doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Modern steel barrels on an old Fox?

As the availability legal hunting shot shells becomes more and
more limited and expensive: bismuth and tungsten matrix at $2.50
and up per shell, what would be the cost of having a second set
of barrels made from modern steel and modern assembly techniques
too use when hunting with our favorite old double guns?

I only ask this question because I truly enjoy hunting with my
older SxSs because of their handling, appearance and my
ability to shoot them well. I have other single and double barrel shotguns capable of handling modern "hard" shot but really find something missing when they versus my old SxSs are used.

FOX SXS

Suggest you contact Galazan at CSGM who makes the Fox knockoffs. They can fit them and do a good job.

Right now new best London barrels to handle steel run about 9k sterling and it's a years wait.

Best bet if that's whjat you reall want to do is to find a bad set of barrels, blown tube etc. and get them retubed with modern high tensile steel barrels. Probably 3-5,000$ and long delivery. You can shoot a lot of non tox shells at waterfowl to justify that price. Besides I keep reading here that bismuth will be made again. CB

Last time I checked you could have spare barrels made in Belgium for $2000-$3000. Sleeving costs $1200-$2000, depending on the striking and finishing you want.

Who in Belgium is making barrels?
Chris

Steel may not hurt those old barrels, assuming chokes no tighter than modified, and assuming there are no pressure issues with the steel shells in question. Maybe time for another series of Sherman Bell tests?

I like shooting my old guns as much as the next guy, but provided you got a second set of modern bbls that could handle the pressures of new ammo, the rest of the old gun would sure take a beating and create a whole new set of problems(wood, frame, lock blot).
Don't know how much shooting you intend on doing but this is how I dealt with the issue

Win mod 23 XTR pigeon grade 30"..3"mag now I just pound away without guilt ,..2500 bucks solved the problem and I'm still shooting a SXS

CJ

Be Carefull, the stock cracked on mine, had it fixed and also have a spare new stock.

If non-tox ammo cost $3.00 per shell, and premium lead cost $.30 per shell, and re-barreling could be done for $2,000(?) -- then one would have to not-fire 727 of the non-tox shells (or 29 boxes) AT GAME to cost justify the new barrels.

Most of us shoot 2 to 5 boxes of shells AT GAME per year, say an average of 3 boxes per year. In only 10 years of active hunting the new barrels would be cost justified.

Of course, one could instead purchase a FABARMS, CZ, HUGLU, Brittany, S&W, or other NEW SxS (safe with steel ammo)for less money.....

JERRY

I just bought a bag of wads for "multi-metal" (steel, etc) and they appear to be so thick and stiff that I'd not be worried about bore scuffing from steel shot. Anyone have any direct experience with loading these wads with steel?

I'm not much help here, only to say that I use low-pressure in all of my old guns, twist included. I can't think of a good reason why I'd get in trouble. In many decades of shooting, I haven't seen any difference in results from old with low- and newer guns with higher-pressure shells. I shoot low now in them all.

CJ, I noted the white receiver on the Model 23. When Nick restored my SW after six months in six fathoms of salt water I didn't want to risk colour case hardening and told him to leave the receiver or action white. So that's how it is, at least for now. It's no longer original, for sure, but looks like your Model 23 and that's good enough for me. Thanks for posting picture of the gun. .

Chuck,

Bore scuffing or scrubbing by the steel shot is not the only potential problem with the "not approved for steel shot" barrels. The other part of it is the fact that the steel, when passing through the choke constriction, will not compress as will lead and softer non-toxics like bismuth and tungsten matrix. The larger the shot size and the tighter the constriction the greater the danger that the shot will not maneuver itself into position to pass through the choke. On rare occasions this does occur. I have seen numerous split barrels and choke tubes caused by shooters using Hevi-Shot through tight choke tubes for turkeys. Granted, Hevi-Shot is even less malleable than steel shot, but the danger is there just the same for a split muzzle.

I use steel occasionally in a BSS on ducks, but with a modified choke on the left I always feel I'm taking a bit of a chance. Fact of the matter is, for woodies in beaver ponds one could ream out all choke in both barrels, shoot steel and be safe from barrel damage. And have plenty of density in the pattern for the ducks.

Stan