What can you tell me about a J.P. Claybrough

Win 38-55

Win 38-55

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The local shooting store has a J.P. Claybrough in good condition. It has 30" Damascus barrels, good bores, tight action, one full and one modified choke. It is 10 ga 2 5/8". It's a side by side hammer gun, old. The gunsmith thinks it is safe.

Is this a low end gun or is it a good double?

If I bought it, what kind of modern shotgun ammo would be safe to shoot in it?
 
I don't know much about Claybrough, but I don't think 10g 2-5/8" is available "off the shelf" anywhere - I think it would be a reload only type of deal.
 
Win 38-55 said:
Is this a low end gun or is it a good double?
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J.P. Clabrough is a good make. I've seen an awful lot of them in poor condition, so be sure to view the gun in person and don't rely on a description.

Win 38-55 said:
If I bought it, what kind of modern shotgun ammo would be safe to shoot in it?
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No modern ammo is safe to shoot in it. Low pressure "nitro for black powder" loads are likely safe, as it sounds like it's in good condition.

Firstly, good luck finding ANY shells in 10 gauge 2 1/2". I'm sure you could find some in Europe, but it will be very difficult in North America (although never say never). Gamebore shells are available in Canada, but I don't recall seeing any in 10 ga. If the barrels are in good condition, you could get away with 2 1/2" nitro for black powder loads (such as Gamebore), but you really should be looking for black powder shells for a piece such as this.

My advice: Find the shells before you buy the gun.
 
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It's a reload-only prospect and reloading any 10 gauge isn't the easiest thing to do much less 2-1/2" shells. Loaders and components are hard to find.

Also does the gunsmith involved know his stuff when it comes to double guns. It's not like slicking up a single action Uberti for CAS. Can he tell you the true length of the chambers, the wall thickness, bore diameters, chokes whether the gun is off the face, if the parts are original, the state of the stocks, locking bolts, etc.?

I think I know the gun in question here. I ruled it out simply because it was a 10 gauge. If it were a 12 I might have considered it but only if it had Nitro proofs, I knew all the dimensions both inside and out and I had the approval of a qualified double gunsmith.
 
It sounds like I'd better forget about this old double and keep looking. Regarding what the gunsmith knows about old doubles, that is something I do not know. I've handled the gun, but as far as dimensions go, next time I see a double shotgun, I'll bring along my electronic calibers.
 
Clabrough in any of its many incarnations (J P & Sons, Bros, & Johnston, etc.) are quality guns. A common joke in Canada is that they are the "Cooey of British shotguns".

There is a very nice side lock, self opening ejector, at a local shop that was mine for a while.

The "Short 10's" are an absolute treat to shoot & hunt. They are quite popular vintage guns simply due to the number of them out there, for many years they were at least as common as 12 gauges.

I reload on a MEC 600, it's dead simple, I have some electronic articles I'd be happy to share.

Components are available from several US firms, and thier canadian distributors:

http://www.balisticproducts.com/

http://www.precisionreloading.com/


There are also several manufactures of loaded ammo in the US. Although I can only think of one at the moment:

http://www.rstshells.com/

Mark
 
i have a JP Claybrough 12 ga. the claybrough's were english gun makers, but some immigrated to the u.s. or so i've been told , and made sxs's in california i believe.my gun has been in the family forever and was used with smokeless powder until the late 40's. it's very ornate etching in the metal and the buttplate is bacalite with a buck,doe and fawn engraved on it. the barrels are in poor condition with extensive pitting on the inside. you might be able to put full length briley insert tubes in the barrels and convert it to a smaller gauge ie. 12 ga.,16 ga. and so on, but the headspace has to be checked and the gun must be tight and functional to do this , plus it's very expensive. your gunsmith thinking it's safe doesn't really cut it. it has to be proofed. my father was the duck hunter up til 1948 with smokeless powder and he got away with it. a lucky man is he!!i don't think they were ever priced as a top end gun but they are very attractive. if you google JP Claybrough you will find a lot more info. they were also stamped JP CLaybrough and sons. good luck.
 
Black powder 10ga. shells whether plastic, paper or brass can be easily reloaded without a press and just a few simple handtools, as well as a roll crimp tool that you can use on a drill or drill press. Figure loads out by multiplying drams x 28 for grains of BP(2fg), and Bob's your uncle!
 
ben hunchak said:
Black powder 10ga. shells whether plastic, paper or brass can be easily reloaded without a press and just a few simple handtools, as well as a roll crimp tool that you can use on a drill or drill press. Figure loads out by multiplying drams x 28 for grains of BP(2fg), and Bob's your uncle!
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I knew it!!! My aunt's a tramp!!!
 
Well, maybe I'll take another look at the gun with an electronic calipers. Then I'll think about whether I want to get into shotgun reloading. I reload for 9 rifle and pistol calibers and can hardly keep up with that, so I'm not sure I want to start reloading for a shotgun. ......... But then again, maybe I do .... hmmmm.
 
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