Help with old 16 gauge
- Thread starter klrklr
- Start date
Presumably you mean to lengthen the chambers? I suppose any competent gunsmith could do the job, but if it is ‘mint’ and takes 2 1/2” shells, why not use the correct shells, and save the bother, expense and risk? Or is there another reason?
I would be concerned about any operation that could weaken an older gun, especially if it is weakened and then uses modern-pressure ammunition.
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2.5 inch shell are very hard to come buy I have only been able to find them at Profitriver which I will have to see about shipping. And I have 100s of 2.75 shells that were given to me with gun. My son wants to use it to hunt upland birds here in Quebec
Opening up chambers will devalue a "mint" gun of any quality.
It's not a trivial task, since it requires a serious safety evaluation. You are proposing to weaken the gun in the area of high pressure.
This is a task for a qualified double gunsmith.
Caution is in order.
Tradeex was also offering 2 brands of 2 1/2 inch cartridges.
It's not a trivial task, since it requires a serious safety evaluation. You are proposing to weaken the gun in the area of high pressure.
This is a task for a qualified double gunsmith.
Caution is in order.
Tradeex was also offering 2 brands of 2 1/2 inch cartridges.
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I have reamed several shotgun chambers to 2 3/4" in both 12 & 20 ga. I bought the reamers from Brownells.
Do NOT try to ream crome linned barrels. They are too hard for reamers. Brownells may have 16 ga. reamers too ?
The reamer will cost about the same price you will give the gunsmith to reame 2 barrels.
Even with a longer chamber do NOT load high pressure shells. Target or feild loads only. I have done this 4 years
without trouble. The reamers I bought where "Forcing Cone Reamers". They gradually lengthen the chamber length.
Do NOT try to ream crome linned barrels. They are too hard for reamers. Brownells may have 16 ga. reamers too ?
The reamer will cost about the same price you will give the gunsmith to reame 2 barrels.
Even with a longer chamber do NOT load high pressure shells. Target or feild loads only. I have done this 4 years
without trouble. The reamers I bought where "Forcing Cone Reamers". They gradually lengthen the chamber length.
What make is the gun? Who is the manufacturer ? "mint" is a relative term. It has different meanings for different people , and isn't meant for describing a gun's condition
because of that . It is used in describing such things as coins , that are uncirculated , sealed in plastic , and never been touched , or had a fingerprint on them.
Sounds like you have a beautiful old gun there , in great shape. But is it a Fox , an Ithaca , or a Stevens ? European maybe? They are like apples and oranges.
"I have an old 16 side by side which is mint" , isn't a good enough description for you to get a knowledgeable answer.
Call Gunco , Jason Spencer , Reg'd Gunsmith in Ottawa. He's the man you want to talk to.
Have a all your information ready on a scratch pad before you call. Make / model / barrel lengths / etc. He will want to know what it is too.
because of that . It is used in describing such things as coins , that are uncirculated , sealed in plastic , and never been touched , or had a fingerprint on them.
Sounds like you have a beautiful old gun there , in great shape. But is it a Fox , an Ithaca , or a Stevens ? European maybe? They are like apples and oranges.
"I have an old 16 side by side which is mint" , isn't a good enough description for you to get a knowledgeable answer.
Call Gunco , Jason Spencer , Reg'd Gunsmith in Ottawa. He's the man you want to talk to.
Have a all your information ready on a scratch pad before you call. Make / model / barrel lengths / etc. He will want to know what it is too.
Or you can contact Kent directly in Peterborough now. I have vintage 12, 16, 20 and 28 gauge guns that all take 2 1/2” shells. A little planning and I am never, ever short of shells.
Many here know there is lots of stuff I will do to a vintage gun. But I will not lengthen chambers. It’s a fundamental issue of safety and once removed, the metal can never be put back. I like my fingers and eyes.
Many here know there is lots of stuff I will do to a vintage gun. But I will not lengthen chambers. It’s a fundamental issue of safety and once removed, the metal can never be put back. I like my fingers and eyes.
I really have a hard time with the idea of lengthening the Chambers on a vintage SxS or O/U guns simply because it is so easy to load the appropriate sized ammo. Many of us regularly kill birds of all species with vintage guns of all gauges with Chambers anywhere from 2" to 2 1/16" using both low pressure smokeless and black powder .
Hand loading for these guns can be done with a minimum of tools , all it takes is a bit of time and some instruction .
Hand loading for these guns can be done with a minimum of tools , all it takes is a bit of time and some instruction .
Lengthening the chambers on an old double barrelled shotgun is risky at best, a ticking time bomb at the worst. The barrel pressures are highest just ahead of the chambers and wall thickness here is critical to safety. IF you know the wall thickness here and IF you know what the minimum should be and IF you know the composition of the barrel steel and can calculate it’s properties and IF there is no hidden rusting or corrosion hiding under the ribs in this area it MAY be safe to do this but is it wise? The gun will forevermore be used with 2 3/4” ammo and 20, 30, 50 years from now the subsequent owners will unknowingly use whatever they have on hand. The gun won’t go through proof to ensure that it is safe, the complete safety for this gun now rests with the person that did the job. As the shooter do you fully trust this altered gun with your eyes, your fingers? And if the gun bursts and someone is hurt, guess who is legally liable? Use the ammunition that the gun was designed and proofed for or get a different gun. Everybody needs another gun anyway.
Can always sell those and buy new 2 1/2
Not hard to get rid of vintage 16ga ammo especially if paper hulls
Cheers
So true.
I suspect that, despite the overwhelming direction of advice given, it’s falling on deaf ears. The OP asked who should do the job, not should the job be done.
My answer to OP’s question is Stelios Chrysochou of SC Gunworks in Keswick Ontario.
The OP has not mentioned the make/model of the gun.
Mint condition is all very well.
A mint condition Belgian mail order gun isn't in the same category as a mint condition Parker.
If you stop and think about it, neither of those should be altered, although for different reasons.
Hope the OP's modifications work out well for him
Mint condition is all very well.
A mint condition Belgian mail order gun isn't in the same category as a mint condition Parker.
If you stop and think about it, neither of those should be altered, although for different reasons.
Hope the OP's modifications work out well for him
As an old collector years ago I hate seeing vintage guns altered especially ones that could be worth some real money here
Take care
