Got the mainsprings out of the Fox with some PB Blaster...the problem was (ejector gun) the thimbles have a split guide rod that clamps onto the ejector actuators and this was all rather gummy so they resisted coming out. Exacerbated by the fact that you can't get a grip on the thimbles. Apparently it's impossible to get the knuckle bushings out that hold the ejector actuators in place. I am not even going to try.
What really bothers me about the Fox action is the fact that not only are the sidewalls thin and the sear pin located in the most vulnerable spot, but also the hammer recesses extend almost all the way up to the water table so in reality it should be called a Box not a Fox. The front part of the action, which is subject to tension and downward bending under firing, is attached to the back part of the action by three thin walls of a box (four if you count the bottom plate..). I used to like Foxes (mainly because they are easy to sell) but I have to say I am have reservations about their strength. They made the hammers unnecessarily large and this requires large cavities in the action.
Parkers are easy to take apart, but lots of parts and lots of screws to mar...complex design. I haven't really paid much attention to the thickness of the metal in the high stress areas, but I will the next time I take one down. I have found Parkers hard to sell. And I don't understand why nobody wants/likes damascus or hammer Parkers, while at the same time they positively go nuts over a gun that has a lot of case color remaining. That's just silly. Case color is about the most superficial thing on a gun. Well that and stock finish.
Both Foxes and Parkers usually require that the sears be removed before you can get the stock off...this is really poor design.
Remington takes five minutes to strip and I really like the fact that they marked the internals (R) and (L). Sturdy action too. Too bad they are mostly plain guns, the higher grade guns have very elegant engraving.
