Recently I traded for a clean, vintage Stevens 311A 12 GA 30" SXS 2-3/4 inch choked M&F, made in Chicopee Falls. Other than refinishing the stock with shellac or linseed oil and not cleaning it well, the previous owner(s) maintained the gun in reasonably good shape. Case color on the receiver is about 90%. The breech locks up tightly against the face and barrels sit flat against the water table. The wood appears to be original. My question has to do with the barrel contours about 4-6 inches down from the breech. After cleaning and oiling the barrels inside and out I noticed some ?waviness? in the area mentioned on the exterior. I can feel a slight undulation by running my finger across the area. But it's similar on both barrels although more pronounced on the right one. Bores of both barrels appear pristine inside without any hint of a bulge, ring or dent. And the rib is cleanly attached in the aforementioned area and throughout its entire length. Since the barrels show no signs of having been fired with an overload or 3 inch shells, what gives? I can't believe that the previous owner would have fired 3 inch shells in both barrels. Or for that matter overloaded both the same way. Is this where/how Stevens regulated the barrels to converge to point of aim, or am I looking at a problem? Is this a usual contour for a Stevens in the area described? Can anyone comment, or even better check the barrels on other Stevens doubles and compare notes? The date code inside the tiny circle stamped on the frame in front of the trigger guard says 20F. Does that help? Both barrels have markings, but no dates. The left says : Proof Tested -- 12 Gauge; the right says: SELECTED FORGED STEEL. Also, after carefully viewing the inside of both bores again from the breech under a brighter flashlight, still can't detect any hint of a ring or bulge in the interior bores in front of either chamber. Your comments and advice will be much appreciated before I fire the gun.
(I posted this question on another forum but have not yet received any replies.)
