doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Why do people 'butcher' barrels....?

While I agree that calculation makes economic sense, compared to an RBL or something like an AyA 4/53, there are all kinds of modern used sxs out there for well under $2,000, and they're likely to require less modification in terms of stock dimensions, chokes, forcing cones etc than an American classic. Ithaca SKB, BSS, Bernardelli, Sauer, various Spanish guns, etc. IMO, that's the route to go if you're thinking an economical sxs "shooter"--or else one of the American economy doubles, like Lefever Nitro, Western Long Range, Hunter Fulton, etc. You may still have to modify, but your initial cost is a good bit less.

The sad truth is, unless you can do much of your own work (both wood and metal), if you're trying to come up with a smallbore American classic shooter that both looks good and fits you, $2,000 is probably a reasonable estimate. Unless, of course, it's either a Parker or a Win 21, in which case you'll be spending even more. Lots more for a 21.

I sold a high condition Sterlingworth, almost as nice as PA24's pictured gun. It had .040 and about .043 chokes and was the first gun I have ever patterned that would pattern in the mid to high 90s with heavy loads of soft fours. My friend drilled the chokes out and refinished the wood. The wood looks wonderful. He has displayed the Fox on his gun show table for about a year now without any potential buyer showing any interest. If the wood were original, Fox collectors would be all over the gun, and I would buy it back for more than I sold it for. The chokes are not the problem, although I know he ruined them. However, the wood refinishing looks like a turd on a collard leaf on a high condition Fox, although very well done.

That's kind of the problem. A SW didn't have 29 coats of London finish, from what I've seen. More like a couple coats of varnish with minimal sanding before and probably none during.

SW's had some really lousy stain and varnish...low end guns at the time for sure.....they were in business to make money.....the more you spent, the more you got......

There is a 'big' difference in refinishing the wood or metal and "sawing, drilling and latheing the same wood or metal".....but I guess that should be another topic.....kind of like the old lever gun that 'Jo da hunta' drilled the receiver on for a scope or peep....but to each his own, drill & grind away there Sparky......


Great opinions from everyone .....thanks....!.........

Which reminds me... I just bought a 16ga M-12 that looks like it's right out of the box. It dates at 1959, and the only marks on it are on the bottom of the stock near the heal which I know from experience are from going in and out of a gunsafe. That's all, safe marks.

Why? Because the damn thing is choked .037.

Of what possible use is a M-12 16ga choked extra full?

Answer: None. That's why it sat UNUSED for 50 years.

Yes, I intend to open up and use it.

I also think the scattergun gods would approve.

Several yrs ago, I found a 28" plain barreled Win M42 .410 that had the original full choke. I love the choking for dove and it may get some duty as a pheasant gun. I'll give it a try in a few weeks at pen raised pheasant and chukar.

I have no intent to open up the choke, but I've given some thought to a Roger Eubanks donutpost vent rib and fancy wood. Something keeps tugging on me to leave it as is. Maybe that's Doug, invading my "dream gun" dreams. LOL.... There is some attraction to the vintage Americana of leaving it alone. I could just buy a Japanese Brownchester 42 with a vent rib for chumpchange.

Yup, no big deal for a $300 gun. Go for it. How much is the barrel boring? $50.00? Yup, you have a nice Model 12 for $350. Oh, shipping? OK, it's still a nice Model 12 for $375.

If I ever get my Fox barrels back from Mike, they will have .005 and .010 instead of F/F and the gun will go back to work on the five stand field.

It undoubtedly took many pheasants and ducks for it's previous owner(s), but them days are OVER and it's being retired to stud.

Mike? Mike?

So far the only valid argument against full chokes is the one about blowing apart game.

Provided you can hit it.