Barrel sleeving....
 

I am considering sleeving an old hammer gun.

Any recommendation as to who may be able to do it?

James

You might try Kirk Merrington or Batchelders.

Better figure on at least $3,000 for labor. If tubes can be had.

Thanks. This one may be worth it.

James

I had a 16 gauge Parker that was sleeved to 20 gauge by La Fever I was told. It made the gun heavy. One thing to consider is having Briley make tubes for the next smallest gauge and refinish the barrels. It would, in my opinion, make a much nicer looking gun.

And tubes would keep the gun original and the value would be maintained.

Have you measured wall thickness all along their length?





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James for that job, Merrington.

I have a couple of guns done like that, and if you spend a tad more for titanium tubes, there is very little change in weight. If the chokes are still present in your gun you might even get my rechambering and doing a tube out about 6", and that will have even less effect on the dynamics of the gun. Briley is topnotch at this kind of work. If you decide to sleeve the gun, then I agree that Merrington is the guy.

I recently had an early 16g F grade Lefever sleeved down to 20g due to a blown out right tube. The gun was way too nice to throw away. So I made the choice put more into it than it was worth and get it done.
The smith that did it did an amazing job in matching the original contour of the barrels and the balance is perfect even after stepping down a gauge and keeping the same length. The gun is actually a little butt heavy now after putting a pad on it.
It is becoming a hell of a shooter.

I have a 12 gauge C grade lifter that the barrels had been clipped 2 inches and were badly pitted. I sent the barrels to Teague in England and had them Teague lined. Don't think they still do this work. It's a great gun, still 12 bore and choked IC/Mod.