I think any modification to such a classic gun would hurt it's value, with the possible exception of a recoil pad (as long as you retain the original pad and do not cut the stock).

The cost of the modifications you listed almost add up to the price of new gun.

The following is pricing from Briley:

Briley Thinwall chokes - $449
Adjustable comb - $400
New recoil pad - $125
Shipping (approximate) $100
______
Total $1074

 

I thought the old 101 already had mechanical triggers.
As far as modifying goes, the only thing I would do
to it, is the recoil pad. If you hand load you could
just use poly wad over-shot disc and make your own
spreader loads. Right now I am shooting a 32 inch
SKB o/u with full and full at skeet. The only place
I use the spreader loads is on station 8. A one ounce
load with the poly-wad spreader should give you a
really nice skeet load. It does not make any sense
putting a lot of money in an older out of production
gun like this, to me, at least. I shoot the full and full
with my 32 inch skb just fine at skeet, really don't notice
much difference from my skeet guns. I think the long
barrel helps a lot with the accuracy and giving a nice
heavy swing weight.

 

Hmmm...it would be a real shame to ruin that. For less than the cost of the mods you could by another gun already tricked out for skeet. Enjoy the 101 as is.

 

While your 101 is Def. a good gun, it's just not worth putting that much money in it. When I checked on my old 101 Briley $$$$$ was the only ones that would do choke tubes, not much barrel to work with.
There is a company called Beartooth that makes a comb raising kit. It's a neoprene sleeve (think arm section of a wetsuit) with several thickness's of foam pad. They work very well, and don't alter the gun at all. Cost ya all of 15 bucks, I think Cabela's sells them.

Shoot spreaders, or switch over to trap ;-) I too think the triggers are mechanical on the old 101.
Many hard core Winchester collectors have no interest in the 101, since they were not made in New Haven. The 101 was made in Japan by Olin Kodensha. There is not a lot of collector interest, and the fixed chokes hurt the value in the resale market.

Great gun, but not worth spending a ton of money on. I would do a recoil pad to correct the fit, and the aforementioned comb kit and call er good.

The old 101's are known to be "kickers" might look at changing the stock to make it comfortable to shoot. I have heard it's the pitch that causes the felt recoil, but don't have any personal experience. They are pretty lightweight for a dedicated clays gun.

 

I believe the Pigeon grade is the only 101 with inertia triggers. Mine definitely are. It'll cycle with 20ga shells as it is now. Maybe the triggers can wait until I'm sure this little experiment is worth the added cost.

I think I'll look into having the stock bent instead of the adjustable comb. I need to get my cheek into the stock more (cast on?). Right now it just doesn't fit.

Stock bending, open up the chokes to skeet, maybe forcing cones, recoil pad and call it good. If somewhere down the road I want to have the triggers done so it'll cycle the 28/410 I can do that later.

Coles Gunsmith is a few miles from my home in Naples FL. I'll bring it in this week. I think I'll have Mike Orlen do the barrel work. He did a nice job on an old Miroku last year. I spoke to him on the phone and he thinks screw in chokes are not an option, as someone already mentioned. Forcing cones will hopefully help with the recoil. He also said the high hinge pin is the reason it kicks like it does.

 

I have a 101 with Brily thin wall chokes in it. They work very well. I get a very good skeet pattern from this gun and chokes. I get better patterns from the very expensive extended chokes than I do the cheaper flush chokes. I shoot it sometimes at sporting clays and it is a good field gun.

The cheaper 101's have mechanical triggers but some of the more expensive ones have inertia triggers. Not sure Winchester really trusted the mechanical design. I have had to have the triggers re worked on my mechanical trigger model because it started doubling.

 

UPDATE:

I got had an adjustable comb installed and shot a few rounds of skeet with it today. Did fairly well considering the full/imp mod chokes. I still have a few problems that need to be addressed.

It won't cycle 20ga. I have a set of briley sidekick tubes, but the triggers don't like anything less than 12 ga. I'll obviously need to open up the chokes (planning on using Mike Orlen) and I'll need to replace the hard rubber recoil pad.

Any suggestions on who to use for the triggers? Is there a 101 expert out there somewhere?

Thanks.