Let's talk about damaging SxS stocks via shooting....
In the past several years I have cracked several SxS stocks, and one friend broke off an almost new Guerini O/U stock.
I suspect we are putting many more shells through our older SxS's in a year of shooting sporting clays, than an "average hunter" would have fired in a lifetime, back in the 1920's or 1920's. Often these 50 to 100 year old stocks are being damaged, and crack or break. And, we're generally only firing light 1 oz. target loads, not 1-1/2 oz. 3" goose-killers.
50 years of oil-soaking into the head/wrist area also contributes weakness.
The question then arises "how much shooting is too much for a vintage SxS?"
One solution is to reinforce the head and wrist area with epoxy. My "SxS Restorer" usually does so on older SxS's unless requested to leave them original. How many of you epoxy-reinforce the bedding areas of your SxS? Which areas?
Next question is whether boxlocks are less likely to crack than sidelocks? We have all seen many Elsies with cracks at the rear of the sideplates. Scalloped boxlocks (SKB's) seem particularly crack-prone in that area...I just had a Baker restored that looked fine on the outside, but we found it broken through at the interior screw hole (repaired during restoration). One of my Lefevers is similarly weak in that same area.
Last question is where does a SxS actually absorbs the recoil? Some think the vertical screw in the rear is particularly critical. I have seen many old SxS's with cracks along the interior screw hole. Should one glass bed this screw hole?
Do custom restockers epoxy the inside areas of their new buttstocks for reinforcement?
Some of you are much more knowledgable on this topic. I would enjoy reading your opinions, experience, and advice.
Jerry Goldstein
St. Louis, MO
