SxS shotgun: barrel and action fitting

[Br00ss]

Hi there,

I'm wondering something here. I have a set of 3 old skb. One of the receiver can take the 3 different barrels and the other 2 are only able to inter change 2 barrels.

Are you aware of a procedure that would allow me to check where it bugs and how to go about it so all the barrels and receivers can be interchanged? The one that can take the 3 is the high end one and I'd like to keep it home when we go on thick brush for Woodcock.

Thanks for your help everyone.

 

[trevj]

Traditionally done with soot from a candle flame or oil lamp. Soot the surfaces to be checked for fit, attempt to mate the parts, and observe where the soot gets rubbed off, to see where material needs be removed.

It's a bit of an art.

Right about the 5 and a half minute mark in this video... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLxDRb7yWnw

 

[Br00ss]

Sometimes it can be so simple yet so tricky. Thanks for the video, I'll have a look how it feels like with this.

 

[trevj]

Be VERY careful with metal removals, on that scale, which is pretty fine work, it isn't all that easy to put the stuff back on!

Some careful comparisons of the ones that fit, to the one that does not, would be a very good idea, and keep in mind that it's going to make for a looser fit all around, essentially.

 

[Br00ss]

Thanks for the heads up trevj, I totally get this. I'm more interested to understand why it doesn't fit at the moment then to make it happen.

I think it's where the hook is (underneath the barrel) that is slightly different. The one that can take the 3 lockup tight on all 3 barrels so it really puzzles me.

I might end up fitting the stock of the 280 instead of the action of the 100s but I'd rather have the 100 getting beaten up instead of the fine gun with tons of engravings. I'll see what happens and think about it from there.

I'll take pictures and post it here when I check the fit if you are interested.

 

[Ashcroft]

Although these were machine made guns they were never intended to have random interchangeable barrels. The fact that some of your barrels and actions interchange is a good testament to the accuracy and precision that went into making these guns even though they were modestly priced when new. Quite possibly these guns were final fitted by hand at the factory. Even if you order a new extra barrel today for a Beretta it will likely need to be final fitted by hand. Gunfitting is very tricky, it is super easy to mess up the good parts, it's almost an art and there are very few competent gunfitters around. If you can find a competent experienced gunfitter that will take this job, expect many hours of painstaking work at the current shop rate which could be over $100 an hour. This is not a job for a hobbiest or home mechanic. You have been warned.