56 superposed bore expansion or choke installation

[tpellenb]

I purchased my grade one 56 superposed in cosmetic disrepair about a year ago. Since then I've had my gunsmith do a substantial job refurbishing it. The wood was heavily worn and so the urethane was removed and a fine oil finish added in its stead. The pitting has been massaged away, the tigger re-golded to a beautiful matte finish, and the barrels and receiver reblued to the original finish. On more than one occasion I've had gentleman's carrying far more expensive kit mistake my gun for a new special order from Belgium, a mistake I'm extremely happy they make.

Anyway, the gun is choked mod/bottom and full/top and I'm considering expanding the full choke to improved cylinder for some added versatility. I don't often use the full choke even when shooting trap, and I think the modified choke will make skeet just a hair easier (I've gotten rather good at skeet with this gun). Not very worried about adjusting the guns value though I wouldn't be one bit surprised if somebody told me the alterations I've had done have increased the value, if even slightly. My question for everyone here is whether or not you've heard of bore expansion on these vintage guns. I'd even consider choke installation, but everything I've read indicates this is difficult with such typically thin barrels on the superposed.

Love the input and happy Friday!

Tim

 

[oneounceload]

Briley should be able to do their thin wall choke tube installation if you seek a greater versatility. Skeet and trap are two completely different games and require different chokes for each...Personally, since I shoot sporting clays, I would open them up to LM/IM or IC/M, or IC/IM - depending on where you shoot and what the targets are like.

To stick with trap singles from the 16, LM or M; for Skeet, IC in each will do the job

Since the gun has been refinished any form of collector value is gone, so set it up in the manner that will work best for you

 

[desidog]

That's my favorite era of my favorite shotgun.... for less than the price of a new one, i have four from the 1950's....well, i had five, until my wife got into clays...

At some point i priced it out and bought another Superposed in the Skeet chokes i wanted, because doing the work to modify one of my field guns would have been about 60% the cost of the gun; threading tubes and re-bluing etc, and at the end of the day, if the guy doing the work screws up, you're probably out. So, i bought another...and then another for trap. etc.

In your case, the gun has been refinished as noted above. I'd call Briley, after measuring the thickness of the barrels to see if screw-in chokes are a possibility (they have a size matrix on their website); and I'd cruise gunbroker, since every now and then a good, pre-salt, superposed goes for the 900-1000 range.

 

[oneounceload]

Call Briley, tell them about your gun, they will tell you whether or not they can do it - most likely answer is yes; I have friends with similar guns who have had Briley's magicians work their magic