Safety Question about older Shotgun

[nate392]

Ok so I recently bought a 12 Gauge Marlin 43a shotgun that were made from 1922-1933, so I contacted Marlin Firearms with questions about if they had any info on the serial, restoration services etc(they were very helpful btw). What they told me however was also interesting and made me think more though. They said the Shotgun was not safe to shoot because older shotshells worked under less pressure, and with modern rounds it was not safe to shoot.
Now as far as i know , the working pressure of a shotgun is typically 10,000 to 12,000 psi. I have not been able to find any info but what did 2 3/4 12 guage shells pressure out as, and besides not being made of a plastic outer how were they different in the 20's, 30's?
Is it possible that Marlin gave me that disclaimer because they didnt want to be liable because it is older?. I am wondering if I use a very light load if it might be safe to shoot?..if u cant tell I want to shoot it, but then again I don't exactly want it blowing up in my face either. I find this interesting because I wonder if all the older shotguns I see in stores, do people buy them just as non shooters or?.
Any help is appreciated, thanks

 

[jnormanh]

Guns from the 20s and 30s can be perfectly safe to shoot with modern ammo. I shot my father's Rem M11 (built 1906) for many years. have a competent gunsmith check it out, and if he says okay, shoot it.

 

[dfariswheel]

I answered this on another forum, but I'll summarize it here:

Many guns made back in those days were made of metals and heat treating in both the action and the barrel that aren't up to todays propellants with their different pressure curves.

You can write this off as lawyer-speak CYA, but when the company that made something tells you it's not suitable for use with modern ammo....... Only an absolute fool doesn't listen.

 

[kirbythegunsmith]

Some details

This gun has a design not like many others out there, and vintage is not the main reason for avoiding firing this weapon.

There are many fancy rifles built on 98, 03 (exc. low #), US Enfield, and others from before that time, but the LOCK-UP of your gun can be a real problem.

A rifle has 2 big bolt lugs, a safety lug, but old design weak link is the blow-thru design when you puncture a primer or a case lets go: gas can travel through to the back of the bolt shroud and into your face.

Your shotgun has a separate bolt head that is stuck onto a long spud that rocks up and down at the back end to lock into a recessed area, and the amount of purchase it has in that cut-out and the security of the parts that keep it held in position, may be subject to wear, and leave you with low overhang or bolt head wobble, so something might slip. Have you seen loose legs on a stepladder?
Old guns like Rem. 11 have a solid design, but the old metal fatigue weak link is the barrel extension that is screwed onto the end of the barrel. After a long time shooting, some of them (and even 870's) have swelled the chamber enough to help make the thread clearances less so.
Eventually the swelling may influence the extraction to make shells resistant to removal.

There is better metal and more precise treatment these days, but that doesn't mean older guns are built poorly, but they did need more metal for safety factor. There was less pressure and more variance in loads prior to SAAMI, but proofing of the new design told you how well the designed parts were, but only while they were new.

How much is your face worth to you?
Now that you own it, take out the firing pin, hang it over the mantle, and conjure a good story that Grampa used it to keep the Barrow gang at bay.

 

[mete]

I would agree .It's not just the pressure [ you could use the lowest pressure rounds -light target] It's a matter of less than good design ,weak metals ,worn out parts. When I was in gunsmithing school a fellow brought in a shotgun for repair . We suggested he use it as a wall hanger .He insisted on shooting it regularly .So we fixed one thing ,then another, then another !! No it never blew up but it sure spent lots of time and money in the shop !!

 

[nate392]

Great input, thanks