Parker

Front sights that are plastic that pick up ambient light have been around since 1955 when Ithaca introduced their Raybar front sight. It was a tube of clear red plastic that was held in place by a brass frame. The modern version today that is billed as fiber optic offers a more concentrated light when viewed by the shooter. Some shooters prefer specific front beads, be it a Bradley-style white bead, German nickel silver bead, brass bead or a genuine ivory bead.

AVB-AMG, Give a call to Steve Cobb down in Bedminster. He has a small but eclectic collection of old and new guns that are worth looking at. (PS - He's a birddog man too. ) http://stevecobbguns.com

I hope you get that opportunity. Anyone who hunts upland birds should experience at least one good hunt over a good dog. Our family raised bird dogs and for more than fifty years I've had the opportunity to hunt over dozens of dogs. Some good, some not so good. I have friends today with dogs, some good, some not so good. The dog I lost recently was more than good, if not exceptional.

I've always been a proponent of going later, after the horde of botchagaloop's have gone. Then again, I had a great bird dog, and hunting state land was always easy for us from late morning to dusk. Sadly, I lost my dog in May, and after a few weekends hunting upstate NY without him this year, I'm painfully reminded that hunting without a dog in the uplands is void of the connection a dog provides that ties things all together. A good dog will change the experience from annoying madness that is often possible in New Jersey to sheer pleasure.

Double-dipper Loretta? She needs to go chase her tail worrying about something more unimportant....................like Bridgegate..............or the Tunnel to Nowhere. (Caution: this picture may crack your monitor.)

Good read.

Don't know about New Jersey, but I've been bird hunting in NY each weekend and this year is one that seems to have a bumper crop of squirrels and chipmunks in the area I hunt. They seem to be everywhere. As for rabbits...........hunt the briars. Bunnies seem to be in places that leave you a bit bloody after a walk through the thick stuff they like to hide in.

A modicum of engraving on a blued or satin chromium nitride finish is acceptable. Full flourish engraving is nice (expensive!) and while pretty to look at, some can be overdone. A family member has an early 60's Browning Superposed 3-barreled skeet set in Browning's famed Diana Grade that he's used on the skeet range for years. The heavily burled walnut mated with the metal engraving makes the gun spectacular to look at. To say I lust for that gun is an understatement.

Chris, I've tried to wrap my head around liking black plastic or camo clad guns, I just can't bring myself to liking them. There is something about the look of polished and blued steel, with finely fitted walnut. I'm just a sucker for traditional guns.

I had to post a picture of the Ljutic -

You've picked some good choices here. If you are looking at any of these models, I would go stackbarrel for the versatility of two different chokes, better trigger, and a competition wide rib which offers a good sighting plane. If I had to pick one for myself, it would be a toss-up between the 686 Onyx or 686 SP. (That said, I'd also hunt around for a nice used 682 SC.) The weight of the Beretta's are often less, which on a positive note can make them versatile for any shooting discipline, or even hunting. IF I was to shoot trap only, I'd look for an older Browning Superposed Broadway model and I'd probably be happy with my selection. But, that's my personal taste. The FNH-SC and Winchester share the same frame, with trunnions as hinge pins and conical locking lugs (like a Beretta,) while the Browning Citori (Miroku) is still the same full-width hinge pin and tapered under-locking bolt designed by J.M. Browning and introduced in the 30's. It's a solid, robust design but was always a tad on the heavy side and has a slightly taller receiver, especially in the 12 ga. All three (Browning, FN, Winchester) share the same choke tube system I believe. Footnote for Chris: The Benelli Vinci, which epitomizes the modern age of shotguns built by robotic machines, may be cutting edge in design and function, but to me is quite possibly the ugliest shotgun on the market today. (Second place ugly would go to the Ljutic Space Gun, third place would be the Browning Recoilless Trap.) I simply cannot warm up to ugly guns, no matter how well they work.

The weaknesses of any shotgun will show in the first few shots. The weaknesses of many shotguns will show after many thousands of rounds. If you want comfort you'll need weight (to absorb recoil and enhance swing.) You can compensate a little less weight if you go with a gas auto (like a Beretta,) but with a single barrel you are limited to one choke tube at a time, and that may be a disadvantage if you are shooting a sporting clays course. A longer barrel is the style today but 28" or 30" are good compromises for most shooting disciplines. If you are going to shoot a lot, get a gun that is durable and will hold up. Anything Beretta or Browning builds will fill the bill for you. Pick the action you want and then pick the shotgun that fits you best. Try as many as possible. To lessen the pain up front at purchase time, buy a good used shotgun. If you don't like it chances are when you sell it later you'll get most of your money back.

Good read.

I see Mr. Elliot picked his Ruger over his Browning. He must only be half-serious with his intentions.

According to the NJSP 2013 UCR compilation, some of the info should be of no surprise to anyone: Six major urban centers—Camden, Newark, Jersey City, Trenton, Paterson and Elizabeth—collectively represent 11 percent of New Jersey’s total population. These same urban centers, during the period 2004 through 2013 accounted for 21 percent of the state’s total crime.“Major Urban” centers from 2004 through 2013 accounted for 39 percent of all violent crime and 18 percent of the nonviolent crimes in the entire state. The 15 urban municipalities represent 18 percent of the state’s total population. “Urban 15” municipalities accounted for 31 percent of New Jersey’s total Crime Index. Violent crime was 52 percent of the state total, while nonviolent crime was 28 percent of the state total during this ten-year period. Sixty-seven percent of all reported murders occurred in the “Urban 15” cities during this ten-year period.

You could always do this: Or for the more traditional look of walnut:

You can bring the putrid AR into NY that's depicted above.

Always wanted one, just never got around to it. You might enjoy this article: http://gunsmagazine.com/hail-the-41-magnum/

Once the wood fibers are cut, steaming with do little to fix your situation as TBill says. I'd put some stock stock filler in that hole, touch it up with some BLO and call it done. Your stock now has a beauty mark that shows it's been used.

No S&W M52? No Luger P-08? No Walther P-38? No VP70? No Mauser 96? No Colt Hammerless?

Absolutely true.

Slugs in my experience usually penetrate completely on whitetails, unless a stem to stern or angling shot is deployed. I don't use sabots but some rounds utilize soft point and hollow point bullets, half the weight of a slug, and may open up and expend their energy upon expansion but offer less penetration. (I suspect saboted rounds penetrate on broadside hits though.) The same can be said for rifle rounds of small caliber and light weight at slow velocities. Some will pass through, some will not, usually dependent upon bullet construction and velocity. http://njgunforums.com/forum/index.php/topic/60517-best-slugs-for-expansion-and-pentration/ My brother's friend shot a large doe that had an odd look to her swollen face when it came to butchering time. He performed his own necropsy and found a 20 ga. slug lodged in her nasal canal. Bet there's a great story behind that shot.

Unless you have the nose of a bloodhound, the potential for a blood trail to follow is enhanced by more than one hole. Often an entrance wound will close up with fat or hide covering it, leaving a poor blood trail to follow. The animal may bleed excessively internally, but you would never know. Most people can't trail an animal in thick cover, especially in the early Fall months.

Find another club. I've heard of clubs in NJ doing these sort of things, and it appalls me.

Last time I was in there Billy was telling me how difficult it was to compete with the big box stores and internet sales for firearms. In their heyday, they were great; they carried everything. Been going there since the 60's. It will be a shame to see them go. Their "layaway" plan on firearms and bows was the best. Yep, Ricky Storms re-blued a rifle for me years ago.