Stoeger 20 ga

[PJ Hardtack]

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After shooting a match with my original Ithaca 'Flues' 12 ga with 7/8 oz reloads, my wife has elected to switch from her '97 to a Stoeger 20 ga with 26 barrels.

We found her one at a good price and will pick it up tomorrow. It's built like a little tank (like all of the breed) and as stiff as all get out. What will be a good method of working it to loosen it up a little for her?

I'm ag'in some of the 'tuning' and over polishing I've seen done to some guns, which I regard as just accelerated wear. I generally prefer to let my guns wear in naturally, but this is a lady's gun, not mine.

[joec]

The only place the one my wife's had what I really felt needed smoothing was the area that holds the barrel in position (don't know what you call it). I used some lapping compound on it then spent an evening opening and closing it. It wasn't too long and it fell open at that point I cleaned off the compound and lubed it up. It has been pretty smooth since then. One other thing is my wife's is the couch length with single trigger and never had a problem with it double firing as some have reported with it.

[Major 2]

barrel Lugs  ... joec

on the one I had, I smoothed that area as well,  though I speeded mine along with 600 Wet Dry.
I removed the lifter and debured that bore hole..
and used a shotgun mop in a cordless drill to lap the chambers with laping compound.

[wildman1]

My wife and I both shoot Stoeger 20's. When we gottem ya had ta use both hands and hit em on yer knee ta open em. I used some 600 grit automotive finishing paper on areas that were rubbing. Mine would lite strike the primer on the left side sometimes, the internal hammer was rubbin on the inside of the stock. I had to take the extractor out and staighten it so it would move freely in its channel. I did not do an excessive amount of polishing to the areas that were rubbing. I took a small cylinder hone and smoothed the chambers so it would shuck shells easier. My wife shoots AA's and she just dumps em out.  I did lighten the coil spring in it a little, but not the hammer springs. WM

[joec]

barrel Lugs  ... joec

Thanks Major.

[Sagebrush Burns]

Polishing the chambers is worthwhile and you will want to install hardened firing pins.  The factory ones are on the soft side and will eventually begin to deform and make the gun hard to open.

[PJ Hardtack]

When we picked up my wife's 20 ga Stoeger 'Uplander" (26" barrels), I was playing with a 12 ga. 'Uplander'. I liked it so much, I bought it! We prefer the looks and handling to the 20" 'Coach Guns'. They gave us a good price break for buying the pair.

I spent an hour working them open and closed with grease on the wear points, and now they are acceptable. Still stiff, but my wife doesn't have to break it over her knee anymore.

Question - the hash marks on the barrel chokes: more marks means tighter or more open I got one of each, but my wife got two with four 'hash' marks.

[wildman1]

PJ, our Coach guns have improved and modified. The 4 marked barrel is more open than the 3 marked barrel. WM

[PJ Hardtack]

Thanks, Wildman. Sagebrush - where are hardened firing pins available?

My wife doesn't know it yet, but I hope to be shooting some skeet with her little 20 ga. It's the size and weight a 12 ga oughta be, and I love the way those 26" barrels point!

[wildman1]

We haven't had a problem with the FP's on ours yet PJ, but they are only a year old. WM

[Sagebrush Burns]

The hardened firing pins are available from Long Hunter Shooting Supply, 806-342-0000 or www.longhunt.com.  They are $25 for a pair.  They also have a spanner wrench for easier installation for $15.

[Coffinmaker]

PJ,

Check with your local suppliers for a case of Fiocchi "Trainer" 20Ga ammo.  Perfect for CAS in a light double.  A bit lighter load than the Winchester Low Noise - Low Recoil for the 12. 
Your sweetie will love ya for it

Coffinmaker

[PJ Hardtack]

Thanks, Coffinmaker!

So far she's not having any problems with factory 20 ga 7/8 oz. loads. I've been loading 12 ga 7/8 oz. loads for CAS for years, so it a load she can handle.

The current issue of 'Handloader' magazine has an article on "Ultralight 20 ga Loads''; 3/4 oz., 5/8 oz. and 1/2 oz. All you do is put a thick card wad (or wads) into the shot cup to ensure a good crimp and reduce the powder charge by 1/2 gr per shot reduction.

If necessary, I'll do that, but she actually started out in CAS shooting factory 1 oz. 12 ga with no issues.

BTW - she loves me all to pieces already! Don't know If I could handle more .....