[fghtngsquirrel]

I have acquired a 1973 Weatherby shotgun that was my father's. My knowledge of shotguns are slim to none, but I have heard that modern shells can damage older barrels.

Would this be the case for a shotgun from 1973? Any help on this would be appreciated, as I would rather sell it and get something more modern than to damage it.

Thanks!

[Ron James]

By any stretch of the imagination, 1973 is NOT an antique firearm (good grief). It is considered a modern firearm in every aspect.:banghead:

[rcmodel]

A 1973 shotgun is not an Antique!

Good grief man!
It's only 35 years old!

It is perfectly safe to shoot with any modern ammo, except perhaps steel shot loads.

It is old enough to not have been approved for steel shot use.

rcmodel

[rcmodel]

(good grief).
Good grief man!

Great minds think alike! :D

BTW: I probably got underwear older then your Weatherby shotgun!

[Friendly, Don't Fire!]

I have on right now, a pair of Duo-Fold long underwear that are as old as your gun (and they still look like new, washed of course)!

Back in 1973, I remember buying shotgun shells that said on the box "do not use these shells in damascus or twist steel barrels." To me, back then, I was thinking of shotguns that were made around the turn of the century, or even older, or made in some third world country.

I'm sure your 1973 Weatherby shotgun has a barrel(s) that is anywhere as good as today's barrels, perhaps in some respects, even better! If that Weatherby is in any kind of GOOD condition, just clean it up, oil it and have fun shooting it!

Remember, do not put any shells into it that it is not designed for. It will tell you somewhere on the gun what legnth shells to use (2 3/4" magnums, 3" magnums, etc.). I doubt that 3 1/2" shells were even made back then, so be sure you don't buy any 3 1/2" shells (or you just might turn a perfectly good gun into a piece of junk scrap metal -- and could injure yourself and/or others in the process).

See if you can locate an owner's manual for it!

[fghtngsquirrel]

Thanks for the responses! I knew that I would probably get some people with the word "antique", though being 21 yr old, it is quite a bit older than me!

I will try to locate the owner's manual, but again thank you for all of the information!

[Ash]

Generally, antique refers, in the firearms community, to anything before 1898 as it is a legal term. Otherwise, antique applies to something from the 1930's or earlier. However, in firearms, there are many 1930's shotguns still killing squirrels.

I consider my 1940's 410 to be up to snuff, my 1960's sporting rifles (22, 308, 30-06, and 7mm Mag), WWII and WWI Milsurps, or even my legally antique Mosins to be fully capable of modern ammo.

You stepped in a bit of a mine-field, but that is okay. You have a good shotgun capable of any modern ammo.

Ash

[the foot]

fghtngsquirrel, clean up that shotgun and use it for 50 years.

My quail gun for the past 48 years is an LC Smith 16 gauge, circa 1920, that I inherited from one of my uncles. Never had a problem.

[Dave McCracken]

If 1973 is antique, some of mine are prehistoric.

Your shotgun will suffice for a couple more generations. I'd skip steel shot and turkey loads, but I'm hypercautious.

[KINGMAX]

How about an ECLPISE SHOTGUN?

[Dr. Fresh]

I'm 22 and even I laughed. No hard feelings or anything, it'd be old if it was a car, but guns last forever. My oldest gun is probably my 91/30, but I used to have a Steyr M95 that was probably pre-WWII. Old guns rock. Enjoy your Weatherby!

[Dave McCracken]

Kingmax, according to Harley's masterwork, Eclipse shotguns were imported by H R Meacham.

Probably Belgian is my guess, and pre WWII. Maybe WWI.

[Ash]

Your Steyr M95 was most certainly pre WWII. It was pre WWI.

Ash