doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Stoger Darne question

Looking at a 20ga R15 Darne as imported by Stoger. My questions are do they have a good reputation for quality and durability? Also, the one I am looking at appears to have a high gloss finish, do they all? Thanks for any input new to Darnes and trying to learn. Thanks Tom

Stoeger imported the Darne guns from about 1960, and ended their run around 1973. The earlier imports tend to be finished better, but, I’ve never really seen one that has been poorly fitted. People love to talk about “hand finished” guns, ignorant of the fact that few are, but, a Darne actually was.
Stoeger typically imported them in bunches, and sold them off-the-rack, which was a poor business model for getting a Darne gun that fit an individual. A Darne stock cannot be bent. LOP can be increased with a pad, but, that is all you really have to work with. If at all possible, handle the gun before you buy it, or do insure there a three day return policy, something which seems to be getting harder to find these days. You may dry fire an assembled Darne (DO NOT dry fire a Darne with the barrels removed!) and I would suggest you do so, as if the pull weight is above your requirements, it is tough to find someone to work on them. As always, look for signs bubba has been at it. Goes for all used guns.

This is a later James Wayne gun, same gauge and grade as what you are looking at. I lifted the picture to show a fitting issue that I have seen more than once on later guns:



I owned a gun that was about 3 numbers off of this gun, and was likely imported the same day. Mine didn’t suffer the same sloppy fit of the trigger guard extension, but, had blander pallet grade wood, and similar engraving, not something that inspired thoughts of artistry. Both of these James Wayne guns were built when the company was under extreme financial duress, and, it showed in the final product. Even so, I used my R15 20 for two decades, with zero problems, and regret ever selling it. I shot it very well.

Good luck.

Best,
Ted

Ted is a former importer of Darne. Pay attention to what he said. Especially about fit. Or frankly anything about Darnes. Other subjects you can ignore.

Thanks Ted. This gun is currently on Guns International and does not show the trigger guard. How did Darne mark the chokes the table does not show them. There is a three day inspection period however.

The people who built the guns didn’t mark the chokes, to my knowledge. When you see a gun marked it was typically done by the importer, and I’d bet dollars to donuts that they just looked at the box or paperwork and marked what it said. Again, if you ordered the gun you could specify how many thousandths of choke you wanted. Again, few ever did that. Box and paperwork markings for choke for European guns are notoriously wrong, maybe more often than they are correct. Not just in France, either.

I looked at that gun on GI, and the photo that shows the barrel flats has a few clues for you. You can actually see the trigger guard extension is well fitted in that picture. It is marked “Non pour le balle”, telling us it is choked at least modified in that tube, and the folks at the proof house didn’t want you using pumpkin ball slugs in it. I’d bet you get pretty close representations of modified and full chokes in that gun. The guy has offered to open them for you. DONT let anyone touch those chokes. Those are very long, slow chokes that were ground lengthwise and barrel making art as delivered. The seller is calling it at IC and Modified, it might be, but, measure them if you want to know for sure. My own guns run tighter than industry standard for chokes.
A few people here will tell you they don’t like that grip on a Darne, a sentiment I agree with, but, that is subjective. Other guys prefer it.

I’m not sure how firm he is on price. The last three or so years the prices for all guns seemed to have jumped to levels I am frankly shocked to see. At that kind of money, if it were me, I’d probably hang tight, save a bit more, and keep my eyes open for a Bruchet built gun, which, are true custom guns, and always finished better. That said, I have no doubt that gun would be a great bird gun for a guy it fit, and who took the time to get using it down pat.

Good luck.

Best,
Ted

I have been very happy with my 60’s area R10. It fits me and I seem to shoot it quite well.

Good luck with whatever you decide. But, like Ted pointed out, if you do buy the R15, it will serve you well as long at it fits you.

If you can shoot it before you buy it or as part of the inspection, that might be a good idea. Of course, many would not allow it. Some of them do not regulate (mine + others). In discussing remedies with respected gunsmiths, this is not uncommon.

It does have a three day inspection period, but shooting is not allowed. Not heard of regulation problems before, but pretty green when it comes to Darnes. I suppose I could check that with a couple of laser cartridges. Thanks Tom

I have a question about the laser cartridges mentioned here but I will start a new post rather than shanghai this one.

You’re so full of crap. I’ve owned, handled, shot, hunted, worked on more Darnes than most people besides Ted will ever have a chance to. I’ve NEVER seen, shot, heard of or owned a poorly regulated Darne.
Who are these so called respectable gunsmiths and owners that told you a baldly regulated Darne isn’t uncommon? Gimme a break.

Any owners here own a badly regulated Darne? Anyone????
Btw….having a stock that doesn’t fit or aftermarket custom barrel work does not count as bad regulation.


Like Ted said earlier, the chokes in a Darne take some understanding….if a so called respectable gunsmith jacked the chokes up during an adjustment….that’s definitely not on Darne.
Now….some Darnes prefer certain loads for sure. Ted and I both owned a Bruchet built R-15 20 bore that absolutely detested 7/8 Oz loads, but patterned 1 Oz #6’s beautifully.

This reminds of when ol’ Rasputin aka Geno said he’s seen barrels in gunshops full of old loose Darnes. Exactly like your comment here…a giant load of crap.