Trojan chambers lengthened to 3", safe"?

[Chaz Doebler]

I am looking at a 12 gauge Trojan that has 3" chambers that I am assuming were "let out" sometime in the past.
The seller (a dealer whom I trust) said the chambers look good (no tool marks...).

Should I have any concern on the safety of shooting this gun with standard 2 3/4" shells?

Thanks,
CHAZ

[OH Osthaus]

can the dealer give you the wall thickness in the extended area?

it would make me nervous - but then, I tend to lean to over cautiousness with barrels - I generally figure there are enough examples of the common guns to be picky.

also - wood wise - if someone was pounding it with 3" magnums - I would look very closely for cracks from recoil

[Chaz Doebler]

It has been restocked, perhaps due to shooting 3" shells? I hadn't considered that. It is a beautiful piece of wood though, would look out of place on most field guns, but looks good on this one.
CHAZ

[B. Dudley]

Wall thickness is key to this. What year production is the Trojan? A lot of earlier ones were 2-5/8" chambered and many ask questions about shooting 2-3/4" shells in these guns. If yours is lengthened to 3" then it may have been lengthened a full 5/8" which may be a bit much. But if it is a later gun where it may have been 2-3/4" originally, then it was not lengthened all that much.
Chances are the gun has been shot a bit since the time of the chamber lengthening, so I would not think shooting it now would be an issue.

[Drew Hause]

Chaz: Since none of us (and most certainly not the dealer) know what boomers (including steel) have been through the gun since the chambers were lengthened, I agree that wall thickness measurements are mandatory.

[Richard Flanders]

Absolutely. I'd want wall thickness in the area of chamber extensions. I'd do them over and over until I felt the numbers were correct. And I would never put a 3" shell in it regardless of the numbers.

[Chaz Doebler]

I guess I am going to pass. This gun would probably last several more lifetimes and I am missing a good one, but I am "playing it safe." I am a tall guy and the stock on this gun really calls to me (even with the wonky checkering). Here is a link to the ad. For what it is worth I have emailed back and forth with Mr. Hoyt several times and he seems like a very straight forward, honest, dealer.

http://www.vintagedoubles.com/catalo...iew&gunID=2196

[charlie cleveland]

if i really liked this gun i would not let it pass...shooting 2 3/4 inch shells in a 3 inch chamber has never hurt any gun.and just for a shooter i would rather have a new stock anyday if it fits me.. i see you have put a lot of thought in this gun...if you pass i think you will always be sorry i know i have done this... charlie

[Big Friend Ten (BFT)]

Ask Kirby Hoyt of Vintage Doubles to measure the wall thickness at the intersection of the chambers and forcing cones. Knowing Kirby, chances are he has and found the gun safe to shoot. Kirby is a very honest gun dealer!

[Andy Kelley]

Chaz, I can see how or why you are attracted to the gun and you might be walking away from it a bit too early. I would try to work a deal with Kirby which would allow you to keep the gun if the barrels are safe to shoot and meet you requirements. Wonky checkering aside ...the stock looks great and seems to be very fairly priced. Andy