Just Call Me Annie Oakley

Some girls get flowers or jewelry for Valentine's Day.  Or if you're like my friend, N, a Birkin (her husband, M, REALLY spoils her).  My husband had other ideas this year.  I woke up Valentine's Day morning to a big package on the kitchen counter.  When I opened it, I found this inside...

A new 12 gauge Beretta Silver Pigeon III.  It's a beautiful over/under and my first 12ga.   It features gorgeous game bird engraving on the satin nickel receiver and trigger guard (the metal parts) and selected Turkish, oil-finished walnut on the stock and fore-end (the wood parts).  This is my third Beretta and Dave really spoiled me with this gift.

While I wanted to use it in the President's Day sporting clays tournament, I thought it best to stick to the shotgun I use most often, my 391 Urika 2, which is a semi-automatic 20ga.  The Silver Pigeon is big and the stock needs to be fitted to me.  My instructor measured me last weekend but said I can play with it for a couple more weeks before she sends it to her gunsmith to have the stock cut down.  This should help me tremendously with getting control while mounting and following through.

Dave and I went to the PG County Skeet and Trap Center last Friday to try her out.

Loaded and ready to go.

Pretty pink shells all lined up, ready to break some clays. One of my favorite things about 12ga guns is that the shells are in so many other colors than 20ga yellow. :-)

Trying her out for the first time.  I have on my Key of A shotshell bracelet.

Dave shooting his Franchi Alcione SP

We're getting on quite well and I know we'll only become better friends as time passes.  And after the gun fits me properly.