A Break in the Action

Audio Article

Why does a pointer point? Why does a spaniel flush? Why are retrievers asked to wait patiently until the shooting is over, while versatile dogs are expected to do a little bit of everything?

In this episode of A Break in the Action, Ryan explores how centuries of selective breeding shaped the different types of gun dogs—and how the birds, terrain and hunting traditions behind them helped define the way we hunt today. From pointers and setters to spaniels, retrievers, versatile breeds and a few unusual specialists, the episode looks at the jobs these dogs were created to do and why one type of dog can create a completely different hunting experience from another.

It also becomes a more personal reflection on what hunting with dogs means over time. As Ryan’s own dogs, Guido and Klaus, begin to slow down, the episode turns to trust, companionship, aging and the difficult realization that there are only so many seasons together.

Because a gun dog doesn’t simply help us hunt.

The dog changes the hunt.

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What makes a great day in the field truly memorable? Ryan speaks with longtime friend Jake Woolf for a wide-ranging conversation about British shooting traditions, gundogs, hospitality, friendship and the experiences that matter long after the guns are put away. Jake also shares the story behind his Twenty10 Club and the new Fish and Game podcast—and why creating opportunities for others to experience the sporting life has become so important to him.

Plus, Josh Loewensteiner of Guyette & Deeter joins Ryan to explore a handful of standout sporting guns and other fascinating lots from the firm’s upcoming Fine Sporting Arms Auction.

In the end, this episode is a reminder that the shooting may bring us together—but the people, dogs, places, and stories are what we remember.

In this episode:

Kudu River Gun Dogs

Branches Park Estate

Twenty10 Club

Fish and Game Podcast

Side Country Network

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After decades of shotguns, sporting clays, bird hunting, and other noisy pursuits, Ryan finally listened to his wife and visited an audiologist. The diagnosis: measurable hearing loss—and a realization that protecting your hearing is about far more than simply being able to hear the next bird flush.

In this episode, Ryan talks about the warning signs he ignored, what he learned during his hearing evaluation, the growing research linking untreated hearing loss with cognitive decline and dementia, and why his own family history made that connection impossible to dismiss.

He also gets candid about the role vanity played in putting off hearing aids, his decision to finally get them, and his experience with SoundGear Phantom electronic hearing protection designed specifically for shooters and hunters.

If you're 35 and think this episode is for someone older, it may be especially important that you listen.

We spend a lot of time protecting our shotguns. Maybe it's time we spent a little more effort protecting the ears behind them.

In this episode:

Starkey Hearing

SoundGear Phantom

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If you could own just ONE shotgun... what would it be?

It's one of the oldest—and most debated—questions in the shooting sports.

Should it be a 12-gauge or a 20? A semi-automatic or an over-and-under? Twenty-eight-inch barrels or thirty? How much should it weigh? Which features actually matter, and which are simply a matter of personal preference?

In this episode of A Break in the Action, Ryan Doughty tackles that question from a different perspective. Rather than asking what shotgun an experienced collector would buy, he asks a more practical question:

If you were buying your very first—and perhaps only—shotgun today, what should it be?

Drawing on decades of experience with fine shotguns, sporting clays, upland hunting, and conversations with gunmakers, guides, instructors, and lifelong wingshooters, Ryan builds his ideal all-around shotgun one characteristic at a time. From gauge and action type to barrel length, weight, choke tubes, and the features that truly matter, he explains not just what he recommends—but why.

Finally, he names the new production shotguns that would be at the top of his list across three different price ranges, from around $1,000 to $5,000.

Whether you're shopping for your first shotgun, helping a friend or family member get started, or simply enjoy discussing the finer points of shotgun design, this episode offers one thoughtful answer to a question every sportsman eventually asks.

What You'll Hear in This Episode:

• Why a 20-gauge over-and-under gets Ryan's recommendation
• The ideal barrel length and weight for an all-around shotgun
• Why fit and balance matter more than brand
• The features every versatile shotgun should have
• Ryan's favorite new-production over-and-unders in three price categories

One shotgun. A lifetime of memories. Which would you choose?

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What do fine shotguns and mechanical watches have in common?  It turns out, quite a lot.

In this episode, Ryan sits down with Christian Zeron, founder of Theo & Harris and one of the most recognizable voices in the world of mechanical watches. Christian recently found himself drawn into an entirely new pursuit: hunting, wingshooting, and the sporting life.

Together they discuss Christian's introduction to hunting, what he thought hunters were like before he became one, and the surprising realities he discovered after entering the community. They explore why so many watch enthusiasts seem drawn toward fine shotguns, the importance of mentorship and tradition, and how social media can introduce new audiences to hunting and shooting sports.

The conversation also ventures into collecting, craftsmanship, family, heritage, and the objects we choose to keep for a lifetime.

And then things get interesting.

Ryan and Christian attempt to answer a question that has been months in the making: If the world's great shotgun makers were watchmakers, who would they be?

Whether you're passionate about watches, shotguns, both, or neither, this episode is ultimately about something bigger: discovering meaningful pursuits, finding community, and preserving traditions worth passing along.

Guest: Christian Zeron, Theo & Harris

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For more than a century, the 12 gauge has been the default answer in the shotgun world. It was the gauge that did everything—quail, pheasants, waterfowl, rabbits, and just about anything else a hunter might pursue.

But today, sub-gauges are more popular than ever. Twenty gauges, twenty-eights, and even .410s have developed devoted followings, leaving some hunters to wonder: has the 12 gauge become more gun than most of us actually need?

Joining me to explore that question is Gregg Elliott of Dogs and Doubles. Gregg is a dedicated grouse and woodcock hunter, student of vintage shotguns, and unapologetic advocate for the 12 gauge.

Along the way, our conversation drifts well beyond gauge selection. We discuss why lightweight 12 gauges may be among the most underrated upland guns ever built, how modern ammunition has changed the conversation, the economics of vintage shotgun collecting, whether marketing has influenced the popularity of sub-gauges, and why some classic British and American 12 gauges represent tremendous value in today's market.

We also dive into gun fit, barrel dimensions, stock design, and one of the strangest—and most interesting—Greener shotguns I've ever seen.

Whether you're a dedicated sub-gauge enthusiast or firmly in the 12-gauge camp, this is an enjoyable conversation about shotguns, bird hunting, and the enduring appeal of a gauge many hunters may have overlooked too quickly.

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In this episode of A Break in the Action, Ryan takes listeners inside the process of building what he believes is the ultimate modern bird hunting rig (for the way he hunts) — not as a showcase of gear for gear’s sake, but as a thoughtful system shaped by years of traveling to hunt upland birds with dogs. From choosing the right platform and topper to organizing equipment with a DECKED drawer system, Dakota 283 kennels, and modular storage solutions, this episode explores how comfort, simplicity, organization, and dog safety ultimately became the guiding principles behind the build. Along the way, Ryan reflects on the realities of long highway miles, changing weather, hunting camps, early mornings, and the countless small details that shape life on the road during bird season.

But this episode is about more than just trucks and equipment. It’s really a conversation about the traveling wingshooter lifestyle itself — the routines, systems, and lessons that slowly develop after enough seasons chasing birds across the country. Ryan also discusses transporting and caring for dogs during long trips, managing heat and cold, water storage lessons learned the hard way, and why consistency matters so much when traveling with bird dogs. Whether you hunt from a truck, SUV, trailer, or something entirely different, this episode is intended less as a blueprint to copy and more as an invitation to rethink your own approach to life on the road during bird season.

In this episode:

RSI SmartCap

Decked

Dakota 283

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In this episode of A Break in the Action, Ryan travels to western Rhode Island to experience one of America’s most unique sporting destinations: The Preserve Sporting Club & Residences. More than simply a luxury resort with outdoor activities, The Preserve is a true sporting-first destination built around driven pheasant shoots, walked-up upland hunting, sporting clays, fly fishing, fine guns, and life outdoors. Ryan shares his firsthand impressions from several days on the property, including a memorable driven shoot, a morning afield for chukar and quail, and time spent exploring the incredible on-site retail experience at The Sporting Shoppe.

Ryan is joined by owner Paul Mihailides for an in-depth conversation about the philosophy behind The Preserve, conservation efforts across the property, the importance of thoughtful design and hospitality, and how the sporting lifestyle can be made approachable for families and newcomers alike. The two also dive into fine shotguns, premium sporting brands, and the remarkable gunroom that has made The Sporting Shoppe a destination in its own right.

If you enjoy conversations centered around sporting travel, upland hunting, fine guns, and best-in-class outdoor experiences, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

In this episode:

The Preserve

The Sporting Shoppe

FAMARS USA

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When people hear the phrase American Best, it’s natural to think of a comparison— specifically to the traditional best guns of the London trade.

And in some ways, that comparison makes sense. The British defined the term. They built the guns that set the standard, and their influence still shapes how we think about fine sporting arms today.

But the more time you spend studying American doubles, the more you realize that comparison only goes so far.

American gunmakers weren’t working in the same world.  They built for different customers, different markets, and different expectations. Their guns came from factories, not small London shops. They were sold from catalogs, not fitting rooms. And they were designed to be used hard in the field—not just admired for their craftsmanship.

And yet, when those same makers set out to build their very best—when they pushed their designs, their materials, and their workmanship to the highest level—they produced shotguns that stand with anything made in their time.

Not copies of London best guns or substitutes for them, but distinctly American answers to the same challenge.

In this episode, we explore what American Best really means through the lens of five legendary makers: L.C. Smith, Parker Brothers, A.H. Fox, Ithaca, and Lefever—and the different paths each one took to define excellence in their own way.

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In this episode of A Break in the Action, I sit down with Simon Reinhold of Holt’s Auctioneers for a deep dive into the history of the British gun trade and the remarkable craftsmen whose names have faded from common conversation. While makers like Purdey, Holland & Holland, and Boss are widely recognized today, the development of the modern sporting shotgun was shaped by dozens of inventors, provincial makers, and trade specialists whose work laid the foundation for everything that followed. Together, Simon and I discuss the extraordinary burst of innovation that took place in the second half of the nineteenth century.

Along the way, the conversation turns to the enduring appeal of these lesser-known guns, how to recognize quality craftsmanship even when the name on the rib isn’t familiar, and why many of these makers deserve a second look from modern shooters and collectors. This episode is both a historical overview and a reminder that the story of fine gunmaking is far bigger than the handful of famous names most of us know.

In this episode:

Holt's Auctioneers

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