Big 5 Side by Side Coach Guns.

[nrakid88]

Has anyone got experience with them?

I think they are pretty cool looking, but I was handling them, and it looks like each barrel is two piece, consisting of a chamber welded to the forcing cone and barrel. Just makes me think that they are cheaply assembled, and prone to explosion.

Am I crazy or dumb?

[gatesbox]

I believe they are simply Stoeger coach guns.... These are pretty standard entry level equipment for cowboy action shooting. I have one...easy to work on, spring kit, deactivated the automatic safety..... Honed the barrels a bit so the shells fall out easier.... Lots of info... Search "slicking coach gun"....

[nrakid88]

I am just thinking you can only shine a turd so much... the whole chamber to barrel seam on them seems like a HUGE weak point

[mfudge]

Since I have not handled the shotgun you are speaking of, I am speaking generally. A seam at the end of a chamber on a double gun is normally the result of a monoblock of some sort. the chamber area is one piece of steel. The barrels are then screwed into the block. You can probably see an indication of the this in the chamber. This is completely standard and normal. Sleeving or stubbing is strong and there is nothing dangerous about it.

[EmmaGoldman]

In doubles, monoblock construction is desireable in terms of strength. It certainly can be done badly and in an ugly manner.

[nrakid88]

Interesting, never have I heard of the monoblock construction.