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Best older double barrel exposed hammer option for shooter?


Stopsign32v

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Keep in mind the era of the hammer doubles were made to shoot black powder because smokeless wasn't used untill the late 1890s. Even after that they were not chambered for modern 2-3/4" shells we have today. 

 

Some of the latest made hammer doubles with steel barrels were the Stevens series - most common being the 235 model.  

 

58c86eaf1e9df_Stevens225done72640March2017.jpg.98cf53044358ad4a988a625cddd4c2b5.jpg

 

Stevens 225 - very simular to 235 model.

 

58e0309e9c179_Stevens215April2017.jpg.5fd3248498be39e2b84107a391a8b542.jpg

 

Stevens 215 - has unusual action with triggers set inline. 

 

2145148274_Stevens250MaconJuly2018.jpg.320e7ef414a6b8ef41ee98ed6679ce99.jpg

 

Stevens 250 - one of the last domestic made side lock double. 

 

790826218_Remington1889hammerMay2018.jpg.43e6360de58f2489482cf5189a85748a.jpg

 

I have a Remington 1889 made in 1900 with steel barrels that was made in 1900 that was approved for "nitro" powder.  But again the nitro powder and hulls were not like modern ammo.

 

Crescent Arms made hammer doubles under hundreds of store brand names - all were made to sell cheap,  as did Hopkins and Allen.  

 

The beloved Colt 1878s were all black powder guns.

 

5a4b579ba20b2_Cimarron1878withColt1878Jan2018.jpg.cdc0dea092914e0e1c8ffb886ffb22fb.jpg

 

Original Colt above Cimarron 1878

 

5ac3a6d854cd1_ColtshotgunsApril2018.jpg.5da82b9d112306c873e8c43e28e276d1.jpg

 

Colt 1887 10 gauge, Cimarron 1878 and Colt 1878 12 gauge. 

 

511054961_1878ColtandCimarronAug2018.jpg.39cd68f1a9e878bb10517c4b2dd883f6.jpg

 

Cimarron 1878 over original Colt 1878 10 gauge.

 

There were boatloads imported from Europe and some were of high quality but most were poor quality. 

 

It has become about impossible to find parts for the old hammer doubles.  Parts you find may or may not work because of design variations.  Most were shot loose by shooting modern ammo in them.s

 

 

 

 

 

 

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What's the going price range for Stevens hammered doubles? I would think they would have to be inexpensive or a shooter would choose a more recent gun.

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5 hours ago, Warden Callaway said:

Keep in mind the era of the hammer doubles were made to shoot black powder because smokeless wasn't used untill the late 1890s. Even after that they were not chambered for modern 2-3/4" shells we have today. 

 

Some of the latest made hammer doubles with steel barrels were the Stevens series - most common being the 235 model.  

 

58c86eaf1e9df_Stevens225done72640March2017.jpg.98cf53044358ad4a988a625cddd4c2b5.jpg

 

Stevens 225 - very simular to 235 model.

 

58e0309e9c179_Stevens215April2017.jpg.5fd3248498be39e2b84107a391a8b542.jpg

 

Stevens 215 - has unusual action with triggers set inline. 

 

2145148274_Stevens250MaconJuly2018.jpg.320e7ef414a6b8ef41ee98ed6679ce99.jpg

 

Stevens 250 - one of the last domestic made side lock double. 

 

790826218_Remington1889hammerMay2018.jpg.43e6360de58f2489482cf5189a85748a.jpg

 

I have a Remington 1889 made in 1900 with steel barrels that was made in 1900 that was approved for "nitro" powder.  But again the nitro powder and hulls were not like modern ammo.

 

Crescent Arms made hammer doubles under hundreds of store brand names - all were made to sell cheap,  as did Hopkins and Allen.  

 

The beloved Colt 1878s were all black powder guns.

 

5a4b579ba20b2_Cimarron1878withColt1878Jan2018.jpg.cdc0dea092914e0e1c8ffb886ffb22fb.jpg

 

Original Colt above Cimarron 1887

 

5ac3a6d854cd1_ColtshotgunsApril2018.jpg.5da82b9d112306c873e8c43e28e276d1.jpg

 

Colt 1887 10 gauge, Cimarron 1887 and Colt 1887 12 gauge. 

 

511054961_1878ColtandCimarronAug2018.jpg.39cd68f1a9e878bb10517c4b2dd883f6.jpg

 

Cimarron 1887 over original Colt 1887 10 gauge.

 

There were boatloads imported from Europe and some were of high quality but most were poor quality. 

 

It has become about impossible to find parts for the old hammer doubles.  Parts you find may or may not work because of design variations.  Most were shot loose by shooting modern ammo in them.s

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Colt and Cimarron I believe are 1878's. J.M.

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2 hours ago, Go West said:

What's the going price range for Stevens hammered doubles? I would think they would have to be inexpensive or a shooter would choose a more recent gun.

 

One in good shape, if you can find one, probably as much as a new Cimarron 1878 (if you can find one). 

 

Then get the chambers recut to modern 2-3/4 and lengthen the forcing cones. 

 

Then the hammers are too low and far apart to cock both with one motion.

 

The old hammer doubles are a nostalgic labor of love.  Especially if you shoot black powder loads in brass cases. But they are not competitive against the Cimarron 1878 or CZ-USA or similar reproduction coach guns. 

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You'll be better off buying one of the modern hammered shotguns being made for cowboy shooting.

 

As stated above, if you break a part, finding a new one could be difficult.  Finding a gunsmith that can make a new part will be difficult and expensive, it will likely cost you as much or more then the gun cost you in the first place.

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When I first started CAS, I found a nice Beligian-made hammer double, not only nitro-proofed, but with 70mm (2-3/4") chambers, that I used for a number of years...until, one day, I looked at the stock and the finish on the barrels, and saw I was beating up the outside of a (then) $500 gun! :o So, I retired it, and bought a Roosian, but with 28" barrels could only find a hammerless....which I don't like nearly as much!  Having gotten older and busier, where I don't shoot so much, I doubt I'll buy me another hammer scattergun. :(

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Tula TOZ-66's are built like a brick wall and usually reasonably priced, I have collected 3 of them with 20"bbls. The springs must be from a B-60 Mack from the factory, but a good 'smith can fix'em right up.

There was a 28" for sale in the classifieds, don't know if it's still available...

 

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