Thanks Jani and Mike for the replies. Mike, I appreciate the tip on wiring the barrels. I’ve seen that done for double shotguns and will apply that.
My reason for this project, besides bringing a ruined drilling back into use, is to create a short-range, multi-use, brush gun. I hunt with a drilling now and then here in Alaska and I’ve long thought that a shorter drilling would be an ideal multi-purpose gun for knocking around in the bush. Two shotgun barrels loaded with slugs would be decent for bear defense. And one would have the option of taking a grouse or ptarmigan for camp meat. I’ve harvested moose, caribou, deer, and black bear all within 100 yards, so hunting with an open-sighted gun in areas where the brush is heavy is reasonable. A shorter drilling is not an ideal gun for all field situations, but it would be pretty handy sometimes.
The gun I’ve acquired is 16 ga over 7X65R which I think is a rifle adequate for black bear and moose if I load heavier bullets such as a Nosler Partition or Swift A-Frame. I intend to cut the barrels to 20” which I feel is a good compromise between ease of handling and still enough barrel length for good rifle performance.
I appreciate your input!
Crockett
