I just picked up a 1926 Sterlingworth 12-gauge (1926) serial number 112637. Bought it on a whim during an auction. I broke my rule of only looking to fulfill obtaining 1915 AE 12 and 16 to match my beautiful 20. Now my ignorance-can this piece shoot 2 3/4" shells?
Thanks in advance for any assistance and apologies if I am not in the correct swim lane asking my question.
Steve
Picked up a Sterlingworth
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manchestereagles
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Re: Picked up a Sterlingworth
FOX CHAMBERS --
The only two A.H. Fox Gun Co. catalogues, that I have seen, that state chamber lengths are the 1913 and 1914. They both state 12-gauge guns are regularly chambered for 2 3/4-inch shells, 16-gauge 2 9/16–inch shells and 20-gauge 2 1/2-inch shells.
That being said, virtually every 12-gauge Ansley H. Fox gun made in Philadelphia (other than the HE-Grade Super-Fox) that I've run a chamber gauge in shows about 2 5/8-inch. The chambers of unmolested 16-gauge guns seem to run about 2 7/16-inch and 20-gauge guns a hair over 2 3/8-inch. A very few graded guns were ordered with longer chambers. Savage began stating chambered for 2 ¾-inch shells in their 1938 Fox catalogues.
All this being said there is a good body of evidence that back in those days chambers were held about 1/8-inch shorter than the shells for which they were intended. In the book The Parker Story the Remington vintage specification sheets on pages 164 to 169 call for a chamber 1/8-inch shorter than the shell for which it is intended. Also in the 1930's there were a couple of articles in The American Rifleman (July 1936 and March 1938) on the virtue of short chambers. A series by Sherman Bell in The Double Gun Journal showed no significant increase in pressure from shooting shells in slightly short chambers. IMHO I don't much sweat that 1/8-inch in 12-gauge guns. On the other hand when one gets a 20-gauge chambered at 2 3/8-inch likely intended for 2 1/2-inch shells I do worry about folks firing 2 3/4-inch shells in such guns.
Also, Askins mentions (Modern Shotguns and Loads, 1929) that for the last 3 years or so the US makers started to hold their chambers shorter since the constriction made when shooting 2-3/4" loads in 2-5/8" chambers was found to improve patterning.
The only two A.H. Fox Gun Co. catalogues, that I have seen, that state chamber lengths are the 1913 and 1914. They both state 12-gauge guns are regularly chambered for 2 3/4-inch shells, 16-gauge 2 9/16–inch shells and 20-gauge 2 1/2-inch shells.
All this being said there is a good body of evidence that back in those days chambers were held about 1/8-inch shorter than the shells for which they were intended. In the book The Parker Story the Remington vintage specification sheets on pages 164 to 169 call for a chamber 1/8-inch shorter than the shell for which it is intended. Also in the 1930's there were a couple of articles in The American Rifleman (July 1936 and March 1938) on the virtue of short chambers. A series by Sherman Bell in The Double Gun Journal showed no significant increase in pressure from shooting shells in slightly short chambers. IMHO I don't much sweat that 1/8-inch in 12-gauge guns. On the other hand when one gets a 20-gauge chambered at 2 3/8-inch likely intended for 2 1/2-inch shells I do worry about folks firing 2 3/4-inch shells in such guns.
Also, Askins mentions (Modern Shotguns and Loads, 1929) that for the last 3 years or so the US makers started to hold their chambers shorter since the constriction made when shooting 2-3/4" loads in 2-5/8" chambers was found to improve patterning.
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manchestereagles
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Re: Picked up a Sterlingworth
Thank you for taking the time to share the incredible information. On a related note, many have trouble finding low pressure shells. I have found that B&P makes a low recoil- 1160 FPS round. Is that round suitable for a vintage 12 gauge?
Steve
Steve
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Re: Picked up a Sterlingworth
No one can tell you over the internet what ammunition may be safe in a given gun.
Generally, a sound condition 1926-vintage Sterlingworth that has been in use, has digested a lot of high velocity 1 1/4-ounce loads since 1926. Pressures are not the issue. The real issue is how much recoil, generated by high velocity 1 1/4-ounce loads, do you want to subject the 96-year-old wood to.
Generally, a sound condition 1926-vintage Sterlingworth that has been in use, has digested a lot of high velocity 1 1/4-ounce loads since 1926. Pressures are not the issue. The real issue is how much recoil, generated by high velocity 1 1/4-ounce loads, do you want to subject the 96-year-old wood to.
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