I just picked up a Simson&Co 12ga S/S shotgun in excellent condition, box-lock action with crossbolt. The 22&1/2" barrels are very heavy with a raised rib.
What is the feesability of having this gun converted to a big bore action, 450, 470 NE??
Can it be done, who does it, and how much???
I do remember reading here on this subject before.
What do you all think???

450, 500, 577 BPE or Nitro for Black
Yes, 450 or 470 Nitro, No.

Just my HO.

Any suggestions????????

The problem with shotgun/rifle combinations are the firing pins are different sizes and that causes misfires one way or the other.

get a browning bss in 12 ga. it has bushed firing pins - you may want to rework to rifle size.

it will definitely take a 470.

searcy used them for his rifles before he started making his own action.

forget about the crossbolt - most don't do anything but look secure.

you'll be better off with the bss than an old simpson.

If the Simson is postwar it is probably a carbon copy of the Merkel. Isn't Rigby of CA using (or was using) the Merkel frame to build their double rifles?

Squirril Merrideth of swainsons safaris here uses a .470 built on a Browning Citori action. Works well and he can convert back to his shotgun barrels in an instant.

An o/u is definitely easier to convert than a s/s, but even so I would go for a lower pressure round like the .450 No 2 or .475

I have a little Steoger 410 taking a nap in my gun safe. It will become a 22 LR or 22 Hornet double rifle. I really want a 22 LR double! I have a place to hunt rabbits again and I want to hunt them with a 22 LR double. (with 26" barrels)

quote:

Originally posted by tomo577:
get a browning bss in 12 ga. it has bushed firing pins - you may want to rework to rifle size.

it will definitely take a 470.

searcy used them for his rifles before he started making his own action.

forget about the crossbolt - most don't do anything but look secure.

you'll be better off with the bss than an old simpson.

My first of only 4 or 5 few doubles was a BSS made up with full length 470 sleeves - a poor professor's version of a Holland and Holland! As hard as it might be to believe it shot right on at 25 yards with the shotgun rib and front bead. It killed my second buff quite nicely!

I'm kind of doing the same thing with a Winchester Model 24 I picked up a little while ago, however I'm replacing the barrels and making it a 12-bore. That right there is a pretty sturdy action. Planning on keeping this one simple and just loading blackpowder.

fivebigbores
Can you provide some more details? What action did you start with? How long did the work take for completion? Is Jason Simkins in CA?

Regards,
Eric

fivebigbores,
What action did you use? Did he sleeve the shotgun barrels or re-barrel?

Thanks,
Eric

quote:

Originally posted by tomo577:
get a browning bss in 12 ga. it has bushed firing pins - you may want to rework to rifle size.

it will definitely take a 470.

searcy used them for his rifles before he started making his own action.

forget about the crossbolt - most don't do anything but look secure.

you'll be better off with the bss than an old simpson.

TOM, the BSS actions Butch used were re-heat treated, and had a doll's head thrid fastener added. They were not just converted from old shotguns, but new actions!

The Simpson actions are Anson & Deeley actions, and are the same basic action used in the merkels, but the ones in the merkels are heat treated differently! To top this off if the cross bolt is properly fited, it is certainly not just for looks.

Still when one sets out to build a double rifle on an old shotgun, he usually ends up with a mediocre rifle that costs him more than if he had just bought a new entry level double rifle to start with.

MacD37-
Are you saying that Merkel shotguns are heat treated differently than Simsons shotguns or that Merkel double rifles are heat treated differently than Simson shotguns?

quote:

Originally posted by Kebco:
MacD37-
Are you saying that Merkel shotguns are heat treated differently than Simsons shotguns or that Merkel double rifles are heat treated differently than Simson shotguns?

Kebco, what I'm saying is, MERKEL makes all their actions heat treated for rifles, they use the same actions for their shotguns! The phrase, "MERKELS ARE MADE ON SHOTGUN ACTIONS" is backwards.

The phrase should read: "MERKEL SHOTGUNS ARE MADE ON RIFLE ACTIONS".

Simpson doesn't, or, at least, didn't make double rifles, so they have no need to use their actions for rifles, and so heat them for shotguns. That is not all bad, depending on what a rifle is chambered for that is made on a Simpson action. Most shotguns used to make double rifles at home, and truely shotgun heated, and at least the Simpson actions are Anson & Deeley type actions, with side clips, and third fasteners.