Question for the sterlingworth guys

[John Taddeo]

Couldn't say no to this field gun the other day, though I am not to thrilled at that left barrel being (looks like a.688 full ). Any thoughts on what loads I will be pleased with pattern wise in a #5 or#6. Thanks in advance.

[Dave Suponski]

John, 12 bore? Looks like a great gun. RST makes some great patterning 6's. Also I have found that their 12 gauge spreaders work real nice if you want a bit more open choke. If you reload I can give you my recipe for low pressure spreaders if you need one.

[Daryl Corona]

John;
What did the bore diameter measure? Assuming it was .730 that would give you .042 constriction, or a good solid full. What birds do you want to hunt with that size shot? The best and only way to tell how well it patterns with different size shot is to put it on paper on a pattern board. I've found in my Sterlingworths that 7 1/2's pattern very well. Stoned a gobbler at 35yds. last year with the 7 1/2's in my left barrel and it is choked .039.

[John Dallas]

My Sterly is .044" in both barrels. :shock:

[John Taddeo]

Sorry guys, I'm a dumb guy using a smart phone. Its a 12 bore at .731.I will give the RST's a try but wasn't so sure about how a full choke patterns with low pressre loads. This gun will be used on pheasant primarily. I have nothing to base my thought process on other than wondering if the milder loads will have the uumph for a long shot on a ringneck as this is when the pattern will open..Thanks guys.

[Daryl Corona]

Don't worry about the pressure John those loads with that choke will ball up a rooster. IMHO velocity is way overrated.

[Harold Lee Pickens]

John, that's a very nice looking SW, looks like a Philly gun from the forend, and the dimensions look pretty good. What weight barrels are on it? I have one with the light 4 wt barrels and is factory choked cyl/mod (28")
/
Dave, what is your spreader load recipe ?

[John Taddeo]

It is a Philly gun Harold, #3weight. I have never felt the weight of a#4, is the difference similar to a #0 and #1 frame parker?

[Harold Lee Pickens]

The weight difference in the Parker is in the frame, plus barrels cuold be ordered at different weights. In the Fox, the frame is the same, but the difference is in the barrels. My 12 SW has not been put on the scales but is probably around 7 1/4 lbs.

[John Taddeo]

Harold, I may get blasted for this but the 12 gauge fox seems a bit lighter or whippier than a #1 12 parker of equal barrel length. I have never had a 1\2 frame in my hands so if anyone has thoughts let me know how these two compare. Nicely:rolleyes:

[Dave Noreen]

I've got 12-gauge 30-inch barrel Sterlingworths from a fraction of an ounce over 7 pounds to nearly 8 pounds. Weights of 1/2 frame Parker doubles are all over the map, from quite light to fully optioned long barrel trap guns around 8 pounds. Got to judge each gun on its own merits.

[John Dallas]

My 30" 12 ga. Sterlingworth , with a replacement 15 1/2 " stock, weighs 7#, 8 oz.

[Phil Yearout]

My Sterly 20ga w/28" barrels weighs a smidge under 6lbs; the 16ga ejector w/28" barrels and a Hawkins pad weighs 6lbs-8oz. and the 12ga w/28" barrels weighs 7lbs-4oz. Just for reference.

[Fred Preston]

16ga, 28" bbls., 1" twixt pins (0 frame) Sterly.

[Dean Romig]

Fred, does that gun have a ton of drop or is it just me?

[Phil Yearout]

What does "1" twixt pins" and "0 frame" mean? Never seen anything like that in reference to a Fox.

[John Taddeo]

I don't know about any of that , but I sure like what that scale reads. It reads "Grouse hunt all day":)

[Fred Preston]

More than three inches DAH. Have to mount it to the jaw bone rather than the cheek bone. The firing pins are separated by one inch, analogous to the Parker 0 frame. Guess the Fox guys would simply call it a 16 on a 20 frame.

[Brent Francis]

Think I read somewhere fox always used the same frame on the 20 and 16 ga sterlingworths

[Dave Suponski]

Correct Brent.

[tom tutwiler]

A fox 16 Gauge pretty much acts and feels like an 0 Frame Parker. Bet the weights for the most part are comparable if barrel lengths are the same.

[Fred Preston]

Tom, My Sterly 16 is a full half pound lighter than my Trojan 20 which is lighter than my VHE 20. All are 28"ers. The frame on the Sterly is shorter and rounder and there may be other other slimming characteristics (barrel wall thickness).

[charlie cleveland]

how much does the fox weigh..i have lc smith 20 that weighs 5 lb 13 oz. with 28 inch bores... charlie

[Fred Preston]

Charlie, Here's a pic I posted on another thread a short time ago.

[charlie cleveland]

thanks..you have really got a light gun there it should be a good one to hunt with and tote on a all day hike...i would say you got a mighty nice hunting piece there..and she s lighter than m,y smith... charlie

[tom tutwiler]

The lightest Fox I have letters at 5 lb 10 ounces with 26" barrels. It is an extractor gun and its a 16 gauge. I don't shoot it well late in the season because it is fairly muzzlelight. At some point I might have it restocked and make the forearm a semi-beavertail and add about 1/2" to the length. It came at 14 1/4" LOP and that's a tad short for me. Adding a slip on pad would make it even more muzzlelight, which is a no no. I'd keep the original stock because somewhere down the road it would most likely be sold and the new owner I'm sure would like the original wood.

[Marc Retallack]

Tom,

Have you considered a weighted handguard http://www.csmcspecials.com/Weighted_Leather_Handguards_p/hand-w.htm to add some weight to the front of your Sterlingworth?

Cheers
Marcus

[Fred Preston]

Tom, I recently acquired the gun from Russ Jackson. I hve not lettered it yet. When I got it, it had a Fajen plastic BP and balanced well ahead of the pin (Fox location, about where the Trojan pin would have been). I obtained a Noshok pad from from Dean Romig and replaced the BP, giving me a better pull and adding a couple ounces. The gun now balances a hair ahead of the pin. The pic on the scale is with the Noshok. The gun handles and shoots very well. The drawback is the DAH/DAC. I don't wish to add any more weight to the stock, so I'll just have to learn to shoot like the old guys did.

[Russ Jackson]

Fred ,I believe that was the lightest Sterlingworth I ever had in hand ! She looks good with her new pad ! Best ; Russ

[tom tutwiler]

Tom,

Have you considered a weighted handguard http://www.csmcspecials.com/Weighted_Leather_Handguards_p/hand-w.htm to add some weight to the front of your Sterlingworth?

Cheers
Marcus

I have not. Let me take a look. Much appreciate the link. Tom

[Craig Larter]

I am not a small bore guy but here is a 99.9% Savage era 16ga Sterlingworth I just picked up. 6lbs 10oz

[Daryl Corona]

Boy, that's a real sweety Craig. Welcome to the dark side!:) Similar to when you said I'm not really a Parker guy but........ Those smallbores can be just as addictive. Watch out my friend. What's the barrel length?

[Craig Larter]

28" and the Savage guns have good dimensions. Never seem one nicer----Craig

[John Taddeo]

Beautiful colors, what a great looking gun.

[Daryl Corona]

Now for the real question.... Will you shoot her? She looks almost unfired.

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Don't know about Craig, but I don't think I'd be shooting that gun--I've got a
sterlingworth deluxe and now I know what it used to look like.

[Craig Larter]

I believe it is unfired or close----I don't plan to shoot it.

[John Taddeo]

That gun is screaming for a photo op lying next to a brace of roosters or ruffs. Sorry I couldn't help myself......:cuss: Oh yeah ,throw an old hemlock setter in the pic for aesthetics.

[wayne goerres]

What is the year of manufacture of your gun. She is goergous. You could shoot it once. No one would tell.

[charlie cleveland]

one nice gun..charlie

[paul stafford jr]

I got my old sterlingworth out to the club today, she is in wonderful condition and is choked at .685. to tight for sporting clays, even to tight for trap seems like it would be fine with #4 shot at 40 yards on ducks so here comes the heart breaker i'm going to open the chokes up 15 thou. to make it more useful to me so say goodby to a set of unmolested 30in barrels. better this gun than a parker

[Daryl Corona]

If your Sterly is in wonderful condition please reconsider opening the chokes. IMHO 30" barrels should have tight chokes. I've come to like tight chokes and don't find them to be that much of a handicap, but that's just me. I've turned down a number of nice, 30 and 32" guns because the chokes have been reamed out. Try using spreader loads or even better have fun searching for another gun with 26 or 28" barrels with more open factory chokes or one that has been previously modified. Thanks for listening.

[charlie cleveland]

i agree with double lab go find another gun...but then its yours... charlie