Looking for replacement double barrels

[Goo]

I have acquired half of a double percussion shotgun I do not have a way to post photos at this time.  I have the complete stock including both locks, triggers, trigger guard, butt plate, ram rod entry pipe, captured key and the barrel lug which broke the solder joint and is drilled through to pass the ram rod.   The screw slots are all sharp and intact and there is a fair amount of early style engraving on the metal parts.    All I am missing and hope to find a way to make or buy some replacement barrels.   Any suggestions?

[rich pierce]

Is this a contemporary gun or an original?  It would take a lot of luck to find replacement barrels that fit or a ton of money to custom fit barrels to your stock.

[Longknife]

I assume this is an antique SXS, if so you will need to take precise measurements at the breech and along the barrel channel to determine the taper in the barrels.  You can then have Bobby Hoyt, Ed Rayl  or any other custom barrel smiths make you a pair. You will then have to have breech plugs made and fitted, and the barrels will need joined. I had a pair made by Hoyt that were $300 and I joined them myself. I think Ed Rayl used to do a pair of FLINT barrels, joined for about  $700 this....Ed

[Hudnut]

Don't know if this means anything, but...
I bought an English double 12 bore.  Got it home, disassembled it.  The barrels were replacements.  Lug had been moved to match the position of the captured key.
The standing breech, lugs, breeches are unaltered.
Made me wonder if perhaps there might not be a bit more standardization than one would suspect.

[jerrywh]

Goo.
 What is wrong with the barrels is you have now? Is it just the lug?

[Goo]

Thanks guys,  it is an old original, percussion cap type back action locks , stock  there are no barrels  those are whats missing , I have the barrel lug

[jerrywh]

 It may take some time but there are often barrels for sale on Ebay and gunbroker.  I probably have four or five sets but who knows if they will work? I think you have a lot of fitting to do.

[Mike Brooks]

You'll never find anything to fit. I'd convert the stock into a paper weight....oh, it already is.....

[T*O*F]

Gotta agree with Mike.  Yer peein' up a rope.  The chances of finding a set of barrels that fit is so remote that even those from the same builder won't interchange.  If you're just looking for an old double, I've got half a dozen priced between $250 and $500 that only need minor repairs, like loose hammers and such.

[Dave B]

I feel your pain. I have two complete butt stocks for S X S that need barrels. I Have been looking for original barrel replacements for the last 10 yrs. I have purchased several barrel sets thinking they would work but no joy. I have resigned my self to having to make new barrel sets for both if I want to invest the time and money. The issue is neither is worth that kind of effort if I am to just sell them. Using them as a learning experience and acquiring the skill of doing the job is something else altogether. Just as T*O*F says if you want a complete SXS buy one of his you will be money a head in the long run.

[Long John]

Mr. Goo,

I gather from your post that you have the stock but no barrels.

I used Robert Hoyt to make the barrels for my doublegun.  He uses 12L14 free machining stock for raw material.  We went back and forth some and the thinnest he would make the barrel walls was .075".  This makes for a heavier than usual gun; I expect mind to finish out at about 7.5 pounds.  Soldering the barrels was a challenge but I think it worked out OK.  We'll find out when I shot it!

I have heard that Ed Rayl will make barrels of 4140 stock.  That is a stronger steel than the 12L14 and you should be able to get barrels with thinner walls and hence lighter in weight.

In either case you will have to measure the socks very carefully and calculate the diameter as a function of length.  Both barrel makers mentioned are capable of making any barrel as long as you give them accurate dimensions. 

The real challenge is the making of the breeches.  You will need to be a machinist with good equipment to make percussion breech plugs.

You have your work cut out for you!  But greatness can only be achieved if great obstacles are encountered.

Good luck.

Best Regards,

JMC
John Cholin

[Mike Brooks]

It would be both easier and far cheaper to just buy another gun.  In fact you'll have so much money in this by the time you're done you could probably have a very nice high grade shootable gun by just using that money to buy another.

[webradbury]

Would it be an option to utilize modern barrels such as described in Brockway's book, Recreating the Double Barrel Muzzeloader Shotgun"? I have modified a set of barrels by threading them and machining breechplugs to fit, as others have. Certainly not easy but if I can, anyone can.

I'm kind of siding with the others though. Unless the shotgun has some sentimental value, I would probably just look for a different gun.