A Break in the Action
ABITA
<p><b>Our days are busy. Professional, family and personal obligations fill our schedules. You’re invited to take A Break in the Action of your day and escape to a place filled with sights of highly figured walnut and rich, vibrant case-color hardening. Intoxicating scents of wood smoke in the fall from a perfectly laid fire and spent shotshells fill the air. The only deals we broker are for new-to-us shotguns and our only appointments are to chilly mornings and impatient bird dogs. Here, our currency is memories and we consider ourselves wealthy. </b></p><p><br></p><p><b>The goal here is simple, to provide a place to escape, a place to learn, a place to reminisce and a place to relax - be it through our podcast or social sites. Our focus will reliably be on vintage and modern shotguns, best-in-quality gear, accessories, and the experiences that make up the sporting lifestyle.</b></p><p><br></p><p><b>Our days are busy… Take A Break in the Action.</b></p><p><br><br></p><p><br><br></p>
- 1 hour 37 minutesForgotten British Gunmakers with Simon Reinhold
In this episode of A Break in the Action, I sit down with Simon Reinhold of Holt’s Auctioneers for a deep dive into the history of the British gun trade and the remarkable craftsmen whose names have faded from common conversation. While makers like Purdey, Holland & Holland, and Boss are widely recognized today, the development of the modern sporting shotgun was shaped by dozens of inventors, provincial makers, and trade specialists whose work laid the foundation for everything that followed. Together, Simon and I discuss the extraordinary burst of innovation that took place in the second half of the nineteenth century.
Along the way, the conversation turns to the enduring appeal of these lesser-known guns, how to recognize quality craftsmanship even when the name on the rib isn’t familiar, and why many of these makers deserve a second look from modern shooters and collectors. This episode is both a historical overview and a reminder that the story of fine gunmaking is far bigger than the handful of famous names most of us know.
In this episode:
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15 March 2026, 8:00 pm - 41 minutes 57 secondsReviving a London Gunmaking Legend: Frederick Beesley
In this episode, I sit down with Bradley Davis of The London Gun Company to explore the legacy and revival of Frederick Beesley—one of the most influential yet often overlooked figures in British gunmaking. From Beesley’s groundbreaking self-opening action to the careful resurrection of his name in a new line of bespoke shotguns, this conversation examines heritage, craftsmanship, and what it means to carry a historic London gunmaking tradition forward today.
In this episode:
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9 March 2026, 5:00 am - 1 hour 1 minuteThe Story behind the Stories: Shooting Sportsman magazine
I’ve been reading Shooting Sportsman for more than twenty years. For a long time, I assumed the magazine was the product of careful planning by fully staffed departments and committees responsible for long-range strategies mapped decades into the future. But the more I’ve learned about the people behind it, the more I’ve realized something else entirely.
What exists between the covers of Shooting Sportsman today is the result of good judgment and of restraint. Of primarily two individuals willing to move slowly, trust their instincts, and protect a standard—even when faster, louder options were available.
Today, I’m joined by those two individuals: Ralph Stuart and Thierry Bombeke. Between them, they’ve seen the magazine grow, thrive, struggle as the digital age emerged, recover, and then hold its ground and grow again while nearly everything around it changed.
This episode won’t be a highlight reel but instead a rare look behind the curtain. A conversation about how decisions get made when taste and business might not always agree. About what it means to care for something long enough that it becomes less about ownership—and more about stewardship.
In this episode:
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28 February 2026, 7:00 pm - 39 minutes 47 secondsSafe Queens (and why they’re OK)
There’s a tendency—especially among hunters—to feel a little uncomfortable about the guns we own but don’t use, as if a shotgun that isn’t carried in the field is somehow failing its purpose. Or worse, that we’re failing it.
I like to think that January has a way of softening that self-accusation. Because when the season is over, and the pressure to choose is gone, you realize something important: not every gun is meant to earn its place through miles walked or birds taken. Some earn it by staying exactly where they are.
Some shotguns live in the safe because they’re tied to a person rather than a pursuit. A father’s gun. A grandfather’s gun. A piece that carries more memory than practicality. You don’t leave those behind because they don’t work—you leave them behind because they already have... they’ve done their job.
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23 January 2026, 7:00 am - 54 minutes 33 secondsBetween Flushes: Chris P.
We can probably all agree that most of what we love about wingshooting doesn’t actually happen when the birds are in the air… it comes in the preparation, in the walking, and in the listening pauses. In the quiet moments between flushes—when the gun is open, the dog is working, and there’s time to notice where you are and who you’re with. It happens when the day is finished and, with a tired dog by your side, you reflect.
I'm titling this series, Between Flushes, and I plan to add a few episodes to it each year. The format will be a bit different… less edited and more raw. That is intentional; there’s no rush and nothing to brag about - no scorecard. Rather, just stories, perspective, and a chance to listen in on a conversation between two hunters.
In this episode:
Follow Chris on Instagram @montanasharpie17
Our Sponsors:
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Cole Fine Guns and Gunsmithing29 December 2025, 9:00 pm - 44 minutes 40 secondsStuff and Things #1
Shotguns usually have the limelight on A Break in the Action, but today’s episode is dedicated to the unsung heroes of the hunter, and not just what you carry into the field, but also the well-made pieces that fit into the rest of your life. The kind of items that earn their place over time: a knife that feels just right in the hand, boots that have stepped off almost as many miles as your dog, hand crafted leather accessories that you won’t find in the big box store, a briar pipe that’s become part of your hunting ritual... how about even the kind of travel luggage that makes packing for the next trip as satisfying as departing for it.
In this episode, I’ll share with you a handful of my personal favorites and why I look forward to using them. Each has earned a permanent place in my kit because they’re well-designed, durable, sometimes beautiful, and most importantly, they perform every single time they’re called on.
In this episode:
Purdey Leather Twin Strap Boots
Join or Die Knives - Blueridge Bird & Trout
Blake Jones Designs Leather Game Bag
Peterson of Dublin Briar Pipes
Our Sponsors:
The Beretta Galleries
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Negrini Cases
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Cole Fine Guns and Gunsmithing3 December 2025, 6:00 am - 1 hour 18 minutesHit or Miss with Jonny Carter
If you look back through the history of the double-barreled shotgun, nearly every significant step forward — every design change that eventually became a standard — started out as something that at first might have looked or sounded a little odd. When the first hammerless actions appeared, traditionalists thought they were unsafe. When over/unders began to replace side-by-sides on the gun line and the competition circuit, some swore it was the end of elegance. Even things we take for granted today — like sub gauges, interchangeable choke tubes, or single triggers — once struck people as gimmicks destined to fade away.
But the truly significant developments? They might start as new-fangled or trendy, but then prove themselves. They endure not because they’re fashionable, but because they actually make the gun better — stronger, safer, more efficient, more durable, more beautiful, or more effective in the field.
And that’s today's topic — Jonny Carter and I will be discussing a few dozen items, separating the genuine advancements from the gimmicks, and thoughtful design from marketing buzz. We’re going to go through some shotgun options and share our opinion on whether they are a Hit or a Miss.
In this episode:
TGS Kitchen
Holt's #1554 Edwinson Green & Son triple barrelOur Sponsors:
The Beretta Galleries
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Delaney & Sons
Negrini Cases
Guyette and Deeter
Cole Fine Guns and Gunsmithing17 November 2025, 6:00 am - 1 hour 12 secondsAmerica's Wingshooting Traditions: Ruffed Grouse
Today, we are discussing grouse hunting —specifically in the Upper Midwest—where a century of wingshooting tradition runs deep. If you drew a map around America's prime grouse cover, it would definitely include a huge swath stretching from northern Wisconsin across northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula and into the timber country of Minnesota… Finding a good general area to hunt is pretty easy, but how do you dial in on the best spots to spend your time?
Joined by Ben Brettingen of OnX and a professional grouse hunting guide - we'll learn how to maximize your chances for success when pursuing the KING of all gamebirds - the ruffed grouse.
In this episode:
OnX
Meemos FarmOur Sponsors:
The Beretta Galleries
B&P Shotshells
Delaney & Sons
Negrini Cases
Guyette and Deeter
Cole Fine Guns and Gunsmithing7 November 2025, 2:00 pm - 1 hour 33 minutesCÆSAR GUERINI with Wes Lang
My guest today is Wes Lang, President of Caesar Guerini. I am excited to bring you this fascinating story of Wes’s background, some of his philosophy, and ultimately what led to the creation of such an impactful and popular brand.
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The Beretta Galleries
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Cole Fine Guns and Gunsmithing7 October 2025, 5:00 am - 52 minutes 31 secondsWild Game: From Field Care to Flavors with Hank Shaw
Hank is a great ambassador for wild food and his books serve as a good reminder that from field care to flavor, cooking wild game can be just as thoughtful, meaningful, and rewarding as the pursuit itself. If you haven't already, check out all of his great books. A perfect gift to yourself or your hunting buddies.
Find Hank's books here:
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The Beretta Galleries
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Negrini Cases
Guyette and Deeter
Cole Fine Guns and Gunsmithing9 September 2025, 5:00 am - 51 minutes 36 secondsBuying Shotguns at Auction
You may have heard me mention Guyette and Deeter as a sponsor throughout the year. Today, I am joined by Jon Deeter and Josh Loewensteiner to guide us through the auction buying and selling process. We’ll learn how they settle on lots that will be included, the inspection and description process, and the guaranteed accuracy they offer. By the way, this is a particularly timely episode, as Guyette and Deeter will be holding their second Fine Sporting Arms auction of the year on September 11 and 12.
In this episode:
Guyette and Deeter Fine Sporting Arms Auction, Sept 11 + 12
Our Sponsors:
The Beretta Galleries
B&P Shotshells
Delaney & Sons
Negrini Cases
Guyette and Deeter
Cole Fine Guns and Gunsmithing11 August 2025, 5:00 am - More Episodes? Get the App