Gentlemen,I hope someone can tell me what the bore diameter range is for a 20 ga. Merkel proofed in 6/1936 as a 19 gauge.I am getting a bore diameter of .634.can this be right? Thanks, Sandlapper
It's probably right 19ga = .625, 18ga = .637
Thanks for the info. I re-measured bores and got .630 & .629,so I guess it is OK after all.
The 19 would be the bore diameter ahead of the chamber, the chamber would be identified by a 20 in a circle( if 2 1/2") or 20/70(if 2 3/4"), or 20/76 (if 3 " chamber). For a 1936 Gun it is likely 2 1/2".
Mike
Der Ami, Thanks for the info. It does have 20 in a circle, 19 beside it, 70mm (2 3/4" chamber),and Suhl and Nitro for proofmarks.Do you think someone ordered it this way,or was Merkel doing them all this way? By the way,it is #3 in a trio ordered, I understand, by an American, but has no Stoeger inport marks.
If there is not a 70 marked near the 20 in a circle, it was rechambered after proof( likely in USA), if there is a 70 there, and in the same font as the other numbers, it is original. BTW, it is likely dated, if after 1922. The normal chamber was 65mm until about WW2, but I think those meant for USA were commonly provided with 70mm.They could be special ordered with any length chamber. A lot depends on the date.
Mike