I just picked this up today. It is a 20E, 12 bore proofed for 2 1/2 shell.

Great shotgun guys. I love Francottes. This is my second one. The first is a KnockAbout that was reproofed in Birmingham to 2 3/4. It has been my dove gun the last two years.

This new gun is a tasteful sideplate gun with good engraving, case color on the plates is almost rose gold in appearance. Only Belgium proof marks. Proofed for smokeless/Nitro.

The gun has no import stamp (either VLD or A and F).

28 inch barrels chocked full and improved. Of course, she bears double triggers. She is dressed up with double ivory beads on the concave rib. She finishes with a third hidden crossbolt and Prince of Wales hand.

I love the petite Prince of Wales hand on both of these guns; just lovely.

This is my first 2 1/2 inch gun. I will be honest. I need all the lead and speed in the air I can get. So, I do not expect to hit much. However, I love these Francottes. I had a good week at work, got a price I asked for, and Minister of Finance and Fun said yes.

Any suggestions on names? I want something feminine.

I have ordered 250 rounds from RST of 1 1/16 oz 2 1/2 cartridges. This gun to me is really a 16 gauge. I will employ her as such.

If anyone wants pics, pm me your email or IPhone number.

Go shoot a bunch of clay pigeons, I think you will be surprised. I think very few birds are missed for lack of shot in the pattern. As an experiment I loaded up a bunch of 2" 12 ga. shells with 1/2 oz of #8 shot, just to see if I could. I took it out to the trap with no great expectations and found, much to my surprise, I smoked the birds about as well as I can with anything. A lot of perfect scores have been shot with the .410 and 1/2 oz shot. If your gun is a light one you may find you do better with 3/4-7/8 oz of shot. Recoil is not your friend.
C.G.B.

I just got notice the ammo will be here by the weekend. Praise the Almighty and pass the clay pegion.

Well, I am not sure what a pegion is, but the Brits have been shooting 2 1/2 inch shells for a long time. Don't know whether they still do. International skeet is shot with 7/8 oz. of shot as I recollect, and I shoot skeet with 28ga. more often than not, with .410 being the alternative. Cheaper!
Peter.

A clay pigeon is the full, old fashion name for a clay. Oh! I see.

The ammo came today. My friend from Grad School working on a Literature PhD is coming in from Ohio for his birthday. We will shot shotguns, clean guns, and then drink port.

quote:

then drink port.

Sandeman's I hope!
Peter.

Sandeman’s 20 year Tawny and Dow’s 10 year Tawny.

What a Great weekend. We had New York Strip steaks smoked over pecan wood. We each shot a string of 75 clays. I broke maybe 40. The “little 12” is a joy. We were using an automated thrower from an elevated stand. Clays were let go at random without call. You can really tell the 2 3/4 inch Francotte is a “bigger” 12 when the two are standing near each other in the rack.

One throw, after a few high and going away that I handled well, I changed positions. They lowered the arc and sent one about 5 feet off the ground and dead flat. I stood there looking around at the ski. So, everyone got laughed at.

RST makes a good shotgun cartridge. We had no miss fires. I did not expect it.

One bottle of 20 year Sandeman’s gone, and an emptied bottle of rain water merderia

I will not see my frind and his family for another year. He had never shot a double gun before. We got a great laugh at him pulling the front trigger twice.

Dove season is not until September.

Glad you had a good time. Double triggers are not easy to get used to.
Peter.