I have an old 11-48 that was my grandfathers (12ga) and it's the first shotgun I used on clays, the first shotgun I killed a grouse with, etc. IN 12ga-almost zero monetary value....but all kinds of sentimental value. Fixed MOD choke, non-vent rib, etc. He was a shorter man/I'm not, so I ended-up sourcing a parts gun with a full-sized stock set to replace the cut-down one I'd modified to fit me.
I now have a few extra parts I'm considering getting rid of, but noticed that the recoil spring on the parts gun has a sleeve at the forward end that is engraved with notations about loads. My 11-48 never had this sleeve, and has functioned perfectly since the mid 80s when I took possession of it. I'll also add, I've only ever run light loads through the gun, mostly #7-1/2 target loads, heaviest probably #6s hunting. (8s and 9s=no issue, just rarely use) Never had a reason to suspect anything was missing, this gun just chugs away dutifully.
So, the question has to do with whether or not this sleeve was supposed to be in every 11-48, should I keep it, etc? Possible the parts gun may have had a spring/sleeve from a comparable model?
Happy to post photos to illustrate.
Thanks for taking a moment to reply
I now have a few extra parts I'm considering getting rid of, but noticed that the recoil spring on the parts gun has a sleeve at the forward end that is engraved with notations about loads. My 11-48 never had this sleeve, and has functioned perfectly since the mid 80s when I took possession of it. I'll also add, I've only ever run light loads through the gun, mostly #7-1/2 target loads, heaviest probably #6s hunting. (8s and 9s=no issue, just rarely use) Never had a reason to suspect anything was missing, this gun just chugs away dutifully.
So, the question has to do with whether or not this sleeve was supposed to be in every 11-48, should I keep it, etc? Possible the parts gun may have had a spring/sleeve from a comparable model?
Happy to post photos to illustrate.
Thanks for taking a moment to reply


















































