shotgun Scabbard through MidwayUSA. The shotgun fits in it a glove. 

It has straps for when one wants to secure it in their pick-up truck. 

The price was reasonable (under $30). 

Yesterday In Lake Havasu

Above, following the "last beer with Doug" at the cemetery. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Yesterday was spent attending the funeral and internment of Mitch Geriminsky's wife's father, Doug. 

It was a nice, but informal, service at the Lake Havasu church of Latter Day Saints. Following the service, we headed to the cemetery, Lake Havasu Memorial Gardens. It was a nice small cemetery. It is interesting to note that the cemetery is in a residential area, where, if one has a home or apartment there, they either have a view of the lake or of the cemetery. The cemetery was there first and the homes were built around it later. It is also the only cemetery in Lake Havasu.

Afterwards, we returned to the church for lunch.

When that ended, we headed back to Mitch's to rest up. Well, Mitch and wife Holly did. I studied the owner's manual to the new Remington Model 870 shotgun in the motorhome. 

Above, while studying the shotgun's owner's manual.

Before I knew it, around 20 of us returned to the cemetery to have our "last beer with Doug". By then, his grave was filled in and the only thing of concern were the water sprinklers that were on the whole time. The gathering was light-hearted with stories of Doug's life. He was a Navy veteran who participated in the Bay of Pigs failed operation in 1961. If only JFK allowed U.S. air support, the outcome would have been much different.

This morning, Mitch and I will be going to Hobby Lobby to get a frame for the painting I gave Mitch for his birthday. We may do a video call with Asya, if her work schedule allows, while we are there. 

After that is accomplished, I am heading back to New Mexico. It has been a busy six days in Lake Havasu.

By the way, Dwight Kuntz and I introduced Mitch to the Antiques Roadshow on PBS last evening. Incredible as it may seem, he was unfamiliar with it. He seemed to like it.

New Acquisition

Above, the Remington Model 870 Express 12 gauge shotgun. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This morning was spent browsing Lake Havasu gun stores.

We (Mitch Geriminsky and I) were looking at 12 gauge shotguns. We stopped at a gun store owned by a Mason friend of Mitch's. He had some Remington Model 870 Express pump action 12 gauge shotguns. It was priced at $599. However, we got a good price for the gun. So I took it.

So, whenever I am in Lake Havaau on a Saturday, I can join Mitch and his group for skeet shooting with it.