Factory Lyman Bead & 3" Chamber

[Holbrook2005]

I just got the card for my Early A Grade Fox 14xxx. The card did not indicate an Ivory front bead or 3" chambers. I realize 105 years is a lot of time to make changes but I was wondering if anyone could give guidance?

1) what is the mic'd size of an Ivory Lyman bead?

2) How can I measure the chambers other than just droping a 3" shell into the barrel?

3) Other than as indicated on the factory card, how can I determine if the gun came with 3" barrels from the factory?

I do not plan on shooting this gun right now. I plan to send it off for an overhaul.

FYI - card states and I can confirm Extra Full chokes ExF/ExF. 0.670"

[Researcher]

Chamber depth is considered to be the distance between the breech end of the barrels and the joint between the chamber body itself and the forcing cone, which reduces down to bore diameter. This is loosely based on the length of the "Fired" shell. Today, theoretically when the crimp opens on the shell being fired the end would land at the junction of the chamber and cone. Prior to WW-II many companies had the practice of holding the chamber about 1/8 inch shorter than the shell for which it was intended. Fly in the ointment is nominal measurements often differ from actual ones in both chambers and shells. A very good method I have found of measuring chambers without much outlay of cash, and is quite accurate enough for virtually any situation, is a common 6" flexible machinist's scale which you likely have. Hold the barrels with muzzles toward a light source, not necessarily a concentrated one a window is great, while looking into the breech and the cone will be thrown in a shadow. May have to move the barrels around a little until it is distinct. While still looking into the chamber simply slide the scale in until you observe the end coming flush with the shadow line & mark position of breech end with your thumb. Remove and read the scale. I usually repeat this a few times to insure I am getting a consistent reading, but you will be amazed how accurate this can be done. While I own a Galazan chamber gauge, I use this more often than not. The chamber body itself has a taper of about .005" per inch. Sometimes chambers were cut with slightly worn reamers giving a slight undersize chamber. If the chamber is a bit undersize a gauge made to "industry" standards will not go in to the true depth of the chamber. A.H. Fox Gun Co. shotguns are known for having tight chambers. The machinist’s scale method can be more accurate.

At the time your gun was made, our North American ammunition companies were offering loaded paper 12-gauge ammunition in 2 5/8, 2 3/4, 2 7/8 and 3-inch lengths. By that time they only offered up to 1 1/8 ounce loads in the 2 5/8 inch shells, and one had to go to the 2 3/4 inch or longer shells for the 1 1/4 ounce loads. The heaviest loads offered were 3 1/2 drams of bulk smokeless powder or 28-grains of dense smokeless powder such as Infallible or Ballistite pushing that 1 1/4 ounce of shot. The longer 2 7/8 and 3-inch shells offered more/better wadding, which many serious shooters considered important, not heavier loads.

Unless it is mentioned on the production card or you have the original hang-tag for the gun there is really no way to know if the longer chamber is from the factory. A loaded and pie crimped 3-inch 12-gauge shell will usually go into the "standard" Fox 2 5/8 inch 12-gauge chamber.