Story by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News
When you make and sell guns, it’s always good to visit your territories to see how the equipment operates in a real world hunting setting. What better way than to group factory personnel, retailers who sell the guns but may not have had the chance to shoot them, sales representatives and some media staff for a coveted opening day dove hunt in South Texas!
Weatherby’s Inside Sales Manager John Solberg offered insight into the company’s newest shotguns and rifles. Before the dove hunt, his orientation on the shotguns covered the Orion I over and unders and the 18i inertial driven semi-automatics, with the same action as made for Benelli shotguns, each available to the group.
The event, organized by sales representative Dave Richards, was held at the G5 Ranch in Derby, owned by Richards’ friend, Klint Graf.
After a trip to the range to take some wobble trap shots at clay targets before choosing a firearm for the hunt, it was time to head to the field.
Even though Solberg had little dove hunting experience, he proved to be the top shooter, finishing his limit as the dove worked into a water hole.
Cliff Wagner, owner of Field & Streams Sporting Goods in San Angelo, a family business for nearly 40 years, switched guns midstream after being dissatisfied with his shooting. After the change from the semi-auto to the over-and-under, the second gun fit him better and his shooting improved greatly.
Johnny Dury, of Dury’s Guns in San Antonio, stopped after shooting 11 birds.
“I’ve shot enough,” he said. “I’m ready for a beer.”
After dinner and time by the fire pit that evening, Weatherby Mark V rifles were the topic the next morning. After another orientation, shots were taken at 100, 200, 300 and 400 yards with four models of the rifles, equipped with Nightforce scopes.
Solberg described some of the unique hunting calibers Weatherby is known for, including the 6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum and the 338 WBY RPM, two of the company’s Mark V series rifles.
The 338 was equipped with a shorter barrel and a muzzle break. That afternoon, the dove hunt presented shots at passing dove on their way to a sunflower field about a mile away. Solberg chose a lucky spot, then proceeded to connect on 15 of 20 shots to again finish before the rest of the group, following up with his descriptions of why he missed a few of the shots.
I shot both versions of the i18 semi-autos, one made in Italy and the other in Turkey. The gun from Turkey fit me better, and I preferred the safety. Also, it seemed easier to quickly fit the 20-gauge rounds into.
All the while, Richards, known to most Texas hunters for his passion for deer photography, captured the dove hunting action with his camera.
Richards went the extra mile setting up everything — not because he wanted to hunt, but because it was the right thing to do to help industry people establish relationships. The hunts were social, with hunters close enough to talk and maybe rib each other after misses.
During the rifle shooting, Richards was seen with his notepad talking to Walker.
Someone asked, “Are you taking orders?” Richards turned, responding with a smile.
