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Member Joined: 15 Mar 2005 Posts: 358 Location: Houston

Guys,

I'm looking at a Remington 1900 SxS, that I think is fairly priced, but I have two questions about it.

1. If it has "slight pitting" in the bores, is this anything to be overly concerned with on a 100+ year old gun? How much pitting does it take to affect pattern, for example? (Found gun on the web, so haven't seen it yet.)

2. Is it a big deal if the wood has been refinished if I'm buying this as a shooter, and not a collectible?

Any thoughts are, as usual, appreciated.

Nothing wrong with a GOOD refinish job on a shooter, IMHO. A bad refinish job, however, is just that. Somebody else weigh in on the pitting; minor pitting is OK I think; don't know if or how it would affect pattern, etc. Good luck!

Fin

Seems to me that pitting is more of a safety issue than a pattern issue. Make sure there is a 3 day return policy and have a gunsmith look at it. I acquired a 1898 GH Parker damascus with perfect bores and shoot low-pressure smokeless powder loads safely.

Member Joined: 15 Mar 2005 Posts: 358 Location: Houston

Parker, these barrels are fluid steel. Is pitting less of a safety factor in them? And yes, I certainly would have the gun checked during the 3-day inspection period.

Member Joined: 26 Apr 2005 Posts: 743

Pitting is a safety factor regardless of whether you're talking Damascus or fluid steel. Light pitting in the bores of a Remington 1900 probably wouldn't be a big deal, because those guns had fairly thick barrel walls. But if it's more than just "staining" to the bores--which is what pitting looks like before the pits actually appear--you'll definitely want the opinion of a good gunsmith. You can have him hone the bores if you want to get rid of all or most of the pitting, but the best practice is to deal with someone who can measure barrel wall thickness if you're going to do that. You should probably try to retain at least .030" thickness at the thinnest spots in your barrels.

Seems like I've seen very few Remington doubles with fluid steel barrels; almost all seem to be damascus. Larry, weigh in here, will ya?

fin2: There is a Remington s/s on the shelf at my old gunstore now with fluid steel barrels; Larry's advise is right on, let a good doublegun smith have the last word. Exclamation

Parker T,

Correct as usual.

Fin

Member Joined: 15 Mar 2005 Posts: 358 Location: Houston

Yeah, the Rem 1894 and 1900 both came in either damascus or fluid steel (ordnance steel, according to some sources).