Just inherited Fox Sterlingworth 20 gauge. Question about

[DaMadman]

Hello, New to the forum but not to shooting or owning old double barrels.

The serial # 258460 on my "new to me" Sterlingworth indicates it was made in 1926 according to http://www.doublegunshop.com/dgsnos1.htm
From what I am reading it looks like this gun is most likely chambered for 2-1/2 inch shells. Interesting enough it doesn't even have the gauge stamped on it anywhere.
Can someone confirm that it is 2-1/2 inch chamber and tell me where you got the information about what years where chambered in what length?

Also it has the #3 stamped on the underside of the barrel I think that is the barrel weight, what weight is the #3? I think I heard the 4 is the heaviest so is the 3 next to heaviest?

I think I am just going to order a case of 2-1/2 inch shells to be on the safe side since this was my Grandfather's gun. If it were just some gun I picked up at a gunshow or sale I would probably just stuff some low brass 2-3/4 shells in it and go with that but since it is a Family handed down gun I don't want to risk damaging it.

Would also just like to know that information on the chambering and the barrel weight just to be well informed on the gun. If anyone has the info it would be greatly appreciated.

[fullchoke16]

Pre 1930 (phila. era) guns are most likely 2 1/2" chambers. To be sure, you can check it with a chamber gauge. Phila. guns won't have gauge or chamber length marked on them unless they have been rebarreled by Savage. Some Savage era guns do have the gauge and chamber length roll stamped on the original barrels. It seems to be a hit and miss thing. All that said, you can't go wrong with some RST 2 1/2" shells, if for no other reason, it will save that 80 year old stock from a beating. #4 barrels were the lightest and #1 were the heaviest unstruck barrels. I have a 20 that was built in 1927 and oddly enough, it does have 2 3/4" chambers. Why? Darned if I know, but it checks out that way with the chamber gauge, that's why I suggest checking to be sure. In any case, you'll be OK with 2 1/2" ammo.

[Researcher]

FOX CHAMBERS --

The only two A.H. Fox Gun Co. catalogues, that I have seen, that state chamber lengths are the 1913 and 1914. They both state 12-gauge guns are regularly chambered for 2 3/4 - inch shells, 16-gauge 2 9/16 – inch shells and 20-gauge 2 1/2 - inch shells. That being said, virtually every 12-gauge Ansley H. Fox gun made in Philadelphia (other than the HE-Grade Super-Fox) that I've run a chamber gauge in shows about 2 5/8 - inch. The chambers of unmolested 16-gauge guns seem to run about 2 7/16 inch and 20-gauge guns a hair over 2 3/8 inch. A very few graded guns were ordered with longer chambers. Savage began stating chambered for 2 ¾ inch shells in their 1938 Fox catalogues.

All this being said there is a good body of evidence that back in those days chambers were held about 1/8 inch shorter than the shells for which they were intended. In the book The Parker Story the Remington vintage specification sheets on pages 164 to 169 call for a chamber 1/8-inch shorter than the shell for which it is intended. Also in the 1930's there were a couple of articles in The American Rifleman (July 1936 and March 1938) on the virtue of short chambers. A series by Sherman Bell in The Double Gun Journal showed no significant increase in pressure from shooting shells in slightly short chambers. IMHO I don't much sweat that 1/8-inch in 12-gauge guns. On the other hand when one gets a 20-gauge chambered at 2 3/8-inch likely intended for 2 1/2-inch shells I do worry about folks firing 2 3/4-inch shells in such guns.

The 2 1/2 inch 20-gauge shells from RST are very good, as are the little 2 1/2 inch Lyalvales when you can find them.