I have question for you shotgun experts.

Today at a yard sale I bought a Stevens 311 double barrel, double trigger, and can't find a manual on the net for info.
According to the Blue Book these guns were made with 28" and 30" barrels this one is 28. My thought is 28 would be have probably been modified, improved-modified, and 30" would be full?
It is 12 gauge so .729.
I have no way to measure the chamber or throat ( not sure what it is called on a shotgun) and only calipers for the muzzle, those are as best I can tell .710 right side and .705 on the left. The front trigger fires the right barrel.
Am I correct in assuming these barrels are modified choked .019 on the right and at improved-modified choked .024 on the left? or am I all wrong?

Most of the 311's that have crossed my bench had the choke marked on the barrel..usually near the breech, under the fore arm.

But I think your estimation is about right....improved/modified. Without knowing the ture bore diameter, then the muzzle diameter can just get us in the ball-park. Older guns (before modern shot cups) are usually bored with a tighter choke than modern guns (they've made the Sabvage 311 for a lot of years). So even if you are expecting mod. and improved, you just might get full and fuller.

From your measurements, you are about correct. I don't believe Stevens "intentionaly" made the 311 improved-modified. Most likely was intended to have one barrel impoved cylinder and the other modified choke. Yours must have met quality control stadards of the time.

I'd pattern test it with some lead #6 shotshells and see what the 30 inch circle tells you? It would be a fine "early in the season" pheasant blaster here in Iowa.

Cheezywan
Nice field guns they are BTW!

Thanks, I think this is a somewhat newer gun as it is Stevens but under that on the barrel says Savage Arms Westfield Ma. and it has 3 inch chamber's, serial # D1978XX I read the early guns didn't have Serial number's or at least some didn't.
No choke markings on the barrel that I can find anywhere.

I would prefer modified so hopefully this is.

It's a whole lot esier to take choke out of a barrel than it is to put it in....so even if it turens out to be full and mod., can have it become less choked.


For a good number of years hunted with an Ithica SXS that I converted to Full and Improved cylinder. Basically used it as two single barrels, but considering my speed on doubles, it worked out nicely for almost any use I could put it to.