I have an L.C. Smith 12 ga sxs that says field grade that i use for bird hunting. My grandfather passed it down to me. It has taken its fair share of birds over the years, and the pattern is great. He used it a few times for pheasant hunting in sd, but mostly he shot buckshot thru it at targets in the old days. The gun is a great shooter and i took a couple small pigs with it and some buckshot. I asked a fella at a gun show about it and told him this and he looked at me like i was from another planet and said " why would ya do that". i was wondering if ya'll could tell me if buckshot will harm this weapon, as i would rather have it around for wingshooting and turkey hunting, but like the option of putting some buckshot in if i see a hog, while trying to scare up quail and dove.
Maybe he was suprised that you consider the gun a "shooter" when some folks view some of the older double bbls., Parkers, L.C.Smith,etc.. as "collectors items". If you feel uncomfortable from his comment, any good gun smith should offer an opinon on the soundness of the shotgun. A family gun is a special thing, hang on to it. Treefarmer
L.C. Smiths are a very high end classic/collectable and expensive wingshooting gun most likely, depending on gauge, bbl length and choke intended for quail, grouse,pheasant or possibly duck/geese. as long as it doesn't have a damascus bbl it would probably be safe for modern ammo but I'd have it checked out by a good smith to be sure. using it with buckshot for hogs (Good God Man) would kinda be like going muddin in a Rolls Royce. you could sell it and buy severall other shotguns better designed for hogging. certain Lc's will bring VERY big money.
The field grade is just an average double in the $300-500 range. Mine is full choke and I shoot high brass #4 buck every year no problems.
The gun is sound i have used it many times. It is a field grade 12 ga, not fancy, My grampa hunted pheasants with it, and taught my mom how to shoot and defend herself with it. She was told if you ever in trouble and we arent home point it at their knees and pull the trigger. i think it would be great for a # of birds....besides the fact it is a shooter i hunt with it and got my first 2 kills on public land with it. I think it is safer than my slug gun. The 20 ga parker bros we have in the family that was my great grandfathers is the one i havent shot yet, though i am sure he used it for hunting. It is a georgeous peice of equipment with case coloring and engraving. I look at it like this, if you cant use it why have it, other than sentimentality. The parker bros, probly will never see the woods again...mostly just a clay gun, and conversation piece. I have seen people t the gun shows selling l.c. smith field grade guns as high as 1500. Think i will pop some doves with it sat or sun. Thanks ya'll.
