12 Stand Clays

[Rapier]

When we go to Rome, we do as the.....

The new SA govt only allows semi-auto shotguns into the country with a special permit and the special permit is never issued. Goes along with the drink fund box at security in the airport. Want to clear your guns, contribute to the drink fund. So, nope, you would have to carry your OU. The govt allows semi-auto guns that were in country when the govt was formed, but no auto gun can be used on game birds, in any case. Pigeons and doves are considered vermin.

In Argentina, which is a whole different world, you bring it, you shoot it. There are only two autos to bring, the Beretta or the Benelli. The Beretta requires cleaning noon and evening, the Benelli only requires oil, however most guys do clean in the evening to insure a good start and finish on the next day. The dove shoots are 1,000 to 2,000 shot days (40-80 boxes).

The outfitters that I have been with all rent Benelli guns, nothing else. Saw a Benelli gun at Sier Safaris that had over 500,000 rounds through it. It looked and functioned like brand new.

When I took my 391, I was still cleaning when the OU guys were finished cleaning and finished with snacks at noon. In the evening they were rattling ice at me, in empty glasses, long before I finished cleaning the 391. The 391 is a great US hunting gun, 4-5 boxes, but a pain in high volume shooting. Just the opposite of what one might think.

I watched several OU guns break in Argentina (Remingtons & Winchester) and noticed that the Browning just kept on humming. The broken OU guns all broke at the forearm. I destroyed a Beretta OU in Africa, a box and a half into the first day, my guns were lost in shipping, I snapped the actuator off the forearm metal on the Beretta. No doubt it was old and well used.

The 20ga OU in a properly set up gun for volume shooting is not bad at all. It should be back bored, have extended forcing cones, be ported and have a good recoil pad, like a Limb Saver. Then the recoil is very manageable.

I live in Destin, between Pensacola and Panama City, about 7-8 hours drive from Tampa. We do have a good many birds but not very many waterfowl hunters. To much trouble for the effort and equipment VS the # of birds. Most folks here hunt doves and pen raised quail.

Since the tree huggers stopped any real effective control of the fire ants, the ground nesting birds have all but disappeared in our area. They started coming back after DDT was banned, but once the fire ants reached our area, that was it.

Now I pretty much shoot clays and eat chicken.
Ed