lengthening chambers

[waidmann]

Need input on the wisdom, or lack thereof, in opening a 16 ga. 65mm chamber to 2 3/4" and corresponding alteration of forcing cones.

The gun in question is a J.P. Sauer & Sohn Habicht circa 1920's.

Thanks,
Waidmann

 

[oneounceload]

Gun may or may not be able to handle the pressure of modern loads without blowing up. You can get vintage-loaded ammunition from RST and Polywad. Will be loaded down to work in older gun

 

[rcmodel]

Some of the modern shells (dove & quail, duck & pheasant, & the faster trap loads) are often loaded to 13 -14,000 psi so that they will function through every semi-auto ever made.

These shells are far to hot for double guns made before WW2 when many European & English double-guns were designed for shells that were loaded to about half that pressure.

I think I would consider leaving it be and find some 2 1/2" Kent Gamebore shells.

http://www.firearmservice.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/page19.html

They ain't cheap, but neither will fixing your classic old shotgun be cheap if you shoot it loose.

rc

 

[chas08]

A good gunsmith should be the judge of whether to do it or not. But I got to cast my vote with oneounceload & rcmodel. There are loads readily available out there to shoot it just the way it is. Especially if you are going to shoot it on a somewhat limited basis.

 

[ArmedBear]

It's not like 16 Gauge loads are available in bulk packs at Wal-Mart, anyway.

If you're going to have to load your own or special-order them, it's really no harder to use 2 1/2" low-pressure shells in the old 16.

The lower recoil may be kinder to the wood, as well.

 

[foghornl]

Not to mention how expensive the repairs & Physical Therapy to yourself will be when the gun decides to let go from modern pressure-level ammo...about double the pressure levels of the old ammo designed for those guns.

 

[rcmodel]

I doubt very seriously there is any danger of it blowing up.

I just think it would shoot loose in no time at all, and rattle like a Mossberg 500.

On the otherhand, it most certainly was not proof-tested for modern 2 3/4" pressure levels, so I suppose a blow-up would be possible, if unlikely.

rc

 

[waidmann]

Thanks to all. An observation: The RST 7/8 oz #8's print very very dense as compared to some Eley I've been hanging onto.

Waidmann's Heil!

 

[newenglander]

Hmmm..my ancient (1920's) Springfield s/s 16 gauge is chambered for 2 3/4. I inherited it from my uncle and have fired just two rounds thru it, 2 3/4 (2 1/2 DR.EG, whatever that means)1 oz.shot, #6. Am I asking for trouble?

 

[oneounceload]

IF it was originally chambered for 2-3/4, shooting a nice light load like that should be just fine....IF it was lengthened from the 2-9/16 or 2-1/2 that some wore, then you should have it checked. At least baby it with some of those light loads

 

[newenglander]

I don't know if it was originally chambered for 2 3/4, but I suspect that it was. The uncle that gave it to me is deceased, and he wasn't a serious shooter, and doubt he shot it much, but I don't know how long he owned it. I doubt he had it re-chambered. Would a gunsmith be able to tell?

 

[oneiron]

Check under the fore arm

The chamber length will be stamped on each barrel. If your gun was made in Europe it will read 70mm if it is US it will be stamped 23/4. the chocks will be stamped there as well.