I have had two twenty guages both IC/M. First one with out and the second one with selective trigger. I hunted quail exclusively with the first during the 72-73 season. Me and a rookie bird dog that developed into the finest dog I ever followed in that single season, took limits of quail at least two days per week during the long season.
My only quarrel with the gun was lack of barrel choice and it was a little heavy for guage.
The second is an interesting story. My father-in-law, an avid quail hunter, with whom I had been sharing days afield for over twenty years, and whom was much loved and respected by me, brought his old beater Browning .22, and asked me if I could trade it for a twenty double. He said that as he got older, his L C Smith 12 was beginning to beat him up.
FIL was old school and did not want to be obligated to anyone, but I saw an opportunity. I replied that perhaps I could. I bought him a new Browning 20 double, had his old .22 professionally restored and kept it. I gave FIL the new double and told him that I had traded. He loved the gun.
After some time, he told his domino playing buddies of my gun trading ability. One old guy who knew guns, told him that there was a good $500-600 gap and perhaps more between the worth of the .22 and the shotgun.
Next trip out to see the old folks, FIL retrieved the gun and handed it to me and said that he knew what I did and that he could not accept the gun. I assured him that the gun was something that I wanted to do, to no avail. I tried another approach. I asked him to keep my gun for me, use it as he pleased as long as he lived, and that I would take possession after that. He called the family together and made sure they understood the deal and that the gun was mine.
After FIL passed away, I retrieved the gun, hunted it a couple of times. Problem was that I missed FIL very much and became melancholy while carrying the gun. Liked it very much, still a bit heavy for guage and sold it.
I still have his .22 and L C Smith . The Elsie is mounted in our home in a place of honor and rememberance to a fine gentleman.
Jack
