A retrospective on the Greener, appealing to young shotgunners by firing both barrels simultaneously!
The first shotgun I experienced shooting was a 20-gauge J. C. Higgins single-barrel single shot owned by the wife of a family friend, one of my childhood hunting mentors. Back then, this shotgun, most likely made by Stevens but marketed under the J. C. Higgins label by Sears, Roebuck and Company, provided me with my initial taste of shooting a firearm.
This particular 20-gauge shotgun was quite lightweight and delivered a significant kick with standard loads. To reduce the recoil for me as a 12-year-old, my mentor loaded custom cartridges with less shot and powder, essentially creating .410 loads in 20-gauge hulls. This modification made shooting more manageable for my smaller frame. Subsequently, during a hunting trip with my uncle, another mentor, I had my first encounter with a live target using a regular 12-gauge load.
My uncle handed me his W. W. Greener 12 gauge, a double-trigger shotgun with side safety, loaded with waxed green paper Remington Express loads. After a humorous shooting mishap where I inadvertently pulled both triggers simultaneously, I eventually learned to handle the Greener more skillfully.
Over the years, my affinity for Greener shotguns persisted. Despite owning various shotguns, my preference leaned towards the Greener for its unique characteristics and shooting experience.
