A Break in the Action

In this episode, I lay out what gear I take for a day shooting.  Two bags and a case filled with everything I need for a day shooting sporting clays, skeet, or maybe some new adventures trying out FITSC or helice.   Making sure that I have everything I need ensures I have a good time and can stay out as long as I am able.

As is usually the case, seeing and not just hearing about these items will be helpful so I encourage you to check out our Instagram and Facebook pages.

Here is a full list (with links) of everything mentioned in this episode.

Filson Heritage Sportsman Bag
Heavy Felt Organizer
Baschieri and Pellagri (B&P) shotshells
ESP Apex
Laksen Sporting Shotmaster
Negrini Shotgun Luggage Case
Laksen Sporting Vest
Castellani Rio Pro
Dents Gloves
Cole Fine Guns and Gunsmithing
Beretta Tote
Dubarry Kildare Boots
Simms Big Sky Shirt
Howler Bros. Gaucho Shirt

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Part 2 of our full review of the annual Christmas Grand Battue shoot at Green Acres Sportsman's Club in Roberts, Illinois.  Join us as Shoot Captain, Keith Coyle walks us through the full 'Christmas Grand Battue' experience - from breakfast and high pheasant shooting to flighted mallard and the 5-course gala dinner.   

As we take part in this epic shoot day, we will also be reviewing and shooting two premium English-style game guns... the Beretta SL3 and the Christian Hunter O/U from Connecticut Shotgun Manufacturing.

Mentioned in this episode:
Green Acres Sportsman's Club

Christian Hunter by Connectictut Shotgun Mfg.

Beretta SL3

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Do you dream of one day shooting high, driven pheasants in England or someday experiencing a European-flighted mallard shoot?  While these experiences wait on your bucket list I want to tell you about an amazing shoot that you participate in right here in the States.  Green Acres Sportsman's Club in Roberts, Illinois offers a full menu of authentic British-style shooting events throughout the year.  Join us as Shoot Captain, Keith Coyle walks us through the full 'Christmas Grand Battue' experience - from breakfast and high pheasant shooting to flighted mallard and the 5-course gala dinner.   

As we take part in this epic shoot day, we will also be reviewing and shooting two premium English-style game guns... the Beretta SL3 and the Christian Hunter O/U from Connecticut Shotgun Manufacturing.

Settle in for PART 1 of this in-depth review!

Mentioned in this episode:
Green Acres Sportsman's Club

Beretta SL3

Croots of England

Field and Moor boots

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Many argue that there are Scottish shotguns that bested the London guns in innovation, matched them in quality and were produced in far fewer numbers - making them, in my mind truly special.  In this episode my guest, J-P Daeschler discusses the legendary John Dickson and Son Round Action shotgun along with other noteworthy models from MacNaughton and Alex Martin.   

John Dickson and Son

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I live in a part of the US with much opportunity to wing-shoot close to home - I usually have to travel to hunt. This being the case  - my hunting is usually done in multi-day blocks. Besides the logistics and added cost, I have to say that I do love getting away on a hunting trip.  Exploring new towns, comparing fields and covers from one year to the next, staying in quaint houses, cottages, and hotels and just getting to spend extended time with buddies and dogs - what’s not to love?  

Most often, the destination changes for me but for some, there is a consistent and familiar place that calls them back year after year.  Whether the accommodations are more primitive or high-brow, the concept of a hunting camp, or specifically for this episode a bird camp, is one that I have been familiar with for years but hadn’t experienced firsthand.  Recently, I got an opportunity to change that.  Joe Schwenke hosts the aptly named podcast 'Bird Camp'.  Joe's podcast focuses heavily on grouse and woodcock hunting and conservation in his home state of  Michigan.  

After spending a few days with Joe at his camp and in a few of the grouse and woodcock covers in his area - I wanted to bring him on to discuss what their camp experience is like and to discuss how Joe focuses on protecting and giving back through local, I am going to call it micro- conservation throughout the year.  It is always rewarding to see the money you give to large, national organizations being used for good conservation work but that isn't the only way to make an impact with your time, talents, and resources.

Required listening for every grouse/woodcock hunter:
Bird Camp podcast, 'A Bird Camp editorial' on Apple Podcasts
Bird Camp podcast, 'A Bird Camp editorial' on Spotify

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In part two of this series, Jonny Carter of TGS Outdoors and I will finish stitching together our versions of Dr. Frankenstein's shotgun.  Engraving, stock, forend, forend iron, wood characteristics, recoil pads, and even the cases we will tote these creations in.  

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Dr. Frankenstein’s monster was stitched together components that formed a man.  What if we could do the same and cobble together the components of a shotgun?  Would the end result be greater than the sum of its individual parts - or would the sight of it scare children and civilized shotgun enthusiasts?

Now, we all know that with regards to shotguns, it has always been the case that with deep enough pockets, you could go to any manufacturer and have them build you a bespoke gun with any feature they offer…. that isn't what we are doing today.  Today, I am joined by my friend Jonny Carter from TGS Outdoors. We are going to cherry-pick components, features, options, and embellishments from any and ALL manufacturers and from all eras to each build up a Frankenstein’s monster shotgun.  This fictitious shotgun could end up being an absolute dream gun, or it could just be something odd and interesting that we would love to see built.  Jonny has handled, shot, and taken apart shotguns from most manufacturers, both modern and vintage. I couldn’t think of anyone better.  So as you are always instructed to do in the intro - pour yourself a drink, sit back, and relax while we each create an enthusiast's dream shotgun, or possibly a steel and wood monstrosity.

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Have you ever wondered why we don’t see more variety in the type of wood found on shotgun stocks?  With over 200 species of hardwoods alone - why is walnut so prevalent?  In this two-part episode, we will first hear from Dan Ziegler, owner of Luxus Walnut.  Dan breaks down why walnut is the predominant choice for shotgun (and rifle) stocks, and what terms like figure, feather, marble-cake, and burl mean. 

My second guest is Art Isaacson who for 40 years has owned and operated Art's Gun Shop, a full-service Browning repair facility.  Art has seen, handled, and repaired thousands of stocks affected by the Browning 'salt wood' fiasco in the 1960s.  Art explains what it was, how to identify a gun with a 'salt wood' stock, and what repair options are available.

I wrap up with a quick comment on the new release of Upland Game Classic 2.5" shotshells from B&P.  Finally, more options for your vintage shotgun with 2.5" chambers.

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Something a little different in this new episode.  While building content, I often have interviews and topics that don’t need a full 30-40 minute dedicated episode.  I have decided to take these ‘shorts’ and pool them together plus offer you an update on what is in the works with the A Break in the Action podcast.

• Gamebird taxidermy with Meadow Kouffeld 
• Review of the Zoli Pernice, 20g O/U
• Mouthful of Feathers, Upland in America with Tom Reed

A Hunter’s Prayer

For the cunning of the fox
and the obsession of the hound;
The majesty of the whitetail deer
and the frost upon the ground.

For humbling shots at dove and teal
and their acrobatics on the wing;
The exhilaration of bringing trout to hand
and the satisfaction that it brings.

For the patience spent with stalking glass
o’er thistled hills for stag;
The hard-earned hare, the cock, the squirrel…
a simple man's mixed bag.

For the explosion of colors in the spring
and winter’s steely greys;
The rusts of autumn, harvest golds
and summer’s steamy haze.

For calming evenings spent by campfire
and the intoxicating walks that fill our days;
There are no greater gifts than these -
Almighty Father, we give You praise.

Ryan Doughty, 2010

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Quail hunting in the US is filled with tradition. A symphony of sights, sounds, and sensations that has a special way of connecting today’s hunters with those of the past.  How does shotgun selection fit into the discussion on quail hunting?   I have invited a few familiar names to join this panel discussion.  Reid Bryant, Durrell Smith, and Charlie Jordan – each has a significant presence and voice in the upland community and regularly pursues quail.  In this episode, we will discuss the type of shotgun, gauge, and configuration that they feel is best suited for hunting quail.

On Instagram:
Reid Bryant
Durrell Smith
Charlie Jordan

More from this episode:
Purdey of London - Configurator (use with caution!)

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