Anybody using bolt action shotguns?

[gun toting monkeyboy]

I am not talking about the modern ones with the rifled barrels. I am talking about the old-school smooth bore repeaters. I have been watching them on Gunbroker for a while now because many of them are C&Rs. It looks like there are tons of them going for $50-75. There are a lot of 16 gauges on the lower end, but also 12s and 20s. With as cheap as these things are to pick up, has anybody tried them out? Or has anybody had one of these passed down to them? I vaguely remember using one when I was a kid visiting my grandfather's house. But I was maybe 12 at the time. But in over 20 years of shooting sports as an adult, I can't remember ever seeing one at a range. I have seen one or two .410 single shots in that time, but nothing else. What about you guys?

-Mb

[knucklehead0202]

there's a ton of them in closets all around. the shop my dad works at had a few and they actually sold all or most of them i think. one of those things that'll sit around for years and one day someone sees it and says "hey that's neat, my dad used to have one! i'll take it" kinda thing. they're simple and they work, can't argue that.

[wilit]

I thought about buying one with a polychoke. Thought it'd be fun to show up and shoot some trap with it.

[sargenv]

I've read that some of the older guns had some headspace problems, but they seem to be fairly solid otherwise.. you don't see many of them in use since you don't get a very fast follow up shot.. Working a bolt is generally going to be a lot slower than working a slide action and a lot slower than a semi-auto..

[gun toting monkeyboy]

Yeah, Sears recalled their J C Higgins brand 12 Gauge models 583.11-583.22 shotguns. They could blow up with excessive headspace. But none of the other models or brands seem to be effected. I have a 583.23 (the updated model) with a polychoke coming now. It was less that $100. I could have gotten a 16 gauge cheaper, but I won this auction first. I'll try it out when it gets here.

-Mb

[Paper Boy]

I know someone who has one, and I almost bought one last time I was at the gun store. I wish I had now. It was 75 bucks and looked decent.

[mountainman1911]

I have one in .410, Westernfield 20 inch barrel, shot it since I was 8. Not the best but for raccoon, rabbit and goofing around on the farm its great.

[CSACANNONEER]

Back in college, I bought a 20G for $35 from a newpaper add. I either sold or traded it off as soon as I was able get home and pick up an old beat up 500. I prefer single shots to bolt action shotguns.

[KWalkerM]

i would love a bolt action 10 gauge for geese. too bad the only ones i have found are damascus barrels.

[SilentPea]

I have an older H&R 12ga with an adjustable choke on it. 2 in the tube and one in the chamber.

It is quite the fun gun for shiggles -- I have shot trap, skeet, and sporting clays with it. I shoot consistently better with a modern 20ga O/U, but it is still fun to see peoples faces when I'm (sometimes) hitting true pair doubles with a bolt action.

[plumbum]

I really love the old 'store branded' bolt actions, cheap, effective and idiot resistant. They are one of the items I wouldn't pass on - I think of them as party favors for SHTF.

[cal3gunner]

...

[MasterrEugene]

Someone please let me know how this works out. If you bought an old bolt action 12gauge, on gunbroker, would u still have to get it thru an FFL or could you get it delivered to your doorstep?

[gun toting monkeyboy]

Someone please let me know how this works out. If you bought an old bolt action 12gauge, on gunbroker, would u still have to get it thru an FFL or could you get it delivered to your doorstep?

Many of us have our C&R FFLs. So many of these old guns can be shipped directly to us. No other FFL needed. If it is not a C&R, or you haven't gotten your C&R FFL yet, it will need to go to a regular FFL for the transfer. Which wipes out any savings you might get by buying it online. The bottom line here is that you need to go get your C&R.

-Mb

[dls]

I have one in .410, Westernfield 20 inch barrel, shot it since I was 8. Not the best but for raccoon, rabbit and goofing around on the farm its great.

I'm pretty sure I have the same one,buried in the safe,It has a detachable mag.
It was my Grandpa's