doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Downswept barrels (?) on pair of Purdeys

At our last local gunshow examined a pair of Purdeys that had drastically downswept (bent downward) barrels. Unnoticeable when you sighted down the rib but if you held the gun with the stock parallel with the floor and looked down the barrels, the sweep was instantly dramatic and pronounced. The only other type treatment on a pair of barrels I saw anywhere near similar was on a modern-era Winchester M21, which had barrels slightly upswept. Purdeys were near 1920-ish. Is / was this a common treatment? Why was it done? I'm very curious about this! KBM

Seems most likely to me that they shot high for a previous owner, or at least he thought they did. Likewise, the M21 didn't shoot high enough. JL

I have a gunsmithing book by Bill Nittler (??? I would have to check to be sure.) with an entire section on barrel bending. I think it used to be a relatively 'common' way of adjust POI as I have seen some mention of it in other books from the late 19th early 20th century.

When I was 16 or so, I attended a box bird shoot. I recall one shooter with a double - brand I do not recall, but it was very nice in the eyes of this gun - enthusiast kid, and he got the gun out of the trunk of a high dollar car - Jag or something similar. Me and several of my goggle-eyed buddies had a few brief words with the gent, before the match started. He told us the gun was new. Anyway, as the match proceeded, he was clearly not happy with the way the gun shot. He finally left the ring and sought out a small tree next to the parking area, stuck the barrels into the crotch and pulled. He then sighted down the barrels and returned to the shooting area. I asked my Scoutmaster, who was our escort that day, just what was going on, and he opined that the gun likely shot too high for his taste, and so our friend had "fixed" his gun.

If I had not witnessed it, I would not believe it. I suspect that the gun was likely worth more than my parents house. In "Shotgunning, the Art and the Science" , Bob Brister tells a similar tale from a south Texas quail hunt.

I guess I am more comfortable with making changes to the stock.

Regards

GKT

I have read about "barrel flip" in thin walled doubles whereby barrel flex and related gun geometry results in lower than desired shot placement. The normal design compensation is a higher comb. Barrels bent down is a new one on me and would seem to exacerbate the barrel flip phenomenon.

A friend had a Grulla 28g that had clearly upswept barrels. It also shot very high. He sold it off.

I'd prefer to have straight barrels and stock changes adjust POI.