doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com New User--Fox Sterlingworth question

I am new to the board, though have read previous discussions for a while. I would appreciate advice on a gun which I have recently been offered. It is a clean 16 gauge Philadelphia Sterlingworth #346xxx, at what seems like a good price of $1,000. Details are: 28" bbs with bright bores and good blue. Traces of CC on the receiver, lever right, tight and on face, nice wood finish... probably a redo, as there are no significant handling marks in it.. but well done. The gun handles very well at 6 lbs even.

On "Dates of Manufacture" page on this board I noticed that the manufacture date of the gun based on serial number translates to 1926 or so. My question is: Is it likely this is a short-chamber gun...And if so, can I shoot low pressure, modern 2 3/4 shells in it? Is it adviseable to lengthen the chambers and forcing cones on this gun?
Or if not, are 2 1/2 inch 16's readily available? Thanks in advance for reading my post and for any replies.

Vaughn: Welcome to the Sixteen Gauge Sterlingworth Society Sounds like a great deal-'shooter' 16g Sterlys are now going for $1500-$2000.
Please see this thread re: chamber length
http://www.16ga.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1983
Bottom line: It's likely to have 2 9/16" chambers and I would have them lengthened.

You have lots of options for short/low pressure loads:
Polywad 'Vintager' http://www.polywad-shotgun-shells.com 800-998-0669
Eley http://eleyshotshells.com 512-821-9953 or
http://www.kirklees-guns.co.uk/Eley%20Hawk/Eley%20Hunting.htm
Kent http://www.firearmservice.com 512-821-9953
RST http://www.rstshells.com 570-553-1651
B&P offers mostly 67mm hunting and target loads designed for 65mm guns http://www.bandpusa.com/ 800-683-0464
WestleyRichards http://www.westleyrichards.com/gun/ammo_shot.php

And a light 16 is delightful with 7/8 oz or even 3/4 oz handloads-you might consider joining the 16g Low pressure reloading group http://www.16ga.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=921

BTW: it's likely to be choked modified/full-no reason not to open the chokes and make the gun right for you. And it's probably well past due for a good check and clean by a doublegun specialist smith. Let us know what part of the country you're from, and we might be able to recomend someone near you.

You might also check out the Fox Collectors site
http://www.foxcollectors.com/My%20Forum/phpBB2/index.php

P.S. Did you reverse the 6 and the 4 on that serial #? There were no 346XXX 16g Sterlys.

Thanks very much for this thorough and helpful reply... Can you point me toward a reputable smith for the chamber/choke work, and a look at the action? I am in located in Central Illinois.

Run down and buy that gun for $1,000. Then ask all the questions you want. Jake

A couple of excellent sources for general gunsmithing your Fox:

Paul Fuch La Barge-Harkness Alton, Ill. 618.465.7247

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

You might, however, get the choke/chamber work done more quickly by Mike Orlen:
79 Salem Street
Amherst, MA 01002
(413) 256-1630
michael.orlen@verizon.net
http://members.aol.com/sgunbore/brochure.gif

Please let us know how things work out for you and again, welcome to the Sterly Society

Vaughn, I've had quite a bit of work done by Paul Fuch in Alton. He does good work at reasonable prices. I would recommend him for many types of work, but for choke and chamber work, Mike Orlen will be cheaper and have a faster turn around.

Tim

Vaughn, Welcome to the board.
I have a 366XXX gun that seems identical to the one that you ARE going to purchase and to be honest I would shoot it a bit before doing any work to it.
After buying it, I bought a case of Gamebore 2.5" "Traditional" shells. (not positive but approx 1oz and 2.5 dram with a fiber wad) and they shoot so well I refuse to do anything to it. Low wear and tear on the gun and it seems to have minimal recoil.

It patterns better with those loads than any gun that I own, and has become the only gun that I use for upland. I haven't felt handicapped by the mod /full chokes either.
Just my experience with it.

Cheers,

Tom

Good point by Tom. The Gamebore 'Traditional' shells
http://www.gamebore.com/game-loads.asp (available at Cabela's) have a 'fibre wad' with no plastic shot cup and the patterns I obtained were quite open in my .007/.014 choked 16g LC Smith. Might be a good choice to open up the M/F chokes OR the Polywad Spred-Rs http://www.polywad-shotgun-shells.com/spred-r-spreader-loads/

I did purchase the gun this afternoon, and will go ahead and order some of the gamebore light 2 1/2" loads. After a couple hundred rounds I should have a better sense of the gun, and how much, if any barrel work to pursue. After a number of years shooting O/U's and modern SxS guns, this is a new venture for me. I am grateful for the good responses and warm welcome I received here in my orientation to this old Fox. Regards...Vaughn

Warning, anything that comes in a pair is very addictive. Before you make the major mistake of buying two or more doubles you should sell this one. I am sure that several memebers here will take it off you hands for the original purchase price if you pay postage. Your purchase price is very reasonable and the right loads will be a joy to shoot in your new Fox. Some of the wally worlds will rattle your teeth but the load suggested above are very nice to shoot. Enjoy.