Greetings:

I am approaching my first shotgun to double rifle conversion. The action under consideration is a double barrel 12 gauge action made by The Meriden Fire Arms co. This company existed around the beginning of the 1900's in Connecticut. The gun is gracefully aged with 32" tubes and appears to be for water fouling. The action is a side lock with gas check fireing pins. The pins will need a decrease in dia. and will also need to be sleaved. The thickness of the barrels at the breach end of the chambers is .183". It is 3 point lock up. The third is a is a U-shape with the legs of the U running parallel with the tubes pointing back. It is a heavy/thick arrangememt, NOT like the skimpy one on a savage double gun. the hing pin is 3.50 dia. backed with steel or full closed on the front face toward the for arm. The gun is tight in all respects.

The metamorphosis is proposed to 450-2 1/8 (45-70) with a load at 26,000 psi. Any thing changed here will be proofed at 30 percent over design load, which as mentioned before has been proposed at 26,000 psi.

The question not evident to me, but may be to the audiance, is this action worth the time?

It seams that the the calculations based on 12 gauge at 10,000 psi come out ok however, it is a gun with no proof on it. There is also a resounding question of weather the action steel is soft.

Can it be hardened? Should in be hardened? Is it alredy? Can this be determined?

Any thoughts, recomendations, ideas, opinions would be very welcome.

This project is being ta ken on due to desires beyond finacial means although safety is a important factor.

Thanks' for the help

Wayne