Fox Collectors

Recently, I acquired a 16ga. Sterlingworth baby frame made in 1920 and here are my concerns:
1. I had the gun serviced with a cleaning,inspection, and it needed an extractor rod. It doubles on me when I shoot the right-barrel-front trigger because the back trigger is very light and releases from the vibration of the first shot. Obviously it is going back to the shop and they say a notch has to be filed deeper to hold that second barrel. Just asking if anyone has further advice.
2. I had the chambers lengthened to 2 3/4. I plan to shoot 2.5 RST loads and an occasional lite 2 3/4" light load. I don't want to get into a discussion about safe loads and pressure but the thought occurred to me that when these guns were proof-tested, why wouldn't they test with both barrels fired because it is possible to slip back on that back trigger causing a double firing.
3. Regardless if I shoot RST-1200-lite-1oz. or Remington 1oz-8 lite loads I experience pretty heavy recoil. I have new wood on the gun bringing the weight to 6 3/4 lbs and I thought the RST loads would be very comfortable to shoot but if anything, they seem to kick more than the 2 3/4 loads. I had my buddies listen to the shots and they agreed the RST loads were louder. I have an AH Fox A 12ga with #4 barrels and have never thought the recoil was oppressive and I shoot everything but magnum loads in it.

I bought the gun because I like Foxes and wanted to try a 16 because I have a bunch of 16ga shells and this gun was nice and light for upland shooting. Now, I am wondering if I should just sell out my 16ga stuff and stick with my 12's and 20's I have shot for years. Ilook forward to your comments.
Si

I would try 7/8 oz rst. They work well for me. I for one don't like remington 1 oz 16s because of recoil

I would want the very best in knowledgeable Fox mechanics even thinking about touching the sear tips or sear notch in a Fox I owned!! The one time in 55 years of Fox doubles I've had that problem, it was a repaired split in the stock head that ever so slightly bound the sear, preventing it from fully entering the sear notch. The late Bill Harvey restocked the gun for me and it has never doubled again.

Regarding #1 your shop should know the hammer notch is too hard to file (metal hardness). As Dave wrote, time to move to a good Fox technician.

If you provide your state we might be able to steer you in the direction of a good doublesmith who can help. I find RST's to be quite lite in recoil as compared to most other loads on the market. I shoot both the lite and Xtralight out of my short chambered 16 gauge Foxes.

I can recommend a good triggerman. Phillip Crenwelge, in Emory, TX. I just got back a Fox from him that he did the triggers on for me. They came back 3 1/2# right barrel and 3 3/4# left barrel, which I find just about perfect. If you do a search for his last name on the DGJ forum you can find other recommendations on him as well. I was told about him by a personal friend in TX who has him do all his trigger work.

I'm in GA, obviously too far to drive, but I package them up carefully and send them to him, and have never been disappointed in his trigger work.

As to the recoil, I'd be looking for some 7/8 oz. loads at around 1150 fps. That's what I like in my AE grade Fox 16, which weighs 6 1/2 lbs. with 30" barrels. I can shoot 1 oz. loads in it fine, and occasionally do, but I like them better in a little heavier 16.

Best, SRH

Thanks for the input guys. I just had new wood made for it to fit me so it could be more of a wood problem than mechanics.

Sounds like a good reference to have handy for trigger issues!

What is a baby frame Sterlingworth?

Probably wrong terminology, I thought the small frames on 16's and 20's nicknamed that?

In addition to thank you guys for the advice, it was good to find out that there is alternative ammo to use instead of 2.5" low pressure.

I had Griffin & Howe adjust the trigger pull on a HE from about 8 lbs. to 3 1/2 right barrel and 4 lbs. left barrel. Worked very nice.
Jim