doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Double Rifles, Paradox Guns & Gauge Rifles @ doublegunshop.com Greener Police Gun

A friend just asked me if there was any way to get his Greener Mk III Police shotgun shooting again.
These guns use a proprietary 12/14 ga. shotshell which I'm assuming is no longer available.
Are there any relatively inexpensive conversion options available? I can post pictures but the relevant information on the gun is 12 in a diamond 2 7/8" x 186. A standard 12 ga shell will slide in for about 1 1/4".
Jim

IIRC those used a 3 prong firing pin so bad guys couldn't make use of the ammo. I could be wrong though. I seem to recall this from years ago.
Necking down 12 ga. brass shells shouldn't be that bad of a deal.

I have already found out it isn't difficult to alter the three prong firing pin and get around that issue. I don't know how you'd even get 12 ga brass into the chamber for fire forming if that's what you're suggesting as 12 ga shells will only go in about 1 1/4".
Jim

You'd need to neck the 12 ga shells down to the 14 ga remainder of the chamber. A chamber cast will show you what's needed. If all else fails Rocky Mountain Cartridge could build the proper shaped shells but they'd be turned shells not drawn.

http://rockymountaincartridge.com/index_htm_files/RMC%20Shot%20Shells%20&%20Kits%20Prices.pdf

I believe that you can open the chamber to 12 gauge. I have one that was thus treated and it shoots like a card shooter.

I understand what you're suggesting but wouldn't shooting a 12 ga load down a 14 ga barrel significantly increase the pressure?
Perhaps someone who has done this conversion will comment here. I am reluctant to suggest this to a friend without insurances that the resultant gun will be safe.
If the green light is given does anyone have a recommendation of someone who would perform this conversion?
Jim

I did have one which I then sold on. It had been converted to 12 bore and re-proved for 3"magnum rounds. Certainly strong but I never did fancy the recoil of the magnum round in it. Lagopus.....

Thanks Lagopus:
3" Magnums? All I can think of , considering he weight of this gun is, OUCH!
I am hoping that one of the members here can provide the name of a stateside gunsmith who can perform this conversion for my friend.
If anyone has this information please let me know.
Jim

Many 12 gauge guns were bored 13 gauge a hundred years ago. And it was perfectly safe. Why not rechamber it for a standard 12 and hone the barrel ten thousandths to 13? Ought to work great if you can fix the firing pin issue.

Hi Joe:
Thanks for your response. When I informed the owner what had to be done to make it shootable he decided to leave it the way it is.
IMO a smart move.
Jim

If he wants to shoot it some then the RMC brass would be a decent investment w/o the cost of all the other mods to the gun.

There is an outfit that has hundreds of these guns. They routinely alter them to 12ga and modify the firing pins before selling the guns. I had mine done there. I'll see if I can remember their name. Later I added a fore end hanger for a short fore end. Mine is a terrific squirrel gun.

The business is Odin arms in MO. They have altered guns and originals for sale. Here is their website: http://www.yeoldgnsmth.com/odin/contact.htm

A chambermate type thing in 16 gauge should do the job.

I just ran a bore gauge in my gun. .730 bore and .015 choke.

I do believe you can get greener 12/14 brass shells from RMC for $68 forbten and 14 gauge wads from circlefly

Thanks all:
I did maintenance on this shotgun and returned it to a friend who owns it. I'll pass this additional information on to him.
Jim

Little bit of a left field solution: what about holding the end of an empty 12g case in some hot water to soften, then running it into the chamber to swage/shape it?