Aug 31, 2024 5 min read

By Dave Bates

For the Observer-Reporter

Every once in a while we run across that perfect side by side that shoots lights out. The fowling piece that swings of its own accord. In essence, “it fits.” These are the children of feverish dreams that make us long for that bird to rise from the grass on a dead nuts point.

The confidence that exudes from the intimacy between man and gun is rare indeed. But what about the rest of the guns that we own? Most of us (myself included) don’t always know enough about the nuts and bolts of this conjuring to even recognize it, much less replicate the formula. But good news awaits. There is a guy who knows enough about this mystic business for all of us. He’s your local gunsmith. The witch doctor of wood. The shaman of stocks. My guy is Mario.

I’ll admit that this process isn’t for everyone nor for every gun in the cabinet. Sometimes it’s more practical, and a lot cheaper, to ditch the gun. But if you have a gun that you can’t live without, possibly a gun that was gifted or inherited and you simply can’t bring yourself to get rid of the piece, maybe this route is for you. Don’t give up on that old favorite without attempting some form of correction. You might be surprised at what can be done to make it shoot passably. On rare occasions, lightning in a bottle can indeed be captured and channeled.

Ideally, one would make their way to the aisles of Ace Sporting Goods. After a cursory once over, the clouds would part, light would shine down from heaven and the holy grail of side by sides would appear. Following a short prelude of harp music from angelic choir, we would hoist our pea shooter for the ride home and commence to shooting a myriad of pheasants, doves, grouse, woodcock and ducks, all with the same gun. This sort of nonsense is heresy in the outdoor world. Of course, we need a designated .410 woodcock gun for use in heavy brush, with 25-inch barrels and tasteful engraving. Certainly it would feature neat 22 line per inch checkering to finish it off.

Now that I have awakened from such slumber, what the heck do we do with the 30-inch barreled Ithaca that grandpa left us that was shortened in 1922 for a kid and doesn’t shoot worth a hoot? Maybe shove it to the back of the safe and ignore it? Or, maybe we call in the professionals for some advice. We rotate the tires, change the oil and voila.

First, I’d recommend handling any number of guns of your chosen ilk to see what looks and feels good. A “try gun” is also a good place to start. If you think something feels good in the hands and has potential, then a try gun may tell you why. Possibly the blueprint for your love affair. If it is no bueno from the get go, like a bad first date, put it back on the shelf. But if you are resolved to keep something in your collection because of sentimentality, out of sheer infatuation or simply out of obligation, what do you have to lose except a pocket full of cash.

I have seen incredible gains from cutting a half-inch off a butt stock. Adding an inch of slip grip (cheap rubber pad) to the butt is substantially cheaper. I’d never attempt surgery on a gun of worth but I’ve butchered up enough charity cases to know this simple fix can work wonders. My go-to shotgun was given to me by my father-in-law as my dowry. It was battered to be kind. I added a piece of white pine spacer behind a couple of drywall screws, went to work with a rasp and voila. Later on, Mario resurrected it. A full restoration made a great shooter into a work of art and a stylish friend of the ages.

Sometimes taking a little wood from the cheek piece or bending the wood away from one’s face (known as cast off) may allow the shooting eye to center the barrels and give a better sight picture. Conversely, a strip or two of moleskin on the stock comb may push the stock in the opposite direction.

Rarely, the fix can be both simple and cheap. A buddy owned an old 12-gauge Nitro that he consistently shot behind the bird. An older gentleman trap shooter taped a one-ounce sinker under the barrels, out in front of the grip. The gun was butt heavy and this forward weight caused the barrels to swing more effortlessly. The result was more birds bagged. Ultimately, a more attractive solution was implemented but he had a keeper. Conversely, drilling a hole under the butt pad and adding some lead may slow the swing of a fowling piece and at the same time, lessen some felt recoil.

A butt pad that gets caught on a bird shooter’s shirt is no less problematic. A shot of WD-40 was a temporary fix. Adding a slick Pachmayr Decelerator butt pad was the permanent fix. Adding some aggressive checking to an otherwise bland palate can add utilitarian value in addition to “prettying up” the gun. While it’s not one size fits all problem solving, give it a shot before parting with an old friend.

Dave Bates writes a weekly outdoors column for the Observer-Reporter. He can be reached at alphaomegashootingsolutions@gmail.com