my meridan is still pretty tight.i shot a truck load of rabbits and woodcock with that gun,using red dot powder and 11/8 shot.it was a pretty snotty load back then, an even still.i switched to 1 oz loads for skeet long after i quit shooting the meridan.i since had it all glassed, recheckered and put 2o ga.briley tubes in it.i took it back to the old guy i got it from thinking he would get a kick out of me fixing it up.his responce was,sure putting alot of money in that old gun!!oh well.tom