Chief: If the gun show circut doesn't work out, don't be afraid of using a reputable dealer who advertises on-line. Look closely at the photography and make sure you get barrel measurements and all the other critical info (weight, LOP, DAC & DAH, cast, etc.). Then verifiy that you have an inspection period (the standard seems to be 3-days after you take delivery). It can also help to have a credible gunsmith look the gun over for you as well (just for the peace-of-mind factor), but if one isn't available (who really knows English guns), do this: hang the tubes from their lumps with a fairly heavy rubber-band (please do this carefully, and not over a bare concrete floor) and flick the tubes with your fingertips to make them "ring". You should get a clear, steady tone. Anything else means something is loose somewhere. Check the safety, triggers and ejectors (if it has them) with a decent pair of snap caps for pull and function. And, finally, look the stock over very closely for cracks and repaired cracks (don't forget the forend). This should discover about 95% of any potential problems you might encounter. (Doesn't sound any different than the inspection of an American gun, does it?) This is exactly the process I used to check out the English 16-bore boxlock ejector that I presently own and shoot.
Last edited by Lloyd3; 02/10/13 10:26 PM.
