New Member with New Sterlingworth and Questions

[Big Smitty]

I just picked up a Fox Sterlingworth ser #263XXX and all serial numbers match. I am excited to have one of these fine shotguns. I plan on using it for quail hunting. 20 ga with 26" barrels that are marked "Special Alloy-----Forged Steel" on the right barrel and Savage Arms Corporation Utica NY USA on the other Barrel. I paid $1,000 for it and hope I got a good deal. Case colors are 90% and bluing is the same. Wood has some wear marks but is still nice and has a good shine with no cracks or chips. The shotgun weighs 6 lbs. This is an ejector gun and the bores are bright with no pitting. I shot it yesterday with Win AA 1 oz 1165 FPS 2 3/4 shells. Shot it only twice and I am concerned if these are OK. If anyone knows a good dunsmith in Phoenix, AZ that work on the guns, please let me know as I'd like to get it checked out. Let me know what ya'll think about the above. Thanks!!

[Big Friend Ten]

I think that a 20 gauge Sterlingworth Ejector gun with 90% case colors and bluing is worth at least twice what you paid for it!

Every once in a while we all get lucky

I think those shells are fine in your Sterlingworth. Others may disagree. If you handload you can load some 6000 to 8000 psi 7/8 ounce loads that will break clays and kill quail but your Fox will laugh at. She'll say, "Come on, is that all you got?"

Welcome aboard!
Mark

[Big Smitty]

Thanks for the feedback, now I'm afraid to hunt with it, LOL. Would this gun be chambered 2 3/4 from the factory or is it probably 2 1/2? Any advise on a loading for the low pressure 7/8 oz load in WinAA hulls?

[Researcher]

Savage didn't start stating "Chambered for 2 3/4 inch shells" until their 1938 Fox catalogues. The very late guns were marked --



Guns of any vintage appear marked like this if they were returned to Savage for service. Savage at some point in time instituted a policy of lengthening the chambers and reproofing the gun before any other work would be performed.

[SmithShady]

Hey Big Smitty, congrats on what sounds like a nice Fox! I'll second Mark's comment and say that you picked that one up for a great price. If your gun's serial number is 263xxx, then it was made around 1930, give or take a year. It's a Savage era gun, but not a late one. Most of the later Sterlingworth's I have from Savage are marked on the left barrel stating that they are chambered for 2 3/4 inch. See the picture below of my 16ga Sterlingworth. Right under the line that says "Proof Tested - 16 Gauge" it says "2 3/4 inch chamber." If your gun is lacking this mark, then I'd guess that it could possibly have 2 1/2 inch chambers. I would suggest some 2 1/2 inch low pressure shells from RST http://www.rstshells.com/ if you're unsure.

Mike