doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Choke arrangements on SxS

I'm new to this website. I've found some very good information here already - thanks. I have a question, I recently picked up a nice shooter the other day a "Ranger" 12 ga with 30" barrels,DT ,Extractors, double Ivory beads. Near mint mechanically with 90% CC and blueing. Surprisingly a fairly light weight 7.25 lbs with balance pt around 1 inch in front of the pin. The barrel markings have Precision 104.3. From what research I have done these guns were made for Sears by Hunter Arms. Based on the serial number it seems to have been made in 1939. The chokes are 0.007 and 0.019 with the more open choke in the left barrel not the traditional right. Is this a mistake or could this have been deliberate and for what reason ? Any help would be appreciated.

Welcome to the board!

Typically, at least on English guns, the use of a tighter 1st bbl was for driven game being shot from a butt where the first shot was taken at a more distant target and then the second bbl. being used for an 'in your face' or closer overhead shot.

I doubt a Ranger was choked with that specific use in mind, but it might have made sense for use over decoys where a flight was in-coming and the first shot taken a bit out and the second for a flairing bird. Just a guess on my part.

Thanks. I have heard that this could be a "driven" type gun arrangement but wanted to hear from all the experts. Anyone have anymore info on this gun ? Seems to be a well made gun although a very inexpensive gun during those times.

16man,

Welcome. I had a SKB choked Full and Mod. When I had it opened, it ended up IC and Mod. Simply because it saved me a few pennies at the time. Sounds like your gun may have the same history.

Pete

That's a possibility although these chokes appear to be original, that is I could see no indications of tooling/honing or reaming marks in the bore. However, I would think that most 30" barrels would have probably been of the Full/Mod variety not Mod/Imp so that would support your theory. thanks

I'm assuming you actually measured the bores and choke constrictions, to come up with your .007" and .019" chokes?
.019" would be a modified choke, and someone probably opened the left barrel from full to .007"

Please see http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/17126039
Rangers were not special order guns, so Dave M is likely correct. That choke combination was also used for Skeet c. 1930s.

If the left barrel was opened by a craftsman, there would be no marks. i am inclined to guess this is the case. I really doubt that the makers of Rangers took special orders. however, we have mostly learned to never say never when it comes to old guns. If you are happy with the price and it shoots to your liking, then it is a good gun.

BTW, I can be more helpful with future questions on gun handling if you reference balance (teeter-totter point) point to the (front) trigger. There is no fixed relationship between the hinge pin and the hands as there is between the trigger and the back hand. Balance determines the % of the gun's weight in each hand. If you know the distance from balance to trigger, triger to center of the back hand, and center to center of hand spread, you can easily proportion the weight into each hand. different shooters have different preferences for how the weight is proportioned between their hand, hence, differing preferences for balance.

Thanks guys - I knew I could count on the experts. That picture confirms it is a Fulton. Any reservations on what type loads could be fired, such as some heavy field/duck loads or 2 3/4 mags. The bolting on this gun(as you probably know) slides in directly in line with the direction of the bores and does not have a web to mechanically hold the barrels to the breech as some rotary type bolts.

The Hunter Arms Fulton patent dates to 1911, and the gun was introduced in 1915. The 'Standard Load' found on L.C. Smith hang tags 1887-1930 for 12 gauge was 3 dram 1 1/4 oz. until about 1920, then 3 dram 1 1/8 oz. The SuperX 3 3/4 dram 1 1/4 oz load was not introduced until 1922. You decide keeping in mind the stock wood of your gun is now almost 70 years old.