- 39 minutes 11 secondsJust ONE Shotgun?
If you could own just ONE shotgun... what would it be?
It's one of the oldest—and most debated—questions in the shooting sports.
Should it be a 12-gauge or a 20? A semi-automatic or an over-and-under? Twenty-eight-inch barrels or thirty? How much should it weigh? Which features actually matter, and which are simply a matter of personal preference?
In this episode of A Break in the Action, Ryan Doughty tackles that question from a different perspective. Rather than asking what shotgun an experienced collector would buy, he asks a more practical question:
If you were buying your very first—and perhaps only—shotgun today, what should it be?
Drawing on decades of experience with fine shotguns, sporting clays, upland hunting, and conversations with gunmakers, guides, instructors, and lifelong wingshooters, Ryan builds his ideal all-around shotgun one characteristic at a time. From gauge and action type to barrel length, weight, choke tubes, and the features that truly matter, he explains not just what he recommends—but why.
Finally, he names the new production shotguns that would be at the top of his list across three different price ranges, from around $1,000 to $5,000.
Whether you're shopping for your first shotgun, helping a friend or family member get started, or simply enjoy discussing the finer points of shotgun design, this episode offers one thoughtful answer to a question every sportsman eventually asks.
What You'll Hear in This Episode:
- Why a 20-gauge over-and-under gets Ryan's recommendation
- The ideal barrel length and weight for an all-around shotgun
- Why fit and balance matter more than brand
- The features every versatile shotgun should have
- Ryan's favorite new-production over-and-unders in three price categories
One shotgun. A lifetime of memories. Which would you choose?
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16 July 2026, 12:00 am - 1 hour 23 minutesFrom Rolex to Rizzini: How a watch enthusiast found wingshooting
What do fine shotguns and mechanical watches have in common? It turns out, quite a lot.
In this episode, Ryan sits down with Christian Zeron, founder of Theo & Harris and one of the most recognizable voices in the world of mechanical watches. Christian recently found himself drawn into an entirely new pursuit: hunting, wingshooting, and the sporting life.
Together they discuss Christian's introduction to hunting, what he thought hunters were like before he became one, and the surprising realities he discovered after entering the community. They explore why so many watch enthusiasts seem drawn toward fine shotguns, the importance of mentorship and tradition, and how social media can introduce new audiences to hunting and shooting sports.
The conversation also ventures into collecting, craftsmanship, family, heritage, and the objects we choose to keep for a lifetime.
And then things get interesting.
Ryan and Christian attempt to answer a question that has been months in the making: If the world's great shotgun makers were watchmakers, who would they be?
Whether you're passionate about watches, shotguns, both, or neither, this episode is ultimately about something bigger: discovering meaningful pursuits, finding community, and preserving traditions worth passing along.
Guest: Christian Zeron, Theo & Harris
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22 June 2026, 5:00 am - 53 minutes 47 secondsIs the 12 gauge dead?
For more than a century, the 12 gauge has been the default answer in the shotgun world. It was the gauge that did everything—quail, pheasants, waterfowl, rabbits, and just about anything else a hunter might pursue.
But today, sub-gauges are more popular than ever. Twenty gauges, twenty-eights, and even .410s have developed devoted followings, leaving some hunters to wonder: has the 12 gauge become more gun than most of us actually need?
Joining me to explore that question is Gregg Elliott of Dogs and Doubles. Gregg is a dedicated grouse and woodcock hunter, student of vintage shotguns, and unapologetic advocate for the 12 gauge.
Along the way, our conversation drifts well beyond gauge selection. We discuss why lightweight 12 gauges may be among the most underrated upland guns ever built, how modern ammunition has changed the conversation, the economics of vintage shotgun collecting, whether marketing has influenced the popularity of sub-gauges, and why some classic British and American 12 gauges represent tremendous value in today's market.
We also dive into gun fit, barrel dimensions, stock design, and one of the strangest—and most interesting—Greener shotguns I've ever seen.
Whether you're a dedicated sub-gauge enthusiast or firmly in the 12-gauge camp, this is an enjoyable conversation about shotguns, bird hunting, and the enduring appeal of a gauge many hunters may have overlooked too quickly.
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12 June 2026, 5:00 am - 50 minutes 25 secondsThe Traveling Wingshooter: Building The Ultimate Bird Hunting Rig
In this episode of A Break in the Action, Ryan takes listeners inside the process of building what he believes is the ultimate modern bird hunting rig (for the way he hunts) — not as a showcase of gear for gear’s sake, but as a thoughtful system shaped by years of traveling to hunt upland birds with dogs. From choosing the right platform and topper to organizing equipment with a DECKED drawer system, Dakota 283 kennels, and modular storage solutions, this episode explores how comfort, simplicity, organization, and dog safety ultimately became the guiding principles behind the build. Along the way, Ryan reflects on the realities of long highway miles, changing weather, hunting camps, early mornings, and the countless small details that shape life on the road during bird season.
But this episode is about more than just trucks and equipment. It’s really a conversation about the traveling wingshooter lifestyle itself — the routines, systems, and lessons that slowly develop after enough seasons chasing birds across the country. Ryan also discusses transporting and caring for dogs during long trips, managing heat and cold, water storage lessons learned the hard way, and why consistency matters so much when traveling with bird dogs. Whether you hunt from a truck, SUV, trailer, or something entirely different, this episode is intended less as a blueprint to copy and more as an invitation to rethink your own approach to life on the road during bird season.
In this episode:
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18 May 2026, 6:00 am - 1 hour 5 minutesA Sporting Weekend at The Preserve
In this episode of A Break in the Action, Ryan travels to western Rhode Island to experience one of America’s most unique sporting destinations: The Preserve Sporting Club & Residences. More than simply a luxury resort with outdoor activities, The Preserve is a true sporting-first destination built around driven pheasant shoots, walked-up upland hunting, sporting clays, fly fishing, fine guns, and life outdoors. Ryan shares his firsthand impressions from several days on the property, including a memorable driven shoot, a morning afield for chukar and quail, and time spent exploring the incredible on-site retail experience at The Sporting Shoppe.
Ryan is joined by owner Paul Mihailides for an in-depth conversation about the philosophy behind The Preserve, conservation efforts across the property, the importance of thoughtful design and hospitality, and how the sporting lifestyle can be made approachable for families and newcomers alike. The two also dive into fine shotguns, premium sporting brands, and the remarkable gunroom that has made The Sporting Shoppe a destination in its own right.
If you enjoy conversations centered around sporting travel, upland hunting, fine guns, and best-in-class outdoor experiences, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.
In this episode:
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11 May 2026, 6:00 am - 58 minutes 52 secondsAmerican Bests
When people hear the phrase American Best, it’s natural to think of a comparison— specifically to the traditional best guns of the London trade.
And in some ways, that comparison makes sense. The British defined the term. They built the guns that set the standard, and their influence still shapes how we think about fine sporting arms today.
But the more time you spend studying American doubles, the more you realize that comparison only goes so far.
American gunmakers weren’t working in the same world. They built for different customers, different markets, and different expectations. Their guns came from factories, not small London shops. They were sold from catalogs, not fitting rooms. And they were designed to be used hard in the field—not just admired for their craftsmanship.
And yet, when those same makers set out to build their very best—when they pushed their designs, their materials, and their workmanship to the highest level—they produced shotguns that stand with anything made in their time.
Not copies of London best guns or substitutes for them, but distinctly American answers to the same challenge.
In this episode, we explore what American Best really means through the lens of five legendary makers: L.C. Smith, Parker Brothers, A.H. Fox, Ithaca, and Lefever—and the different paths each one took to define excellence in their own way.
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14 April 2026, 5:00 am - 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 34 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
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