I am very appreciative of the excellent advice I am getting from some guys I consider to be real experts. I also recognize the value of jOe's reminder to keep things in balance; a project like this could get out of hand both in relation to expense and to disappointment in the results.

Toby, I haven't seen the gun yet so I will be on the lookout for the possibility of thin chamber walls. I realize this is a pretty old gun. The switch to 16ga would be a plus for me.

Birdog, I'd be thrilled it it turned out looking the photos you posted...Geo