My New 20 Gauge Sterlingworth

[eightbore]

My new 20 gauge Sterlingworth is a 26" gun with chokes measuring .020 and .030 in .615 bores. The .030 seems a bit extreme for a 20 gauge full choke. What is the normal choke constriction for a Fox 20 full choke?

[vaturkey]

My new 20 gauge Sterlingworth is a 26" gun with chokes measuring .020 and .030 in .615 bores. The .030 seems a bit extreme for a 20 gauge full choke. What is the normal choke constriction for a Fox 20 full choke?

Bill, my 20 gauge Sterlingworth with 26" barrels had .022 and .032 respectively. Bore was .619

[DarylC]

Bill;
My 30" 20 Sterly has .615 bores and .031R and .032L. What a hoot to vaporize targets up close. I'm finding out that Fox 20ga. chokes run on the tight side in that .030 is considered a full choke in a 12.

[DarylC]

Bill;
I just checked my 30" Parker, ordered by WR Crosby in 1904, and the barrels miked out at .617 bores and .019R and .027L. The letter stated 160 pellets (IM) R and 180 pellets (full) L. Neat gun.

[Researcher]

Normally 26-inch barrel Sterlingworth (Brush) guns were catalogued as coming with cylinder (later years improved cylinder) and modified bores. A.H. Fox Gun Co. seems to have preferred to ere on the side of giving one plenty of choke!!

[eightbore]

Thanks for the measured bores and chokes. I will enjoy these tight ones.

[eightbore]

Serial number 254,917, 1917 according to Tony's list. A minty gun except for some lightening of the colors on the floorplate. Five pounds, eight ounces. This is the lightest Sterlingworth small frame I have ever weighed.

[vaturkey]

Serial number 254,917, 1917 according to Tony's list. A minty gun except for some lightening of the colors on the floorplate. Five pounds, eight ounces. This is the lightest Sterlingworth small frame I have ever weighed.

Bill,
You don't like them little guns. I think you need to move that gun to a full time grouse hunter that has a dog:

[3birddogs]

Bill, my new to me Fox A 20 with 26" barrels is just the opposite--factory card shows it to be ordered in at cyl/cyl and I believe it weighs 5lbs 10 oz. There was no date on the card. Tom, that should make a nice little grouse gun for these Appalachian grouse. Haven't even had the chance to shoot it yet. I've got a young setter also that is doing really well with her training and will hit the grouse woods for her inaugural hunt in the UP in a few weeks.

[eightbore]

That's a great Setter picture. I had my Wirehair, Eva, out with frozen pigeons today. At ten years old, she wore out at about the same time I did. By the way, Tom, the new Sterly barrels weigh 2-11.8, very close to #4, way lighter than #3 according to McIntosh. The stamps are struck off. This is my first Fox 20 in a while. Every time I put one on a Maryland or Virginia gun show table at what I thought was an exorbitant price, the same older gentleman would come by and fork over the cash. I tried to buy one back from him once, and he looked at me like I had five eyes. He said "I buy them, I don't sell them." You have probably met him at one time or another.

[Stan Hillis]

Bill,

Please check your private message feature.

Thanks, Stan

[eightbore]

Nothing in there. Don't know why.

[fox-admin]

Bill sounds like a great Sterly----the best value in small bore SxS's!!!
The good 20's seem harder to find than 16's. I just traded into a near mint 20 with 28" bbls.
Great quality in a 1917 example.
Now I just need to find a 32" example-----I and others have look a long time for that needle in a haystack.

[eightbore]

Craig, you're right about the quality in early Sterlys. The buttplate screws should be in a trunk case, beautiful, mint, and perfectly aligned. I almost shot it in our weekly Tuesday sporting clays shoot, but opted for my #2 frame 32" 20 gauge Parker.

[Stan Hillis]

I sent the message again, Bill. Please check once more.

Thanks, Stan