Weird A.H Fox Sterlingworth

wayne goerres · 08-31-2012, 10:05 PM

Here a while back I traded for a A.H Fox Sterlingworth man. 1916. The gun is a 12ga. Every thing I have read indicates that they left the factory with 2 5/8 chambers. If the guns were returned to the factory for any reason the chambers were rechambered to 2 3/4 in. I poured a chamber cast on mine and the chambers measured 2 1/2 in. I checked it three times. Any body with a similer problem or a similer gun. I am confused.

terc · 09-01-2012, 09:19 AM

Wayne, The short chambers do not seem to be uncommon with Fox guns. I have a late Savage built A grade 20g. The barrels are marked 2 3/4". The factory letter says 2 3/4". My Galazan brass chamber gauge reads 2 1/2".
You may want to try posting on the Fox Collectors board. I'm sure someone will give you an explanation, tight chambers, ect..
Dave

Bill Murphy · 09-01-2012, 10:41 AM

2 1/2" chambers for 2 5/8" shells were quite common, in fact standard procedure at Parker Brothers, maybe Fox also. At PB, company blueprints and hang tags specified chambers 1/8" shorter than the shell intended to be shot in that gun.

wayne goerres · 09-01-2012, 01:02 PM

So is everyone shooting 2 1/2 in shotshells through there guns.

charlie cleveland · 09-01-2012, 10:35 PM

ive got a couple parkers and a lc smith with 2 1/2 inch chambers but i shoot the 2 3/4 inch shell in them all the time with never a problem... and all are 20 ga s... charlie

tom tutwiler · 09-02-2012, 01:22 PM

I shoot a lot of RST ammo out of my old guns. Guess they are 2.5". That said, there are a number of 12 gauge lite loads out there that are 2 3/4" and they will work fine. Doesn't take much lead in the air to knock down a gamebird a long as the ranges aren't unreasonable. PS. I do have a Fox 20 gauge Sterlingworth made circa 1937 and shoot standard Remington Game loads out of it (7/8 ounce). Don't believe I'm causing much of a problem and I probably only shoot a box or two a year.

Steve McCarty · 10-12-2012, 03:46 PM

I just shot my 1929 Fox Sterlingworth, a 12 gauge. The original legomutton case is marked 2&3/4 inch and a 1&1/8th oz load. I shot it with standard 1 oz skeet loads and she gave me a good wallop!

I have not measured the chambers, have no way to do it, but now I'm wondering. I shoot a lot of 12 gauge double shotguns and I've never had one give me such a hit.

Just read an old Jack O'Conner book about shotguns and he wrote that short chambers don't make a diff. Maybe with paper shells, but seems to me that modern plastic cases would kick a little harder and cause a pressure spike.

wayne goerres · 10-12-2012, 04:16 PM

I have bretty much decided to have my chambers run out to 2 3/4 in. The gun appears to be plenty strong and should handle most 12 ga light 2 3/4 loads. It is not as expensive to have this done as I had originaly though. Dose anybody out there know where I can have this done in or around alabama. Needs to be reliable.

Holeshot · 10-12-2012, 07:34 PM

Years ago, I used a forcing cone lengthing reamer to lengthen foring cones. Did it myself was easy to do. That would take care of your concerns. I personally shoot lite reloads out of a sterlingworth 12 all the time. Gun is light weight so I expect recoil. Dave

wayne goerres · 10-12-2012, 08:19 PM

A few weeks a go I checked the price of 12 ga reamers. Their too exspencive to run one set of chambers out. I will try to find someone in alabama but if I can't I may send it to a friend in oregon.