How Does This Happen?

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TrapperReady

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I had a little time off today, so I stopped by my favorite local shop. My intentions had been to see if they had one of the new 16ga Remington 1100s. No luck there, but they did have a 28ga 1100, which was nice, but too heavy for my tastes in that small a gauge. (On a side-note, the recent quality issues I've noticed with a number of Remingtons were totally lacking in this particular 1100. It was a very nicely finished piece.)

I then started looking at youth models, as I've been pondering when to get my first-born started. After handling a few singles and youth-model pumps, I decided that decision can wait another couple years. No sense in pushing things and having it be a negative experience.

Anyway... I looked around a while longer, and ended up spotting a very different 16ga autoloader. A Browning A-5, made in 1930... interesting... beautiful wood (really beautiful wood)... interesting(er). Price... maybe a tad high, but not bad. The bluing on the receiver is worn, and there are a few scratches, but nothing that doesn't fit under the category of "character".

The only significant issue was an old repair of a small split in the fore-end (although the fix still looks good, I may reinforce it with a couple drops of Gorilla Glue). I haggled slightly, and got the price down into acceptable territory. A few forms later, and I'm out the door with a classic piece of American shotgunning.

After bringing it home and cleaning it up a bit, I realize the barrel shows proof-marks of "16 65". Doh! It's got 2 9/16" chambers. Standard 16ga 2 3/4" shells won't work. A quick call to Westley Richards, and I order up a couple cases of shorter shells.

So, I've now got a gun I absolutely didn't need... that takes ammo I have to custom order... and I couldn't be happier. Again I ask, "How does this happen?" :D
 
Sometimes I think that old guns are like puppies at the pound. You stop by and look. There are all sorts of rational reasons why you don't need another (no room left, don't have enough time for the ones you already have, etc...) and then one of them looks at you just right.

You can't just leave it there. Who would feed it, take it out for a walk through the woods, play with it?

And besides... every time a new one comes home, it always gets along with the others and after a short time seems like it's been there forever.
 
Couldn't you get that chamber reamed out??

Don't know what that would do to the value of your gun---but you could use regular shells--------barring any pressure changes and the autoloading action??
 
"How does this happen", TR? It just does, trust me.

Logic and shotgunning are not often found together. I COULD get by with 2 870s.

Why does a friend of mine drive hupty cars, dress like a Skid Row bum, and have the price of a small house in a good neighborhood tied up in bamboo fly rods and old Model 12s?

Why do trapshooters whine about the price of a bag of shot going up $.50 and spend $10K on a new trapgun they can shoot no better than their old 1100?

Why does the name Parker on a decent field gun double its price?

Anyway, congrats on the "New" Sweet Sixteen. I never could shoot the darn things but by gum they're fantastic shotguns.
 
Omaha - Getting the chamber reamed out is certainly an option. Then again, the two cases of shells I ordered will probably last me quite a while, and the prices weren't ridiculous.

Between the internet and various gun mags, it's pretty easy to order specialty shells these days. In fact, the ones I got are:

2 1/2" #7 7/8oz (note that it's NOT #7.5 shot)
2 1/2" #6 1oz

I figure the #7s should be good for darned near any upland bird except pheasants, and the #6s should be perfect for those. With a case of each on the way, I should be set for a while. Since I plan to only use this particular gun a few times a year, I doubt it would be worth messing with it too much.
 
7s will work for wild pheasants, TR, for shots taken over a close working dog. Les Greevy did some testing a little while ago and is a big fan of 7s.

It's your shotgun, but I think I'd want to exercise that one than a few times a year.....
 
Perhaps it will get more field time... we'll just see.

The key part of your comment about 7s is "close working dog". My dogs are house-mutts and useless in the field, so I'm beholden to those with whom I hunt for canine assistance.

The guy I normally hunt with has what could be deemed a far-ranging flusher. It makes the whole experience far more... ummm... aerobic. It also makes the shooting a little more challenging.

Sure, lots of people can make a 35-40 yard shot on a big bird like a pheasant. But, can they do it after having done a 100 yard dash through cornstalks? :scrutiny:
 
Mike - I didn't realize it either, until I had gotten it home. From the little research I've done on-line, it sounds like there are some smiths who will ream out the chamber, but I've read conflicting stories about whether it will feed and eject properly after that.

As far as reloading, I may pick up one of the MEC (600 Jr, I think) in 16ga. IIRC, MEC offers an add-on plate to bring everything to the correct level. For now, it's just a lot less hassle to mail-order the shells.

No doubt about it, the A-5 is one nice gun. When my wife got home last night, she commented that it's a little funny looking, but in a cool way. Hopefully she says the same thing about me. ;)
 
There is more to the correct conversion to 2&3/4 inch than lengthening the chamber. The conversion to 2&3/4 inch at one time was a common practice but not much performed of late. It involves changes to the ejector, shell stop, cartridge lifter, bolt link, as well as opening up the ejection port and reshaping the barrel extension. There were a couple different methods of doing this converstion but all were more involved than just reaming the chamber.
 
Pop had a GSP Bitch he called his 3 state hunting dog. Said he hunted with her in three states, on the same day. She had more greyhound in her than most.

We hunted with and for her when I was 3 months out of Basic and ready to head overseas. Pop had worked her all summer, and both of them ran my young, fit, sorry butt into the dirt.

Pop sold her to a guy that split his hunting time betwen upland birds and Bighorn rams. Mac's Gail of the Prod Farm(AKC registry name) was perfect for him.

As for that 16, MEC should be able to advise you on equipment. Betcha you can come up with some winning loads.
 
mnrivrat knows whereof he speaks.

Far easier to just shoot the proper length shells.

Otherwise: Money pit, cosmetic blemish and little gain.

Sam
 
The odd gun/cartridge thing seems to be a virus.

Over the years I have long held odd ammo waiting to find a gun to shoot it through.
And , conversly, have hung on to guns with little chance of finding store bought ammo for.

Sam
 
Traveler - Sorry to be this late responding to your question. I had forgotten the price, but was back in the shop today. They are asking $699 for the 28ga 1100.**

I looked at it a little more closely, and it really is nicely done. The thing that I was amazed at was how thin the barrels are surrounding the chokes (which are extended -- by the way). While I still think it's a little heavy for a 28ga, it's still well-balanced and far lighter than a 12ga... and probably even a 20ga.

Personally, I'm holding out until I find a nice 28ga O/U or SxS (and have the available $$$ to get it). If I wasn't, then I would seriously consider the 1100.


** For reference, they are asking $659 for an 11-87 20ga.
 
In case anyone is interested, I was leafing through a distributor's catalog at Gallyan's the other night.

It looks like the 16 gauge, almost dead and buried a few years ago, is making one HELL of a comeback judging by how many different makers were offering it.
 
Trapper

Thanks, but that's a little more than I want to spend on an 1100. Used 1100's sell for less than $300 (at least in this part of MO), and I keep hoping to run into a 28ga for under $500.

They are a little heavy, but I want to have one. If I go south of the border for dove it would be great to have, and I could loose it without any great imposition.

I also would like a 28ga double, but they are very light, and usually too short on barrel length.
 
The Fed-Ex guy delivered two cases of shells today!**

Now, if the planets align right tomorrow afternoon, I'll get out and shoot some 5-stand with this thing. I'll also try to take a few pictures and get them posted.

** These were ordered mid-afternoon last Thursday, so taking into account the holiday, I'd say that was pretty speedy. The folks at Westley-Richards were both helpful and prompt -- I can't really as for more (except maybe a discount).
 
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