Nick Hahn - Shotgun Chronicles Volume II--Semi-auto & Pump Shotguns

VOLUME 2:

By Nick Hahn

The repeating shotguns discussed in the Shotgun Chronicles Volume II can be best described as classic shotguns. Some of them, like the Winchester Model 12, the Breda autoloader, and the Browning A-5, were discontinued many years ago (the Browning most recently, about a dozen years ago). Others, although still made, are no longer the reigning repeaters of the day, while some, like the Remington 870, are remarkably popular even after all the years.

The youngest gun discussed in this collection is the Remington Model 1100, which is still made today, like the 870, and will have been in production for 50 years this year, since its introduction in 1963. The oldest gun covered is the Browning A-5, which began its life in Belgium, in 1903. Its production was switched to Japan in 1976, and it stayed there until it was discontinued 15 years later, in 2001, a remarkable 98-year run. Regardless their age or time in production, all guns discussed are classics, even if they are not finely made like some double guns.

There are, of course, other repeaters like the inexpensive bolt-actions that at one time sold for about the same price as a single-shot shotgun. There were also some lever-action shotguns in the late nineteenth century, and the Kessler Lever-Matic made a brief appearance in the early to mid-1950s. But none of those were included in this collection, rather I stuck to autoloaders and pump guns. Even then, the selection is narrow, and, no doubt, some readers will have issues with my choices. But these articles were written randomly, at varying times over a several year period, with no thought of providing any sort of a comprehensive coverage of shotgun action types. In short and simply, the selection and collection just werent planned. So, the guns discussed in this collection are representative of their action types and are the ones that have been either around a long time or simply were very unique for the times like the Breda.

There are also three pieces included in this collection that are not gun model specific. The Queen of the Uplands is more of an article about the 16-gauge, although it does discuss some repeaters, autoloaders and pump guns more so than any other shotguns. Lorenzo, the Pumpgunner is about an individual who mastered the handling of the pump gun, in this instance, it happens to be the Remington Model 870, so, to some extent, that piece is gun specific; it was also initially published in the Upland Almanac (Winter 2011 issue) as The Pump Gunner, though in a shorter version. Finally, The Classic Duck Gun is about a handful of repeaters of the past, both pump and autoloaders, that could still be used as duck guns today, with some adjustments.

Most of the guns discussed either have long since been discontinued or changed only slightly from their original version. For those guns that survived the test of time, such as the Remington Model 870 and Model 1100, and the Mossberg Model 500, the fact that they have changed little is a testament to their superior design and functionality.

The pump gun has long been considered a tool, a working gun, and rarely the foundation for a fancy work of art. Yet no one can deny the superb machining that went into making The Perfect Repeater, the Winchester Model 12. Even the conservative British gun expert Gough Thomas found the Model 12 to be exceptionally well designed and eumatic. It was a word he invented, but he intended it to meant that a particular gun was one that handled and shot effortlessly, comparatively speaking, of course. Also, one cant deny that considerable workmanship and art went into making a few high-grade pump guns, such as the Remington 870 Premier Grade or the old Ithaca Model 37 Thousand Dollar Grade. Pump guns may not be everyones cup of tea, but the higher grades are made with as much care and attention to detail as the better grade double guns.

The same thing can be said of the autoloaders, and autoloaders tend to be of higher grade simply because they cost more to begin with. But, as with pump guns, some of the high-grade autoloaders are truly works of art. The Browning Automatic, better known as the A-5, was at one time made in several ascending grades just like its double-barreled brethren, the Superposed shotguns. The higher grade IV and V A-5s were absolutely stunning, beautifully engraved and stocked in mouth-watering walnut. No one will claim that the square-ended A-5 has a handsome profile, but engraved as they were and stocked in gorgeous wood in their higher grades, they were indeed beautiful. So, those who turn up their noses at repeaters should be careful not to pass judgment too quickly. It may be a hard pill for a double gun aficionado to swallow, but there are those who prefer repeaters over doubles. And when it comes to value for your dollar, nothing can beat the good old pump gun.

Nick Hahn

Litchfield Park, Arizona

Spring 2013

Despite the tremendous popularity of the over under shotgun, and the resurgence of the classic side by side, when it comes to shotguns, in the U.S. the repeaters are ahead in popularity. There are many reasons for the repeaters dominance, the lower price being one of the most important. Whatever the reason, the repeating shotgun sees the most widespread use among shooters, and there are basically only two categories that really matter; the pump (slide action), and the autoloader (semi automatic). The autoloader is preferred by many today.

Among todays autoloader users, the vast majority use the gas operated variety. Some of the most popular brand names are gas-operated. Only the Benelli and its subsidiaries Franchi, Breda and Stoeger still continue to market non-gas operated autoloaders. Todays gas operated autoloaders are very reliable, soft shooting, versatile, and well balanced, a far cry from the early versions which had problems handling different loads. As one noted shotgun authority put it recently, the autoloader has reached the zenith of its development in reliability and handling qualities.

The Bernardelli Automatico V.B. was an unusual autoloader that utilized a inertia type system. It was made in 12, 16 and 20 gauges, although here in America, when they are found, they are usually in 12 gauge. It used a box magazine that made it somewhat cumbersome.

The gas operated autoloader gained its popularity with the appearance of the Remington 1100 in 1963. Prior to that, they were either not reliable or could not handle high and low velocity loads interchangeably. There were the Remington 58 and the 878, the Beretta and LaSalle. The High Standard, which was marketed as the J.C. Higgins Model 60, made its first appearance in 1956. However, the early gas operated autoloaders tended to be either heavy and bulky like the J.C. Higgins, or incapable of handling all loads like the early Remington and Berettas. The recoil operated autoloader still ruled the roost.

The basic difference between the gas operated autoloader and the recoil operated version is that in the former, the operation of the gun is dependent upon gases that are bled through small holes or hole at the bottom of the barrel (located about mid point between the chamber and the muzzle), which push the gas piston that in turn push the action bars rearwards to cause the ejection of the empty and the reloading of a fresh round. In the recoil operated autoloader, whether long recoil, short recoil, inertia, or floating chamber, all of these actions are operated by recoil force rather than by escaping gas forces.