July/August 2019

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Editor’s Note by Ralph Stuart
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For niche publications like

Shooting Sportsman, one of the most challenging tasks is to find knowledgeable, articulate writers. Let’s face it: There are plenty of so-called experts out there, but many of them are simply full of hot air—and sound like it. Which is why I am proud to welcome aboard our newest Editor at Large, Gregg Elliott. Gregg is a gun guy and a dogman, and he knows his stuff. He has been writing for us for almost 15 years, and you may have seen his byline on articles like “An Italian Innovation” (Nov/Dec ’18), about visiting the Beretta factory, in Italy.

Gregg grew up hunting ruffed grouse and woodcock in New Hampshire and currently lives outside of Boston with his wife and two pointers. He’s had a lifelong interest in double guns and at one point worked at New England Arms, in Kittery Point, Maine. Today his main gig is in advertising, but he still finds time to hunt throughout New England, with occasional trips to Montana, South Dakota and Wisconsin. He also runs the website dogsanddoubles.com, where he covers the wingshooting and fine-gun scenes and even offers free appraisals of double guns.

We look forward to Gregg’s future contributions and think you’ll agree that his voice is a valuable one.

July/August is our annual “pre-season” issue, in which we offer inspirational articles for the upcoming bird season. Of course, there are plenty of shotgunners who would just as soon break clays as take game so, with that in mind, here is a quick rundown of some fun fall shoots:

• Northern Side by Side Challenge and Expo: August 1 to 4 at Rock Mountain Sporting Clays, in Meshoppen, Pennsylvania. For more information, visit rockmountainclays.com/northern-side-x-side.html.

• Tunnel of Trees Side x Side Tournament: September 6 to 8 at Emmet County Sportsmen’s Club, in Harbor Springs, Michigan. For more information, visit emmettunneloftrees.com.

• Vintage Gunners Cup World Side-by-Side Shotgun & Rifle Championship & Exhibition: September 19 to 21 at Hausmann’s Hidden Hollow Sporting Clays, in Friendsville, Pennsylvania. For more information, visit vintagers.org/VC.

• Orvis Game Fair & Country Sporting Weekends: September 21 & 22 at Sandanona Shooting Grounds, in Millbrook, New York; October 5 & 6 at Hill Country Shooting Grounds, in Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania; and November 2 & 3 at Pursell Farms Shooting Grounds, in Sylacauga, Alabama. For more information, visit orvis.com/gamefair.

• Southern Side by Side Championship & Exhibition, The Fall Classic: October 17 to 20 at Back Woods Quail Club, in Georgetown, South Carolina. For more information, visit southernsidebyside.com/the-fall-classic.

• Kevin’s and Holland & Holland 4th Annual Game Fair: November 7 to 10 at the Greenwood Plantation Campus, in Thomasville, Georgia. For more information, contact awatts@kevinscatalog.com.

Ralph P. Stuart

Features

Shotgunning’s Class of ’19

The latest & greatest in smoothbores

By Brad Fitzpatrick

Bobs in the Black Belt

A wingshooting weekend at Prairie Wildlife.

By Robert Parvin Williams

Raising the Revenant

The making of Caesar Guerini’s new round-action

By Phil Bourjaily

Something Other

A few thoughts on the pointer

By Tom Davis


Departments

From the Editor

Our new Editor at Large and some fall shoots

Letters

Blue grouse, gun books, praise for Chessies and more

The Opener

Getting a leg up on marking birds

Game & Gun Gazette

The Adams Cup, The Explora, Bertuzzi, Piotti and more

Gun Review

The Krieghoff K-20 Victoria

By Bruce Buck

Field Gear

Gear worth packing for the coming season

By The Editors

To the Point

Getting over—or under or through—those diabolic gates

By Tom Huggler


Scattershot

Great advice for the sporting life

Gear Guide

Putting ice chests to the test

By Ralph Stuart

Shooting

Celebrating shotgunning’s women’s movement

By Chris Batha

From the Bench

A visit with master engraver William Gamradt

By Richard S. Grozik

Shot Talk

Clearing up issues around shotshell pressures

By Tom Roster

Hunting Dogs

Tricks for teaching steadiness in young retrievers

By Jessie Richards


On the cover: A Rizzini Regal Extra from Gordy & Sons, photographed by Terry Allen

Additional photos: Bill Buckley; Terry Allen; Chip Laughton


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