doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Advice: French MAC Side by Side 16ga

It is going to take a good gunsmith, on the one I have the pin is forged on the hammer. Jim

Here's Kirk Merrington's website http://kirkmerrington.net/

DavidNorin@aol.com (847) 662-4034
c/o Schranks Smoke n Gun 2010 Washington Street
Waukegan, Il 60085-5132

Dang, Craig that is not good news. I think it is worth a call to JJ Perodeau (pronounced Pair-Ah-Doh I believe) at Champlin Arms. I spoke tp him a while back about French Gun Parts. He has some contacts back at St Etienne that can supply some parts.



http://www.champlinarms.com/Default.aspx?tabid=37itf

Thanks all-

Since I am now in Texas, I will start with Kirk and I have dropped Kirk a line with the link to this string. I'll keep you posted. He is located less than an hour detour off my route home.

I did not remove the hammer, so I can't say for sure, but I believe, yes, the pin appears to have been forged as part of the hammer as well.

After I wrote Kirk, I found his web site- and I saw his price list. This must be a common malady as it is a standard item. He charges $150 for this repair (ouch, 1/2 the price of this gun, making it a tough decision). I would be interested in finding out how it is done- do you think it is done by building up a new pin on the hammer by welding?

Doug

Postoak- Now that would be a blessing to actually find another hammer. Thanks a million, I will look into it right away (now)!

Doug

I'd approach I'd take would be to face off the pin "root" on the hammer and drill a hole. Then, I'd make a pin with OE dimensions and a base to fit into the hole I just drilled in the hammer. When the new pin was clearing all frame and hitting the face pin hole dead on, I'd harden it, temper it, and solder it into the hammer. If the hammer was soft enough (and it may be), the hole could be tapped to make for easy installation and replacement of the pin in the future. This said, I'd say Kirk's price is quite reasonable for true profesional repair.

Worth the price? How much did you enjoy shooting it? Do you have ammo problems solved to your satisfaction? BTW, looks to be full (choke) and mod (1/2 choke) to me.

Even if it's a $150 repair, you're still into a decent 16 for not a lot of money. Interesting proofmarks--you don't see a lot of French guns with Paris proofs.

I really did enjoy shooting it! It fit me and it shot where I pointed it. I would go so far as to say it had nearly perfect handling qualities for me, light enough to be very quick on the target, but not so light as to make it difficult to swing smoothly. It hung up on the Federal primers, but was smooth with the Winchester, so I would say yes; I found some ammunition it really liked (Winchester 2 3/4, 2 1/2dr, 1oz, #8, and a K-Mart of all places). In terms of recoil, it was a pussycat.

I bought it with two purposes in mind. I bought a Fox SW in 12ga last month (from the same friend) and I started shooting quite a bit and having a lot of fun in the process. I joined this and the Fox collector's forum. On the Fox collector's forum, it is hard not to find a lot of love and respect for the 16ga. So I figured, since a nice Fox 16ga is a bit hard to come by and a bit unkind on the budget when you do- I would see what all the fuss is over the 16ga and in the process spare the old Fox some wear and tear by spreading the shooting out over these two guns. They handle very much the same for me by the way (and they both balance just a hair forward of the hinge pin, my Fox has about 1/2" more drop). Yesterday I was able to go back and forth between the Fox and MAC and hit with either one (with a slight edge to the Fox, which was understandable because I have been shooting the Fox more).

It did not seem too tightly choked (again, maybe a previous owner opened them up), but had you not told me the chokes, I would have guessed modified and full (and a second guess would have been IC/Mod).

When back home in Illinois, most of my shotgun shooting is done on "open to the public" days and is on the trap range. So, when I say fixing this is a tough decision that is why. I could use that left full choke to good effect on trap (and nobody needs a repeater to shoot trap). It would save the wear and tear on my favorite Fox 12ga.

Repair or not to repair, that is the question. Reason argues against the repair when the value is in the use and I can still get a lot of use out of it on the trap range. Emotion, on the other hand argues to fix it (when it comes to weapons I must confess that I feel for them, so it is more like taking a loved animal to the Vet).

I just sent and e-mail to Champlin to see if they can find the MAC part for me. If they can, that should make the job simple and higly cost effective.


Doug

As a Manufrance 16 ga. owner (and shooter) I can say I would have bought the gun in a minute and would pay the $150 for the repair just as quick!
Good luck with it.

GWP-

Thanks...it makes me feel better to hear that. In the mysterious realm of the French shotgun, I am not sure where MAC stood, given the total lack of embelishment, I suspect somewhere in the lower end. But the materials seem to have been fairly good (save for that used in the right hammer) and it has some measure of understated elegance to it (which I prize highly).

Kirk e-mailed me back and he said he will not quote until he has a chance to see it (so maybe there is some hope that it will not cost quite that much). He said he would use a weld to repair it. I'll wait a bit to see if the inquiry regarding a new part pans out. If not, I'll pursue the repair approach and keep everyone posted on the outcome. Thanks again one and all. Do please feel free to post photos of your French shotguns, I would love to see them and learn more about them!

Doug