Whether you’re new to bird hunting or have been chasing birds for decades, there’s no denying the timeless appeal of a side-by-side shotgun. This episode covers six of what I believe are the most interesting, mid-priced, modern side-by-side shotguns available today. Our lineup includes guns from Connecticut Shotgun Manufacturing (CSMC), Fausti, Rizzini, Chapuis, FABARM, and Beretta. My goal is simply to introduce you to these guns, highlight what makes each special, and hopefully give you some v...
Jun 23, 2025•45 min•Season 6Ep. 9
We are right at the front edge of summer, and whether you’ve already got your summer travel plans set or are looking for a new idea, I think you will like this episode. This is now the third time that I have brought you a destination where you can break out your shotgun and shoot challenging targets on a beautiful course - but also fill the rest of your itinerary with endless enjoyable activities and exquisite dining, all while enjoying top-level accommodations. In this episode, we’re heading ba...
Jun 09, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Season 6Ep. 8
I am excited to be outside of my home studio for this episode. A few weeks back, we heard all about the Southern Side by Side at Deep River Sporting Clays in Sanford, NC. I am hoping that you made it a point to be there - if not, you are really missing out. A Break in the Action tried something new at the Southern this year - we were all set up, and we had our own physical space. Join me as we sit down with a dozen or so manufacturers, retailers, outfitters and friends to recap and get their tho...
May 02, 2025•1 hr 16 min•Season 6Ep. 7
A listener requested an episode about the origins of common shotshell gauges, and I thought it was a fantastic idea. However, did you know that there are also several lost gauges? In this episode, we will explore the shotshell gauges we are familiar with and discover others that have been lost to history. Our Sponsors: The Beretta Galleries B&P Shotshells Delaney & Sons Negrini Cases Guyette and Deeter Cole Fine Guns and Gunsmithing Have a comment or suggestion? Text Ryan now! (please no...
Apr 10, 2025•45 min•Season 6Ep. 6
This next installment in our Shotgun Stories series features Reid Bryant. Reid is the director of wingshooting services at Orvis and hosts the Orvis Hunting and Shooting podcast. He has contributed numerous articles to popular magazines such as Shooting Sportsman, Gray's Sporting Journal, and CoveyRise. Additionally, Reid has authored, edited, and contributed to several books. Despite his celebrity status in the wing-shooting community, he remains one of the most humble and appreciative people y...
Mar 31, 2025•1 hr 18 min•Season 6Ep. 5
The Southern Side by Side Championship and Exhibition is undoubtedly a must-attend event for shotgun enthusiasts. Now entering its 26th year, this event has become not just a regional but a national success. In this episode, I am joined by Bill Kempffer and Ed Strickland. Bill was instrumental in bringing this event to life back in 2000, and Ed is committed to ensuring it remains the can't-miss gathering for side-by-side shooters and double gun enthusiasts. In this episode: The Southern Side by ...
Mar 19, 2025•59 min•Season 6Ep. 4
It has been a dream of mine to shoot driven birds in the UK for years. Last year, I checked that off the bucket list (twice actually)! In this episode I recount my December visit to the wonderful Branches Park Estate in Suffolk, England and the full week of shotgun sights and experiences that I had with three traveling friends. Joining the discussion is Jake Woolf (Kudu River Gundogs/GunsOnPegs podcast) and Peter Bailer (Branches Park Estate) - two new friends who introduced me to a whole new wa...
Feb 26, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Season 6Ep. 3
Beretta first released their over and under shotgun design in 1933 named in the catalog as Mod. S1 Fucile da Caccia Sovrapposta. Sovrapposta is Italian for "overlapped" and refers to the barrel arrangement, think over/under or superposed. The newly released S1 featured a true sidelock design with premium specifications. Beretta immediately went head-to-head with Browning, openly criticizing their Superposed shotgun as "very high, heavy, and ugly," a chiding that would be echoed by the Italian tr...
Feb 03, 2025•59 min•Season 6Ep. 2
Rich Cole joins me to announce a unique new shotgun project! Rich Cole is a key figure in fine shotguns and precision gunsmithing. From his early days at Beretta to establishing himself as an authority in the field, Rich has devoted his life to repairing, building and customizing exceptional firearms. His journey reflects an unwavering commitment to quality and innovation. Well over a year in the making - I'm excited introduce the Cole Special Beretta 687 Double Selective to you. It is a bird hu...
Jan 13, 2025•49 min•Season 6Ep. 1
In this episode, we get to know popular YouTuber Jonny Carter of TGS Outdoors. I've known Jonny for a few years now. I am an enormous fan of his content, where he shares information about shotguns and shooting in an approachable, informative, and interesting way. Jonny is modest about his vast knowledge of shotguns and his shooting ability, friendly, and even self-deprecating. Of course, he admires best quality shotguns, but he also finds things to appreciate about modest shotguns. In this Shotg...
Dec 31, 2024•1 hr 20 min•Season 5Ep. 19
John Buchan’s 1925 adventure novel, John MacNab is the story of three friends who have lost the zest for life. They hatch a plan to, under the collective pen name of 'John Macnab', write three landowning neighbors informing them of their intention to kill a stag or catch a salmon on their land without permission between two specified dates (keep in mind poaching in England at this time was a very serious offense) . If ‘John MacNab’ fails he will pay the landowner £100, and if he succeeds, he wil...
Nov 24, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Season 5Ep. 18
We are further exploring best guns in this episode and today we highlight Holland and Holland, where craftsmanship, heritage, and passion come together to create some of the finest shotguns and rifles in the world. In this episode, we’ll explore the remarkable rise of the gunmaker, from its humble beginnings in 1835 to its status as a luxury brand synonymous with quality and prestige. I’ll delve into the company’s innovative designs, renowned clientele, and how it continues leading in today’s sh...
Oct 21, 2024•53 min•Season 5Ep. 17
Anthony, one of the world's best competitive shooters, and Will, one of the most famous hunters in the US share their secrets to finding more success in the field. Straight Shooting for Hunters is a comprehensive reference for hunters of all skill levels. From practical advice to true stories from the field, this book is a must for every hunter's bookshelf. In this episode: Straight Shooting for Hunters M & M Hunting and Sporting Clays Submit your questions for our upcoming 'Ask Me Anything'...
Oct 14, 2024•56 min•Season 5Ep. 16
By far what I love and look forward to the most when dove season comes in is the time in the field that I spend with my dad, my daughters, my wife, and good friends. We hunt near and often. It’s an informal affair and each hunter can be as serious or as social as they choose. It is also a perfect opportunity to introduce someone to wing shooting. A few weeks ago, I got the chance to travel south to shoot doves with my daughter, Lydia. She and I have shot doves together for almost 15 years. This ...
Oct 04, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Season 5Ep. 15
How do we define a BEST shotgun maker? Obviously, they need to be capable of producing best guns but the definition doesn’t stop there… They need to only produce best guns. Their lineup of models shouldn't include entry level or mid-tier models, these aren’t in the DNA of a BEST gun maker. Without concern for how long it will take or how much it will cost, they are committed to only producing the very best - period. Without doubt or debate, there are just three in the world today - and each is i...
Sep 09, 2024•57 min•Season 5Ep. 14
There is a place in the Allegheny Mountains outside of Pittsburgh that began as a private grouse hunting and fishing retreat but over the past 35+ years has transformed into a world-class resort. Nemacolin Resort has a list of activities and amenities too long to list here - but of special note, it is home to the Nemacolin Rod and Range Club. My youngest daughter, Liza joined me for a weekend of shooting fun as we took part in their 'Dine and Blast' event. In this episode: Nemacolin Rod and Rang...
Sep 03, 2024•38 min•Season 5Ep. 13
This next installment of Shotgun Stories is a very special one. I knew Larry Potterfield was a 'gun guy' but was delighted to discover how deep his appreciation for shotguns and wing-shooting was. In this episode we learn about the early shotguns in Larry's life, some of the shotguns he shoots with currently, and what shotgun he has in his sights. Larry launched Midway USA almost 50 years ago. Today, the company is a giant but still prioritizes and values each customer. Larry and his family are ...
Aug 05, 2024•55 min•Season 5Ep. 12
This feature episode begins by tracing the company's origin and its nearly 50-year association with Abercrombie & Fitch. The Griffin and Howe company's story didn't end with the closure of A&F - instead, it allowed them to add volumes to it. Griffin and Howe at the Hudson Farm Club in New Jersey is an amazing place for the shotgun and rifle enthusiast. Listen along as I describe all that there is to see and do there. As is typically the case, we will also describe and shoot an interestin...
Jul 15, 2024•1 hr 35 min•Season 5Ep. 11
My guest today is champion skeet shooter, Dania Vizzi. In just a few weeks, she will represent the United States Olympic shooting team in Paris. Shooting sports of one variety or another have been part of almost every Summer Olympic Games since 1896, with the current shotgun events being Olympic (or International) trap and Olympic skeet. Dania shares how she got started shooting and the shotguns that have joined her on her journey. Follow Dania on Instagram Stream every Olympic event this summer...
Jun 17, 2024•36 min•Season 5Ep. 10
The Beretta DT11 is a serious, built-for-purpose competition shotgun. In this episode, we will look at its features and heritage and I share my DT11L shooting experiences now six months in. In the second half of this episode, we will recap our first ever A Break in the Action Listener's Event - a Downton Day simulated shoot. Put simply the day was epic and I was lucky to have my wife and one of my daughters along to participate. Our Sponsors: B&P Shotshells Negrini Cases Dubarry of Ireland C...
Jun 03, 2024•31 min•Season 5Ep. 9
This episode is going to be my attempt to check off another repeat listener request - Do an episode on your favorite books and favorite authors . Steve Smith is an accomplished outdoor writer, editor, publisher, TV host, and hunter. Over the years he has worked with and called friends many of the legendary authors in my library. Steve joins the show to tell stories, offer suggestions and overall great conversation on this episode of A Break in the Action. Our Sponsors: B&P Shotshells Negrini...
May 15, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Season 5Ep. 8
The clay target shooting sports are generally very linear games. Targets leave the machine and, for the most part, follow a set trajectory to the ground. There are variations of course, trap introduces an oscillator or wobble, skeet has the shooter move to vary the angle and necessary lead, a chandel target in a round of sporting clays changes speed as it falls from the peak of its arc, and the occasional rabbit surprises with a bounce. Generally, though, targets follow a known and reliable path...
Apr 15, 2024•58 min•Season 5Ep. 7
Listener requested! An overdue sequel to the 'Best Shotguns <$1,000' from a few years back - in this episode I have pulled in two pros from the Orvis Gunroom, Greg Carpiniello and Connor Carson. The three of us offer up 20-30 new and used shotgun models that you should be sure to check out if you are buying in this range. Our Sponsors: B&P Shotshells Negrini Cases Dubarry of Ireland Cole Fine Guns and Gunsmithing Support the project: Patreon Have a comment or suggestion? Text Ryan now! (p...
Apr 03, 2024•1 hr•Season 5Ep. 6
Here are two things you might not know about the legendary shotgun and rifle maker John Rigby and Co. The company is actually older than the United States of America and originally hailed Dublin, Ireland. My guest today is Marc Newton. Marc has been the managing director for John Rigby since 2013. He graciously accepted an invitation to discuss the company’s enduring legacy since its founding in the 18th century! Our Sponsors: B&P Shotshells Negrini Cases Dubarry of Ireland Cole Fine Guns an...
Mar 19, 2024•35 min•Season 5Ep. 5
Getting away to hunt can be as easy as hitting the other side of your state, maybe a road trip or, flying to the other side of our country or beyond it’s borders. We are going to spend some time on this last version today. Experienced travelers develop special skills when they are frequently in and out of airports. I fly several times a year and have developed, or copied, some time saving practices and habits that significantly lower the stresses that can come along with air travel. One nuance o...
Mar 12, 2024•40 min•Season 5Ep. 4
'What friends I have, what days I treasure most, what places I think about and smile… they are because shotguns are. Without them I would have been empty. They have made my life full.' -Gene Hill Shotguns are woven into almost every aspect of my life. They have connected me with some of my dearest friends, they offer a shared pastime of shooting and hunting with my wife and daughters and have looked on during many successful and unsuccessful days in the field with my dad. The dogs I have owned s...
Feb 19, 2024•52 min•Season 5Ep. 3
There is one question that I get asked more often than any other. Listeners want help or advice on buying used shotguns… Is it smart to buy a shotgun online? Is it safe to buy from an individual? What should I look for in determining a used shotgun's condition and what red flags should I be aware of? These are just a few of the general questions that are worth considering buying a new bird gun for next season or upgrading your sporting clays shotgun. Gregg Elliott and Phil Bourjaily join the sho...
Feb 05, 2024•56 min•Season 5Ep. 2
In this episode, I lay out what gear I take for a day shooting. Two bags and a case filled with everything I need for a day shooting sporting clays, skeet, or maybe some new adventures trying out FITSC or helice. Making sure that I have everything I need ensures I have a good time and can stay out as long as I am able. As is usually the case, seeing and not just hearing about these items will be helpful so I encourage you to check out our Instagram and Facebook pages. Here is a full list (with l...
Jan 15, 2024•31 min•Season 5Ep. 1
Part 2 of our full review of the annual Christmas Grand Battue shoot at Green Acres Sportsman's Club in Roberts, Illinois. Join us as Shoot Captain, Keith Coyle walks us through the full 'Christmas Grand Battue' experience - from breakfast and high pheasant shooting to flighted mallard and the 5-course gala dinner. As we take part in this epic shoot day, we will also be reviewing and shooting two premium English-style game guns... the Beretta SL3 and the Christian Hunter O/U from Connecticut Sho...
Dec 31, 2023•39 min•Season 4Ep. 16
Do you dream of one day shooting high, driven pheasants in England or someday experiencing a European-flighted mallard shoot? While these experiences wait on your bucket list I want to tell you about an amazing shoot that you participate in right here in the States. Green Acres Sportsman's Club in Roberts, Illinois offers a full menu of authentic British-style shooting events throughout the year. Join us as Shoot Captain, Keith Coyle walks us through the full 'Christmas Grand Battue' experience ...
Dec 29, 2023•45 min•Season 4Ep. 15
