Parker

The Democrat lovefest in Bergen County is more than unheralded at the moment. The are clearly in charge, and firmly entrenched. http://archive.northjersey.com/news/democrats-take-total-control-of-bergen-county-government-1.1689471 From the article: "Republicans were at a disadvantage before the race began: Registered Democrats in Bergen County outnumber Republicans by 77,000 — As of last week there were 200,885 registered Democrats and 123,216 registered Republicans."

The Record using that "densely populated" excuse again: "The most densely populated state in the nation is not going to be safer if more people are packing heat." http://www.northjersey.com/story/opinion/editorials/2017/03/09/editorial-christie-loosens-gun-regulations/98968734/

Almost four decades ago the RRC hosted students who enrolled through the Bergen Continuing Education program to "learn how to shoot safely" and earn their NRA qualification. Imagine that? I suspect it's become a secret society now, because it's in Bergen County I'm sure they're afraid to come out of the woodwork. Bet you need to know the secret handshake too.

Did you try Numrich? https://www.gunpartscorp.com/Products/64030.htm

The 700 trigger mechanism shares the same trigger housing as the competition benchrest-grade 40-X platform of rifles. A solid and proven performer. My triggers are pre-82, meaning you have to move the safety to the "off" position in order to open the bolt. (Boy, does that sound dangerous!? That might be akin to lowering the hammer on a lever gun or DA revolver.) However, I have no intention to change them. They are fine and adjusted properly and have given me good service for decades. If you adjust your 700 trigger to infinity without knowing what you are doing, you can make it "dangerous" where a bump on the buttstock, or "pulling the trigger while the safety is on then moving it to the off position" (who would do this and why?) will discharge the gun. Fault of the gun, or fault of the kitchen-gunsmith-tinkerer? Maybe Remington should have not scrapped the three-position safety found on the earlier 725 which blocked the sear and enabled the bolt to be opened? Or maybe they should have designed a simple trigger mechanism like the Winchester M70???

The Aristocrat is a nice gun. Good find!

"Folks nobody in this state gives a crap about our gun rights (and their own) except for gun owners themselves. This is not WV or PENN or AZ. We have a negative gun culture in NJ. The average person, D and R, thinks guns are horrible. I know plenty of folks who vote Republican who would be aghast at CC in this state." True!

While you're doing your repair, determine WHY the stock cracked. Often it is due to poor fitment in the tang area (assuming it's a double,) or if the wood wasn't sealed properly, it would swell from moisture. Recoil through the tang will spilt a poor-fitting stock resulting in firewood.

If you have your license get out there now and scout. Crow season is open until March 17th so you can hunt while scouting. Or just get out in the woods for a walk with the snow on the ground and you'll find sign easily. It will give you somewhat of an indication of where they feed and roost.

Opinion editorial in The Record today. Interesting: http://www.northjersey.com/story/opinion/editorials/2017/02/12/editorial-second-amendment-rights-ramsey/97716848/

Rolling blocks personify the word "simplicity." Few moving parts and the couple Remington's I've disassembled are made well. Some bores can be spotty, and chamberings could be an oddball.

The ejector is part of the sear housing. How does that look? Is it chipped, bent or broken?

There's a few O/U's for sale on the NJH forums today, even a Perazzi! You can find a decent O/U for cheap if you shop used and find a gun that has a reputation for quality. I found a Miroku Charles Daly Miroku sixteen years ago, made in the 60's. Single-non-selective trigger, fixed IC/M chokes, 3" chambers, 26" bbls., extractors, bushed firing pins, a touch of real engraving, long-tang trigger guard, gorgeous wood, and a better wood-to-metal fit than on my Italian O/U's. Serves as a nice light upland gun. You just have to know what you are looking for.

Pistol or carbine?

I would recommend Stephen Russo: http://pianotuners.co/technician/new-jersey/179-Stephen-Russo He also collaborates with: http://www.jameskarrpiano.com/aboutus.html

If faced with this dilemma I'd simply get another rifle.

SKB's are highly underrated, as are the C-D imported Miroku's. Both are great used-guns and offer sound quality.

Seems the Ramsey Town Council is moving fast to interrupt this. More absurdity. http://www.northjersey.com/story/news/bergen/ramsey/2017/01/27/ramsey-ordinance-amends-gun-laws-hurts-proposed-range/97154600/

I'm guessing Belgium by the one proof mark I can distinguish. Need a clearer look at all the proof marks on the underside of the barrel and on the flats of the receiver. Double-underlug lockup with a doll's head extension into the receiver. Pretty slick. 18.0 indicates 18mm (12 ga.)

With the short chambers, 1 oz. loads are the heaviest I shoot today. (I regularly load 7/8 or 1 oz. 8's for skeet & trap in the off-season.)

That's why I reload for my short-chambered guns today. When I can, I buy and use RST shells. As a neophyte, I shot 2 3/4" shells in a 1923 Parker 16 ga. The chambers were obviously short, but the gun never seemed to mind nor did I know better at the age of 13. I shot that gun for years with those loads. Some of the 3 1/4 dr. - 1 1/4 oz. pheasant loads that Federal sold back in the 60's & 70's were pretty stiff with recoil in a 6 lb. gun with 3" of drop. Being young, I thought that bigger was better. I shot that gun just like my grandfather did before me, with some of the same 2 3/4" paper shells he gave me too. Sometime in the 90's, when the internet was full-steam with info, I joined countless forums like 16ga.com and the Parker forum. Boy, did I get an eyeful & earful of information and learned a bit about short chambers, older guns, etc., along with exercising a modicum of caution. An interesting read. There are others on the Parker forum, ShotgunWorld as well as on 16a.com. http://foxcollectors.com/My%20Forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2682

Early 90's would technically make this an 87, correct?

Recoil mitigates the "pump forward THEN rearward to work it issue." You should never notice this in the field when shooting.

Agreed.

Shell in a chamber that's longer than the shell is fine. Many variables affect patterns, but the best patterning loads are those that are balanced for the gauge, often called "square" loads. The 28, the 20, the 16 and the 12 all pattern best with a particular weight. Different wads, a short forcing cone or a longer forcing cone, the barrel's bore size, condition of bore, choke parallel and shot hardness and shot size all contribute to efficient and effective patterning. http://www.sidebysideshotgun.com/articles/balance_loads_article.html