Osage Roost

Turkey Blasters => The Blue Shoulder Club => Topic started by: firedup on September 16, 2010, 08:39:57 PM

Title: 20 guage project
Post by: firedup on September 16, 2010, 08:39:57 PM
Glad to see I'm not the only one bitten by the 20ga bug.  Here is my little project.  H&R single shot. Barrel shortened to 18.5. Tapped for Invector choke. Tactical type stock and forend. Fiberoptic sites. My home paint job. Finally tweaked it to about an average 160 shot in 10" at 40 yds using PG .570 and Hevishot #7's in 3". Didn't shoot any turks at that distance last spring but rolled a couple at about 30 yds. It is a pleasure to carry up and down these WV hills (comparatively speaking).

 (http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a297/ltpack/20%20guage%20project/20gaugeproject3.jpg)
(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a297/ltpack/20%20guage%20project/20gaugeproject4.jpg)
(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a297/ltpack/20%20guage%20project/20gaugeproject5.jpg)
(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a297/ltpack/20%20guage%20project/20gaugeproject8.jpg)
(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a297/ltpack/20%20guage%20project/finsiheddeal-1.jpg)
Title: Re: 20 guage project
Post by: Porter on September 16, 2010, 08:41:51 PM
LT that is a sharp looking project gun.  I love the 20 and they sure will put them down!!!

My JR weighs about the same and it's a delight to carry around!
Title: Re: 20 guage project
Post by: thundrchikin on September 17, 2010, 06:31:44 PM
Great lookin setup.Love those 20's
Title: Re: 20 guage project
Post by: muddpuppi on September 17, 2010, 08:17:39 PM
sweet *up*
Title: Re: 20 guage project
Post by: Zumer on September 18, 2010, 06:40:32 AM
A sharp looking rig....   160 is a great number for that short a barrel w/ a 570 choke.....Have you tried a 555 in it??

     Good luck this fall!!

     Zumer
Title: Re: 20 guage project
Post by: Blackfalcon on September 18, 2010, 08:31:10 AM
Nice project! Did you cut and tap the barrel or did you have it done? Also wondering if anyone has done business with this gentleman, found this on Shotgun World Forum  http://users.dls.net/~rdouglas/MikeOrlen.pdf
Title: Re: 20 guage project
Post by: 3CB on September 18, 2010, 08:34:23 AM
I like it!!!!!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: 20 guage project
Post by: Bulldogmikey on September 18, 2010, 08:47:57 AM
One Shot ! I love it! Good Job!!!

Mike
Title: Re: 20 guage project
Post by: turkey stew on September 18, 2010, 03:20:23 PM
Fine looking turkey hunting rig! *dance*
Title: Re: 20 guage project
Post by: SS Custom Calls on September 19, 2010, 06:28:55 AM
 Sweet rig there! Love the 20 gauges! I've used one for several years..
Title: Re: 20 guage project
Post by: firedup on September 19, 2010, 08:15:39 PM
Thanks for the kind words! I should have included some more details.  Barrel was cut off and rebored and tapped by Steve Cailes here in WV.  Quality work all the way.  I made the site mounting rails (for the fiber optic sites) for the gun myself from some old iron sites scavenged from a Rem 700, reshaped and then welded them on. Getting them lined up rite was a little tricky but it worked out ok. I tried several chokes in different constrictions and manufacture. IC, Kicks, HS Strut, Mossburg and Pure Gold.  Tried .555 but it was too tite and pattern was blown. The Pure Gold .570 was the best overall but a real close 2nd was the MUCH cheaper HS Strut Undertaker tube in .575.  It was not rated for Hevishot but still shot well. I averaged in the 135's to 140's with it and it was a good even pattern. I was gonna try some Nitro #7's but I'm happy for now. The gun weighs in at 4.2 lbs and does punch ya little with the 3" shells.  Total length with stock collapsed is 28" and 32" extended. Which, with the barrel length, makes it BATF legal all the way.  Overall, I'm real happy with the outcome....problem is my 75 year old Dad really likes it too! ;D He picked it up, shouldered it and squinted down the barrel and looked at me and winked.  Then said "Looks like an ole Man's gun to me!".

So I have a Mossburg 500 Bantam in the tweaking process for him. Hopefully just in time for fall turks! ( Or maybe its the one I'll end up with :-\)

Next project is an old Damascus double. Wanted to have it by this fall but maybe in the spring. Needs ALOT of TLP!
Title: Re: 20 guage project
Post by: charlieparrish on September 20, 2010, 05:36:48 PM
Nice little gun, LT.  didn't know you were such a gunsmith...or at least I thought you would be hunting with one of Joe's fowlers *cheers*
Charlie
Title: Re: 20 guage project
Post by: firedup on September 22, 2010, 07:51:54 PM
Charlie, Joe has offered but I have the old single barrel sidelock I use all the time...so..... In fact, just recently when I unloaded a ton of wood on Joe he told me what a BAD MAN I was cause he can't get back to gun building for all the strikers and calls he's foolin around with! ;)   Be my luck I would drop one of Joe's sweethearts and bend the barrel or something bad anyhow! *cry*