Went razor clamming on Friday.....What a blast. Took a little bit to get the eye back for finding them out in the surf area. We hit our 6 limits. Had the lantern out for about an hour. Question, what is the proper angle for using a clam gun? I was following what people had told me, face the ocean, slight angle of the gun towards the beach.......About half of the clams I got were "Crunched"..... Any suggestions? I think the next time I go out I will get a clam shovel.

It has been awhile since I used a gun, but razor clams are going down and towards the water not towards the dry ground. If I understand your post correctly you were facing the ocean but slighly pointing the gun toward dry ground, ie pushing it in at an angle the opposite way you were facing?

If this is the case, that angle in my experience would create the awful "Crunch" we hate to hear. I was taught by a couple of people who, at one point, dug commercially and until I got ok with the shovel I used a gun and always centered around the hole and slightly angled towards the water. Rarely got the "crunch" that way.

I hope this helps you out.

Stadle

I've dug with a gun my entire life and I always dig with my back to the ocean. The angle though depends upon the beach you're digging. On some beaches, clams will lay differently than others and you have to adjust. I've found places where I actually have to place my gun behind the hole entirely.

Some hints ... go down slow, and get yourself a custom gun ... We've had them made with 5" tubes rather than 3" and very, very rarely ever break a clam ... even when digging hundreds over the course of a tide series up north.

Get a long handle shovel, I'm sure I could dig 3 to anybody's 1 with a gun and not even get a sore back. Clam guns are for sand shrimp and rookies. Usually one scoop and I He's mine. Sometimes when the clams are very shallow I don't even lift the sand out of the hole, just slide yor hand under the blade: done deal.

MMOUSE a shovel man can out clam the tube boys even on thier worst day.You gotta love the days when they're necken. Here's a tip for the new shovel guys,cut the first 2 or 3 inches off your shovel blade they're not needed.