What's Your Biggest Concern
 

No, this has nothing to do with the Corona Virus.

There have been a couple of threads lately discussing the use (or non-use) of factory loads in vintage guns. The effect of higher pressures being the major concern. Assuming the gun is in good/sound/safe condition overall, I was curious as to which specific concern was your greatest.

(1) The barrels?

(2) The action?

(3) The wood?

(4) All of the above?

(5) Other?

And as a follow up question: Is there a date of manufacture point from which you no longer have a concern?

1882

John if the barrels are good, my concern is the wood.

Barrels--since pressure is not in the equation for recoil

assuming we are talking well worn guns

buy the barrels first

if they are not good that gun cannot be used without sleeving which is only practical for very rare guns

then overall - beyond the barrels - its overall condition - is it shootable as is, if not do the repairs exceed the value at the end of the project

When it comes to pressure the barrels are the weakest point and are always my main concern. Recoil would be the culprit to be concerned with as far as the wood goes. Personally I am not going to shoot anything with so much recoil that I would need to be concerned, at least not in my vintage doubles.

Pressure -- barrels.

Recoil -- stock head

Date -- mid 1880's (but my experience with earlier is nil)

all of my old parkers have made it thru in fine shape with all of the differant ammo i have fed them mostly heavy loads especially my parker 10 ga 3 frame..its shot a many boxes of the factory 1 5 /8 oz loads without a crack in the stock or repair to the metal...the old 8 ga lifter has fired up to a 3 ounce load no problems..so i am not concened with any of the above...charlie

The wood at the wrist, especially in my 1 frame and 1-1/2 frame 12ga guns and one 2-frame with a slim wrist.

Wood and barrels.

As for date, I look more at the type of steel used and then wall thickness. I have one early back action that I do shoot, but only with RST's