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HE numbering question

Posted: Tue May 03, 2011 10:58 pm
by Sgtfury31
Hello everybody,
I'm new to the forum, and Fox guns in general. I just bought a Fox HE supergrade. The website and forum were very helpful in identifying it. It's a 12 ga, 3" chambers, 32" barrels, full/full and all the markings appear to be original and correct. Standard engraving. I have a question regarding the serial numbering. My sources all list the HE as being introduced in 1923, but according to the serialization charts the gun I have (#27876) would have been made in 1921. The serial number matches throughout the gun. I was just curious about that. The gun's in pretty good shape and I'm looking forward to shooting it. Are there any recommended loads, or loads to stay away from? I don't want to risk damaging it. I'll try to post some pics of it later. It's been nickle plated at some point(I don't think it came that way originally) Thanks in advance for any info.
Best wishes
Carl
weirdscenesinsidethegoldmine72@yahoo.com

Re: HE numbering question

Posted: Tue May 03, 2011 11:29 pm
by Researcher
That serial number chart is only a very general guide, and barely that. I've owned a couple of guns 14 serial numbers apart for many years, and they were shipped over four years apart according to the Callahan letters. The only way to get any information that is accurate is to get a letter on your gun from John Callahan.

Re: HE numbering question

Posted: Wed May 04, 2011 8:38 am
by Don Ay
Carl,
for what ever its worth, I have HE serial numbered 27854 when I had it lettered it was shipped in 1928 so one never knows for sure unless you get the gun's card checked
you may be interested to know that if you join our organization here with payment of your dues you get one free serial number check each year and for a reasonable fee can buy more.
Your gun may not be "nickel plated",usally guns with the "Chromox" barrels, used steel in their receivers that had a high nickel content in the steel and after the case colors faded and if the gun was polished they take on a shiny nickel look to them.
I use my HE's for quite bit of duck gunning have used factory loaded Kent tungsten matrix, but mostly I reload 1 1/4 and even 1 1/8 loads for them using bismuth and Nice shot tungsten. I dont know if reloading is an option for you or not. Also If you are looking to shoot non tox RST has factory loads availble.(Ive never used them)
As with any older double one cant do wrong with lightest pressure lower payload shells for volume shooting

Don

Re: HE numbering question

Posted: Thu May 05, 2011 3:01 pm
by eightbore
Carl, I sent you some information by email. Let me know if you did not get it. Bill Murphy