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    Converting FW barrels to FWE Archived Message

    Posted by David Williamson on September 1, 2014, 4:34 pm

    Trying to get some projects done before I have to clean shop to set up for a fairly large woodworking project for my son.

    I had bought a klunker 16 ga. FWE Field Grade with ejectors and HOT, but the stock was cut and the barrels were cut to 26" and it had a hideous beavertail for-end.
    I had gotten a set of 16 ga. FW barrels and after taking careful measurements, put barrels in drill press (wish I had a milling machine) and center drilled the left side barrel extractor pin. It fit tight, I tweaked it with a jewelers round file slightly to fit. Same with the other side. Now I have to wait for a 1/4" ball end mill to enlarge the opening for the for-end kickers.

    As you can see in the photo below, both lugs are the same dimensions as to length and I have highlighted what has to be done. The ejectors barrels are from 1919 and the FW set from 1934 and if you look close you can see the proof marks on that one.

    I also had to notch the back end of the barrel loop for the roller release to catch.

    Will post more when I finish and hopefully it should work fine and I will have a decent shooter.
    Almost forgot, I was very fortunate that I found a stock from an Ideal Grade to fit this gun, but it was from a double trigger and had to be mortised out for the HOT trigger to fit, but that is another story.

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