1913 sterlingworth wood

[blackbearhunter]

I have a original unmolested 1913 sterlingworth that has been used a lot thru the years.The gun is still tight and shootable,but iam worried about the wood cracking.It has a very very slight wiggle in the wood fit at the wrist /tang area.Should this be refitted/glassed etc. by a gunsmith or is it ok to use as-is?
Since iam worried about it cracking...should I not use 'ANY"high brass or #4turkey/ 00 buckshot ammo for varmints etc. or should I stick with low brass only and just use it for birds/grouse/rabbits and up to #6 shells?
If the gun was yours would you restock and save the old stock as is before it developes cracks?

[bbman3]

I would use a proper fitting screwdriver and tighten the screw under the top lever and remove the trigger guard and tighten the bottom rear tang screw.Do not over tighten.Check trigger plate screw in front of trigger guard also.If stock still not tight it is probably cracked inside and needs to be repaired and glass bedding not a bad idea. Bobby

[Twice Barrel]

Recoil is the greatest threat to 100 year old wood. My recommendation is to not shoot the gun until the stock head has been inspected for internal cracks and if present properly repaired including glass bedding the stock head. As far as using modern Buckshot and turkey loads don't do it. Modern Turkey and Buckshot loads generate between 30 and 35 foot pounds of recoil energy. Your Fox was not designed to withstand the heavy recoil of these modern heavy loads. I would recommend that you use loads more appropriate to the guns design which would be 2 1/2 inch hulls loaded with a maximum or 1 1/8th of shot at 1200 fps which develops a much more appropriate 20 -22 ft pounds of recoil energy.

[blackbearhunter]

"THANKS BIGTIME"for the great help!

[Researcher]

When your Sterlingworth was made, it was chambered for the then "standard" 2 1/2 inch 20-gauge shells. The heaviest loads offered in the 2 1/2 inch 20-gauge shells were 2 1/4 drams of bulk smokeless powder, or 18 grains of dense smokeless powder such as Ballistite or Infallible, pushing 7/8 ounce of shot. Many loads were offered with a lighter powder charge and 3/4 ounce of shot. The high velocity, progressive burning powder loads for the 20-gauge pushing 1 ounce of shot were introduced by Western Cartridge Co. in 1922 as their Super-X load and were put up in their 2 3/4 inch Field shell.



The 20-gauge 2 3/4 inch Magnum shell pushing 1 1/8 ounce of shot was not introduced until 1955. Your Sterlingworth was not built with any of these 2 3/4 inch high velocity 20-gauge shells in mind. Best to stick to proper 2 1/2 inch shells, such as those offered by RST --

http://www.rstshells.com/

[blackbearhunter]

Iam sorry,i forgot to post shes a 12ga. with 28inch barrels
I can use 2 3/4 low brass field loads that run 1200 fps.right and be the same thing as 21/2in.cases?
I inserted a 3in.shot shell to see if it would even chamber and it did with ease,does this tell me that the chamber has been lengthen at sometime?
I would not ever feed it a steady diet of Turkey loads but would love to use the ol'fox for Tom Turkey Gobblers in the spring North Georgia mountains ,I can use the 2 3/4 Low Brass # 5 shot 1 oz.Remington/Winchester/Fiocchi game field shells and always keep shots inside 25 yards..
For Grouse and Woodcock i'am thinking Low Brass# 7 1/2 1oz.game field shells should do fine?
What modern brands of shotshells do you guys recommend and use?
Thanks a bunch everyone for all the great info and help with the old girl!
She's all original A.H.Fox Sterlingworth 12ga. with many many battle scar and briar scratch from fun days and mornings afield with over 100 years 'Honest Hunter History "...
when I saw her in the gunshop rack it was "Love at first sight"!
I think I will take her for a little walk about this morning....

[bbman3]

Google Poly Wad in Roberta, Ga. They have some great 2 1/2 inch low pressure shells and spreader loads also. Bobby

[Twice Barrel]

The heigth of the brass has gone the way of black powder ammunition is irrelivant anymore to determine the "power" of a load. Do a bit of research on the various factory loads that will produce a suitable charge weight, muzzel velocity and chamber pressure. Your Fox was built strong but that is no reason to use shells that your gun was not designed to handle. As far as simply inserting a longer loaded shell into the chamber you may not get an accurate measurment of chamber length. Until you have an accurate measurement of the chamber length you must assume that the chambers are the original length as manufactured. RST and Polywad make ammunitin that is appropriate for use with your gun and is readily available from the manufacturer, if there are no dealers in your area that stock RST or Polywad ammunition it can be delivered to your door at about the same cost of other shells.

[blackbearhunter]

Fox shotshell info
http://www.foxcollectors.com/My%20Forum ... f=2&t=4756

Anyone ever try the Aguila 1 1/2 in.mini shotshells?
http://www.aguilaammo.com/shotshells.html

[Twice Barrel]

Good information but chamber pressure alone is not the main issue with Fox guns of your vintage. As previously stated Fox guns were made of good materials and the workmanship was excellent. The main issue is to use ammunition of lower to moderate recoil to preserve the 100 year old wood and reduce unnecessary wear and tear and the only way to do that is lighter loads at moderate velocities.