English lightweight guns

[Mike Franzen]

A beautiful English 12 gauge with 30” bbls recently sold in the For Sale forum of the Members Only section. Minimum wall thickness was Listed as .040. The weight of the gun was 5 3/4 pounds! I’m wondering how did those English makers create such lightweight guns?

[Ken Hill]

Five pounds 14oz is light for a Brit 12 especially with 30" tubes. However, the Brit guns are built to handle a lighter load than a standard American made gun. Most were proofed for 2 1/2" 1 1/8 oz load and this allowed them to build a lot of 12 gauge guns in the 6 1/2 pound range. Getting lighter weight 12 gauge guns requires lighter barrels, reducing the action size and stock weight. The Brits also built a 2" 12 gauge in the 5 1/2 pound weight class. These guns were generally built to handle 7/8 oz of shot. American guns didn't specialize in super lightweights and were built to handle heavier loads.

Ken

[Andrew Sacco]

I still love the feel and idea of a British 27" or 28" sub 6lb 12g. They handle wonderful.

[Harold Lee Pickens]

I liked that gun, but the 2" DAH would be strange to me, too straight. Im glad it sold, I was sorely tempted.

[Bill Murphy]

Mike, I also have the same question. My 6 1/4 pound Krupp barrel ten gauge Sauer is another one of those mystery guns with rather standard wall thickness.

[Mike Franzen]

Harold, I’m glad it sold too as I was also tempted. That was a great deal with the oak and leather case included.

Bill, what is your 10 gauge chambers?

[charlie cleveland]

bill what was that light weight 10 ga proofed at...charlie

[Aaron Beck]

Perhaps its because they invented the things? seems like black magic but the straight stock looses my attention.

[bob lyons]

Great time to buy English guns …..a lot of gun for the money

[Peter A Van Tassell]

I've been curious for some time now, what would be considered a safe minimum barrel thickness for a modern American gun? 2-3/4 or 3" hulls, up to 1-3/8 oz.

[Bill Murphy]

I have never measured the chambers on the ten gauge Sauer. I assume they are pretty short. I only shoot it with 12 gauge chamber inserts and very light loads.