2 5/8 Chamber Question

[tnmike]

I have recently purchased a 1909 C grade 12 gauge (14xxx). It is at the restorer's for complete refurbish as in the past someone had done a poor finish job including bluing over the receiver. According to the factory letter the gun is exactly as it left the factory except chokes have been eased out from mod/Improved Mod to current Improved/Modified. My restorer Is Bill Schwarz in Ellijay Ga. My only quandary is whether to leave the chambers as original at the 2 5/8 or lengthen to 2 3/4. I don't want to start a philosophical debate here but I need feedback on functionality. I will use this gun for dove and the occasional pheasant. If the 2 1/2 RST shells are 90% or more as "lethal" then I am inclined to leave as is ( which Mr. Schwarz politely suggested ) however I am not a strict purist and as I am already refurbing the gun that issue is resolved. So for those of you who shoot both shells at birds or compare patterns am I loosing much firepower in staying with the 2 5/8?

[fullchoke16]

I'd go with Mr. Schwarz. If you need to run the occasional 2 3/4" shell through a good condition Fox you won't hurt a thing. Pattern wise you probably wont be loosing any thing with the shorter shell. Most people don't spend much time at the pattern board but I find that it is time well invested when you first start using a specific gun. Although shotguns are not as finicky as rifles, some do better with certain loads than others. When you get into the smaller bores, you'll find more of a pressure spike shooting 2 3/4" shells out of a 2 1/2" 20 ga. chamber. This is just my opinion but I think that 1/8"(.125 of an inch) in a 12 gauge bore is much excitement about nothing.

[vaturkey]

Good choice for restorer BTW, Bill totally restored a Parker VH 12 gauge for me about ten years ago. Price was amazingly fair and work very good. I actually did have the chambers lengthened in that gun but it was on a number 2 frame and weighed almost 8 lbs. I used it for Turkey's for a few years and also ducks. Then sold it to a duck hunter in Maine who is still using the heck out of it.

For your Fox I'd keep those chambers as is and use RST's. Also, because its a 12 gauge you can find some light factory loads in 2 3/4" such as Winchester WinLites that aren't going to push the pressure recoil envelope in the least. Just stay away from heavier loads which aren't necessary and put a lot of strain on both the metal and woodwork of that C grade.

[tnmike]

Thank you gentleman for your responses.