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And those that had to carry around the lighter weapon found it a better option. Not much different, than let’s say a new light weight Beretta A400 20 gauge with the plug removed. Once most carry a LW shotgun around all day, they have little inclination to going back to the likes of a Rem 1100 12 gauge. Can they shoot it better? My thoughts are most “shooters” will figure it out for an upland shotgun. Agree on weight being an advantage for a clays only shotgun.

I’ve seen the light turn on with a couple older upland hunters. The 1100’s and similar went to the closet or became trade bait.

“Rough” shooting was always popular for those Brits that couldn’t afford the driven shoots. They carried their own and walked behind the Springers and Labs.

Addition: Handled a Scottsmans....Larry McQueen...and a Brits...Ken Roebuck...rough shooting shotguns. Two fine Springer men. They were 12’s, but they were light and quick.

fyi, they reduced ammo weight because women were allowed in combat. choice....carry heavy guns and ammo with one shot one kill or the current mindset of lighten everything and fire thousands of rounds to hit what one could do with a marksman. tax money wasted. but thats another poker in the fire.


all my shotguns were weighed up to around 9lbs when I was young. but as I now age, ive been pulling it off 8 oz at a time. soon ill be back to what it was when I bought them. somewhere around 7.5lbs.

I see too many hunters show up at my club in the fall with the 5.5 lb 12 bore

Only 10 gauges that have crossed my path under 9 lbs were English muzzle loaders. I had one 9 gauge that went about 8 lbs....I've owned and hunted 3 English10ga. cartridge hammer guns one a 32" barreled Premier grade Scott it weighed close to 11 lbs....I had a lower grade 30" Scott 10 ga. that weighed in just under 10 lbs...my 30" Purdery 10 ga. weighed in just over 10lbs.
I had several light English 2.5" 12s that were 6 to 7 lbs....the 2.5" 12 guage was popular because of the theory of the square load that went back to the muzzle loading era.
I hunted a lot with a1925 2&3/4" Scott pigeon gun that went about 7.5 lbs.
To them it was more about barrel weight and balance than it was about how light they could make them.

One thing I'm in 100% agreement with the English about is they considered the guages smaller than the 12 ga. suitable for women and children.

Back in the day did the English get their wives to tote their guns...

Most could afford gun bearers and loaders while the beaters flushed their pen raised birds towards them.

fyi, they reduced ammo weight because women were allowed in combat. choice....carry heavy guns and ammo with one shot one kill or the current mindset of lighten everything and fire thousands of rounds to hit what one could do with a marksman. tax money wasted. but thats another poker in the fire