anybody try HEVI-SHOT classic double ammo?

Sweet picture Eric,
But a different animal....
Super Foxes were the same mechanical parts but the action body was bigger by 1\16" all around and made from chromox steel like the barrels. Each barrel was hand finished by Burt Becker and was set to shoot the then new Winchester 1 1\4 oz no. 4 Supper X in 3 " chambers, unless the customer requested diferent loads. The guns weighed up to 9 1\2 lbs. A true 10 ga in a 12 ga gun. (Max load in the day was 1 1\4 oz for the 10 back then)
Sterlingworths were mostly 2 3\4 - 2 1\2" chambers and did not get the attention to detail in the finish in the bores.
The frames were smaller and the guns filled lighter. The Price on one Ad in the book is $42.
All this is taken from "A. H. Fox, The Finest Gun In The World". McIntosh. 1992 The book is on the desk now so if you have a specific question I can look it up.
Ed, do not disspair. That sterlingworth is a sweet gun and one of the best handiling SxS ever made. It may need some loving but will make you and whoever else gets to take it into the swamp or grouse\woodcock covers happy for years to come. Don't be in a rush to get the thing figured out. Take your time and learn what is needed and enjoy the heck out of a gun that has been knockin um dead for over 60-70 years. I have to fix my stock and will some day have Turnbull re-blacken the barrels and trigger guard. As time and $ allows. But It will be the last gun out of my safe to raise funds in an emergency.
I do believe there is still a guy doing archive work on the old Savage\Fox paperwork who can give you the original hang tag info on your serial number, including the chokes and gun dimensions and who it was sold to. I have to find out if he is still doing it for a small fee.
 
Small crack in the side at the action. Like my best friends grandfathers well used Stevens 311 nothing quite as sweet as dropping one on the edge of the dekes with an old SxS full of history.

Fox 1.jpg

Fox 2.jpg

Fox 3.jpg
 
Bob

Ed never specified a Sterlingworth so I wasn't sure. If I had paid close attention the 28" barrels would have ruled out a Super. Besides, I kind of liked pulling out that old pic of Jeff from 2002 when the rivers pushed out of their banks and we got our favorite hunting conditions.

You mentioned a Stevens 311. My father-in-law has a 16 gauge that I can use whenever I want (his health will probably prevent him from ever using it again). He had it refurbed a few years back and it is in very clean and tight. Having said that though I was always under the impression 311s were clubs compared to Sterlingworths. You agree? Whatever the case I might just pick up some 16 gauge shells this duck season and give it a try.

Eric
 
Club is a strong word. I dont think they are near as clunky as the later Fox Model B that Savage put out. Hetrick(sp?) wrote a great article about a 16 ga Stevens a few years back in the DGJ. My pals is 28" 12 ga and is deadly on divers and fast moving late winter birds up here. Nick named the "Cloud Duster". Very storied history behind that gun. It has been digesting 2 3\4" #2 steel shot for the duration. Big difference in an upland gun vs. a fowler in my mind, but, I like a 9.75 lb 10 ga SxS for fast crossing shots at common and red brested mergs and geese late in the year when the ice comes.
Getting into the graded Fox guns puts a whole other spin on it. They made 16 and 20 ga guns that were considered in England to be the only guns from the continent capable of the feel of the fine English guns and the action uses about a third of the moving parts that a Parker or Elsie use. When he started the company Ainsley Fox wanted to build a pigon gun that could stand up to the thousands of rounds required on the circut at the time. He was a national champ and I can look up the number but the kills straight were astounding. They held one big shoot on the roof of Madison Square Garden and the folks were complaining about the shot raining down all day.

Again, cool picture of Jeff.
That gun is an American Waterfowling treasure. My brother in law had one in his hand at a local shop and balked. Two years later the price had nearly doubled for them.
 
Eric, you wanna see a club, let me post a picture of my lefever nitro special, now that's a club...

But on the other hand, it is valuable to me since it was the only gun I have handed down from my grandfather who has long since passed on (33 yrs ago).

It's still a club though, too heavy to be used as a boat paddle :-)
 
There was a super in Wagram Nc, I looked at it several times and it had a hairline crack that finally turned me away. The barrels inside were outstanding, although the outside looked like it may have beat a bush or two. Point is great steel in these guns, not so great in the lesser versions.
 
Leslie,
the early Fox guns made in Philidelphia were all built in the same building. Guns were put together based on finish and engraving required by the grade specified, but the parts came from the same bins.. Fox had a numeric barrel system to match sets carefully by weight to keep striking labor down, 1 thru 4 in 12 ga. later 0 for Suppers.. Before the war they were using German Krupp Steel but had to change. The later was not inferior as proven by time, now some 60 years after. The Becker barrels were special due to the hand lapping and reaming done in his own shop and pattern testing that went into each one to guarantee an 80% 40 yd. pattern. They had a hard time in the 16 ga , but 20 was avail. in the Winchester supper x load and would pattern better than 80%. Now a 20 ga. Supper Fox is very rare and should never be passed up.
Wood and metal can always be fixed, just make sure you know of another if you put the one in the hand down.
 
Charlie, my Nitro Special doesn't feel like a club to me and isn't really on the heavy side. Did they make a few different configurations of the nitro special?
 
Bob,when you find the articles on the low pressure bismuth loads I would appreciate a copy or on a thread.I reload and have for decades,but not field/duck loads till recently.
I have loaded brass goose loads decades ago but I didn't work up the load,only reproduced it and patterned at 100 yds.17/8oz copper Bs in a 3" 12ga.Owner dropped a Canada at 107 yards.
I have one load for my 12ga worked up for 11/4oz of #5 Bizmuth in a 23/4" AA hull,WW R12 wad,fad 209 primer and 30 gr of Longshot,for 1300fps.Still need to pattern it.
Thanks
Joe O
 
Joe, will do...
the articles were well written, and are pretty long. I will go thru the back issues and make a few. May take a little time. Will shoot you a PM for where to mail it too.
 
Bob,I didn't think they were so long.No need to compile that much data for me.I do have enough data in my reloading books for the few loads I'll need for ducks.I'll use store bought loads for geese.All the SxS s I have are modern guns w/screw in chokes capable of shooting steel.Thanks for the offer.Got the Rem SP20 wads and others yesterday so will get the 20ga bizmuth load finished up.
 
Harker,

I suppose I was being a bit dramatic....

Mine is a pretty low end looking. The checkering is almost like it was burned in not any points on it. Maybe it is a replacement stock. Let me take some pictures and you can tell me if it looks a lot different than yours.

Mine's definitely not a fancy double like these other ones by any means. I maybe guess I was saying that relative to the fox it is a club.

Charlie
 
I would suggest the Kent Tung. Matrix for use in the gun as well. I bought a case of it to shoot in a Winchester 21 and have had good success with the shells. Have shot nice patterns with 2 3/4" #5's and taken ducks and geese with the same load.
 
i appreciate all the replies but it seems the loads wont be coming. the guy that said there were 16 boxes of hevi shot some where didnt count right and there arent any coming my way. so im going to a local guy whos reloads for old guns (his own) to see if i can buy a box of shells that are safe for my gun off of him so i can shoot a duck this year with it.

thanks again to all
eddie
 
make sure your not putting a 2 3/4 inch shell in one of those old english 2 1/2 chambered sxs, my uncle blew up a lightweight AYA double with dove loads, it was a light weight thin walled barreled gun, $5000 down the drain.30 years ago, my father blew up a old double, shooting a german "tiger brand" game load,it was a heavy dram load. they had to cut his class ring off his finger to save it. dont shoot that stuff, or any modern load in a damascus barrell, please
 
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Eddie,
Did you try Mack's
They show it on the link and did not say it was out of stock. The 12xx fps sounds like it would be a lot nicer to shoot than the 1 1\4 oz Kent matrix load at 14xx fps with the low comb hight on the blaster.
Have not heard back from two folks I called, but I think they are hunting.
 
Bob,I see that the Hevi-shot classic 11/8 12 ga load is 1250fps.That should be ok as far as pressure goes,but I would check with Mack's or the manufacture to see if it is somewhere at or below 11000psi.Still need the stock tightened and gun checked over.It'll be pretty hard to avoid additional expense on that gun.Most of that modle are going for
$1600 depending on condition.The chokes are going to shoot tight with modern ammo,especially no-tox.Custom loaded for lead it would shoot as the chokes indicate.That would be with spreader wads or cardboard without a shot cup.It would still make a fine unaltered upland gun,but for waterfowl I would want the chokes opened up to patteren well with no-tox ammo.IMHO
 
yea its a 2 3/4 chamber and it hasent blown up yet.

i looked at macks cataloge and it wasent there, i'll check there web cataloge.

i'll have pics of my gun this weekend when i have time to go into town and buy a new usb cable for my camera.

thanks
eddie
 
Joe,
I can't say what the pattern will be until a few get popped at some paper. You are right about the stock and check of the barrel lock up and face check at the breach. I think Ed is on the right track and will get this one sorted out. Ed when you get the cable take a few pictures of the lead loads you have after shooting one at some white or brown paper or cardboard at 40 yds.
 
Bob,I crono'd a good 20ga duck load yesterday,consists of a Fiocchi primed hull,BP 20 commander wad,21.5 gr of Longshot,and 7/8 oz of #6 Bizmuth for 1250fps.I need to put it on paper.Pleasant to shoot.
 
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