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Double Rifles, Single Shots & Combinations >> Building Double Rifles & Gunsmithing

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hansol
.224 member

Reged: 15/08/08
Posts: 33
Loc: British Columbia, Canada

16 Gauge Action Strength??
#151565 - 23/01/10 05:11 PM

Hey guys,

I have an opportunity to snag a 16 gauge shotgun with the crossbolt locking lug. I've been wanting to do a double rifle build for quite some time, but I've held off until I found a rig with 3 locking lugs, AND a decent price. Needless to say it's taken quite some time to find this.

Anyways, as I said, I found a 16 gauge, and am looking at doing a double rifle build with it, using monoblock construction, and probably in a .450 nitro express. So with that in mind, will a 16 gauge work for something like this, or should a guy go to something larger?

The gun in question is a Stevens Model 380. They are rare I guess, so I can't seem to find much info on them. It's also a fairly old action, circa 1908-ish? (The serial number on it is 4. Yes. 0004. So it's old).

Just wanted to check in here to hear what you wise gents have to say before I pulled out my cash for a project that wouldn't work out the way I wanted. Cheers!

Edited by hansol (23/01/10 05:16 PM)

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CptCurl
.450 member

Reged: 01/05/04
Posts: 5284
Loc: Fincastle, Botetourt County, V...

Re: 16 Gauge Action Strength?? [Re: hansol]
#151589 - 23/01/10 11:50 PM

I am neither an engineer nor a gunsmith, so take this for what it's worth.

The .450NE is a relatively high pressure cartridge - rated at 17 tons. That's many multiples of the pressure the Stevens 16b was designed to handle. I would not consider such a conversion. To me the debate would be whether the action could handle the .450BPE at 10 to 11 tons (also questionable at best).

I'm not familiar with that particular Stevens model; but at the same time, I'm not aware that Stevens made anything particularly noteworthy for its strength. Place a value on your left hand and eyesight, then make your decision.

Maybe somebody else would have a rosier opinion.

Curl

--------------------
RoscoeStephenson.com

YOUR DOUBLE RIFLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.

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450_366
.400 member

Reged: 17/01/07
Posts: 1068
Loc: Sweden, west-coast.

Re: 16 Gauge Action Strength?? [Re: CptCurl]
#151591 - 23/01/10 11:57 PM

Quote:

I am neither an engineer nor a gunsmith, so take this for what it's worth.

The .450NE is a relatively high pressure cartridge - rated at 17 tons. That's many multiples of the pressure the Stevens 16b was designed to handle. I would not consider such a conversion. To me the debate would be whether the action could handle the .450BPE at 10 to 11 tons (also questionable at best).

I'm not familiar with that particular Stevens model; but at the same time, I'm not aware that Stevens made anything particularly noteworthy for its strength. Place a value on your left hand and eyesight, then make your decision.

Maybe somebody else would have a rosier opinion.

Curl

You are right about stevens, even i wouldnt dare to try this one.

--------------------
Andreas

"Yeas it kicks like a mule he said, but always remember that its much worse standing on the other end"

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hansol
.224 member

Reged: 15/08/08
Posts: 33
Loc: British Columbia, Canada

Re: 16 Gauge Action Strength?? [Re: 450_366]
#151602 - 24/01/10 02:17 AM

Hey guys,

Thanks for the quick replies. I am unfamiliar with the "old" Stevens rigs (But I do shoot a current Stevens 25-06 bolt gun), so it is good to hear a little bit more about them.

Anyway, like I said, I had read a couple posts here about guys doing builds off 16 gauges, but the general trend was that most tend to lead towards 12 gauge receivers if given a choice. So it looks like I`ll be taking a pass on this one. Thanks again!

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DarylS
.700 member

Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 27005
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...

Re: 16 Gauge Action Strength?? [Re: hansol]
#151605 - 24/01/10 03:56 AM

Even a .450 BPE will produce 30,000psi with 400 to 500gr. bullets and black powder. Smokeless can drop that to the low 20's for similar velocities, which is still double what a shotgun shell produces.

--------------------
Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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smokpeolesc
.224 member

Reged: 02/11/09
Posts: 2
Loc: United States

Re: 16 Gauge Action Strength?? [Re: DarylS]
#151658 - 24/01/10 03:28 PM

Hansol,
I am a manufacturing engineer with 30+ years in bulding bearings, but not a firearms specialist. I have shot, fixed, built, and butchered a lot of guns over the last 40+ years. Stevens shotguns were and still are solid but inexpensive. The metallurgical properties of any entry level shotgun from 100 years ago are marginal. They are NOT suitable for the basis of a double rifle.

As CaptCurl said, "Place a value on your left hand and eyesight, then make your decision."

SmokepoleSC

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RSFknives
.300 member

Reged: 02/05/07
Posts: 232
Loc: Sweden

Re: 16 Gauge Action Strength?? [Re: smokpeolesc]
#153271 - 10/02/10 06:46 PM

i built my .444 Marlin double rifle on a 16 gauge Side lock from Brno.
a side lock is stronger than a normal action.

/Roger

--------------------
life is to short to own an ugly gun.

http://www.knifeguild.se

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BlainSmipy
.375 member

Reged: 24/11/05
Posts: 558
Loc: Washington, USA

Re: 16 Gauge Action Strength?? [Re: RSFknives]
#158065 - 02/04/10 07:32 AM

Huglu actions are very strong, and I use the 16GA 202B and 201A for 450NE and 45-70 +P loads.

As always, PROOF the gun with a 30% + load. I usually proof with 10 shots.

--------------------
You horde gold, I horde lead.

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