Old 20 gauge.

[salmonchaser]

I’ve had this 20 gauge Ithaca kicking around for about 40 years. Bought it used. Never shot it too well but it served honorably as a truck gun for mountain quail and grouse when out scouting. Recently I’ve spent quite a bit of effort trying to figure out why I don’t shoot doubles as well as I shoot a Benelli. The secret is cast off. Most of the doubles I’ve shot have cast off applied to the stock. Just the opposite of what a left handed shooter needs. This gun also had suffered a horrendous stock shortening at the hands of an ape with a skill saw. Might have been a radial arm saw.
Anyway sent it off three weeks ago to BRILEY manufacturing. They make aftermarket chokes, build race gun 2011s that kind of thing. They are a shotgun modification outfit. Three weeks, door to door. New recoil pad, perfectly fit, 1/4 inch cast off adjusted to 1/4 cast on. UPS delivered to the tiny house in Tucson at 1045 yesterday. 40 minutes out to Tucson trap club. 24/25 best I’ve ever done with that gun by about 10 birds.
The stock bending cost 150.00 American. Could well be the best money I’ve ever spent on a shotgun, think that is about what I paid for the gun originally but now I can hit with it. Come fall this old man will be running this old 20 for some serious hunting, especially if I go visit Guy in South Dakota!

 

[JD338]

Very nice Don!

JD338

 

[truck driver]

Beautiful little shot gun. Europe would have said you should have got a Fox. (lol)
Always loved those little shot guns and could shoot the heck out of them. I guess the factory stock just fit me right being right-handed.
My dad had one but was in 12ga and would lock it up when we would go bird hunting telling me to use my own gun since I could shoot it better than him and would kill the most birds when I used it. Dad didn't like being should up by his youngest offspring lol. On Saturday nights we would go to the trap club, and he would let me use the Ithaca so I could be his partner when we shot doubles knowing I hardly ever missed with it and would pick him up when he did.
Didn't mean to steal your post, it brought back 60-year-old memories.

 

[NYDAN]

Oh yes. Cast off and cast on make all the difference in the world! I am glad you got it sorted out. Congratulations on your personal best with that shotgun.

 

[wvbuckbuster]

Nice old shotgun. Glad you got it to fit you. Hope you and Guy bust lots of birds
Dan.

 

[Blkram]

I’ve had this 20 gauge Ithaca kicking around for about 40 years. Bought it used. Never shot it too well but it served honorably as a truck gun for mountain quail and grouse when out scouting. Recently I’ve spent quite a bit of effort trying to figure out why I don’t shoot doubles as well as I shoot a Benelli. The secret is cast off. Most of the doubles I’ve shot have cast off applied to the stock. Just the opposite of what a left handed shooter needs. This gun also had suffered a horrendous stock shortening at the hands of an ape with a skill saw. Might have been a radial arm saw.
Anyway sent it off three weeks ago to BRILEY manufacturing. They make aftermarket chokes, build race gun 2011s that kind of thing. They are a shotgun modification outfit. Three weeks, door to door. New recoil pad, perfectly fit, 1/4 inch cast off adjusted to 1/4 cast on. UPS delivered to the tiny house in Tucson at 1045 yesterday. 40 minutes out to Tucson trap club. 24/25 best I’ve ever done with that gun by about 10 birds.
The stock bending cost 150.00 American. Could well be the best money I’ve ever spent on a shotgun, think that is about what I paid for the gun originally but now I can hit with it. Come fall this old man will be running this old 20 for some serious hunting, especially if I go visit Guy in South Dakota!

Being a fellow lefty, I feel your pain...
I bought that beautiful little FAIR Iside in 28 gauge as I have wanted a double, and the seller had said that the stock was cast neutral; apparently he didn't under stand cast off in a stock. Loved how it handled, it was so light and nimble...but it did not shoulder or fit well.
I do shoot my Benelli Ethos in 28 a lot better.
I have always done better with pumps and semis due to their neutral stocks.

I have been looking for a double in 20 gauge too, but haven't found one with the proper cast, let alone a neutral stock.
I did come across a beautiful LH Rem 1100 20 gauge and have acquired it. The wood is beautiful.
I think it may have been from the Remington Custom Shop, but just not sure...

 

[salmonchaser]

Being a fellow lefty, I feel your pain...
I bought that beautiful little FAIR Iside in 28 gauge as I have wanted a double, and the seller had said that the stock was cast neutral; apparently he didn't under stand cast off in a stock. Loved how it handled, it was so light and nimble...but it did not shoulder or fit well.
I do shoot my Benelli Ethos in 28 a lot better.
I have always done better with pumps and semis due to their neutral stocks.

I have been looking for a double in 20 gauge too, but haven't found one with the proper cast, let alone a neutral stock.
I did come across a beautiful LH Rem 1100 20 gauge and have acquired it. The wood is beautiful.
I think it may have been from the Remington Custom Shop, but just not sure...
View attachment 25263View attachment 25264

That is a beautiful gun

 

[salmonchaser]

Beautiful little shot gun. Europe would have said you should have got a Fox. (lol)
Always loved those little shot guns and could shoot the heck out of them. I guess the factory stock just fit me right being right-handed.
My dad had one but was in 12ga and would lock it up when we would go bird hunting telling me to use my own gun since I could shoot it better than him and would kill the most birds when I used it. Dad didn't like being should up by his youngest offspring lol. On Saturday nights we would go to the trap club, and he would let me use the Ithaca so I could be his partner when we shot doubles knowing I hardly ever missed with it and would pick him up when he did.
Didn't mean to steal your post, it brought back 60-year-old memories.

I miss her.

 

[wvbuckbuster]

Being a fellow lefty, I feel your pain...
I bought that beautiful little FAIR Iside in 28 gauge as I have wanted a double, and the seller had said that the stock was cast neutral; apparently he didn't under stand cast off in a stock. Loved how it handled, it was so light and nimble...but it did not shoulder or fit well.
I do shoot my Benelli Ethos in 28 a lot better.
I have always done better with pumps and semis due to their neutral stocks.

I have been looking for a double in 20 gauge too, but haven't found one with the proper cast, let alone a neutral stock.
I did come across a beautiful LH Rem 1100 20 gauge and have acquired it. The wood is beautiful.
I think it may have been from the Remington Custom Shop, but just not sure...
View attachment 25263View attachment 25264

That is some outstanding wood!

 

[diverdown]

Being a fellow lefty, I feel your pain...
I bought that beautiful little FAIR Iside in 28 gauge as I have wanted a double, and the seller had said that the stock was cast neutral; apparently he didn't under stand cast off in a stock. Loved how it handled, it was so light and nimble...but it did not shoulder or fit well.
I do shoot my Benelli Ethos in 28 a lot better.
I have always done better with pumps and semis due to their neutral stocks.

I have been looking for a double in 20 gauge too, but haven't found one with the proper cast, let alone a neutral stock.
I did come across a beautiful LH Rem 1100 20 gauge and have acquired it. The wood is beautiful.
I think it may have been from the Remington Custom Shop, but just not sure...
View attachment 25263View attachment 25264

now that is a beautiful piece of wood.

 

[truck driver]

I miss her.

Me too, we had some great conversations.