Anyone still bolt action shotgun hunt?

Would add the bogus lawsuit against Sears (JC Higgins) put a real dent in Bolt action shotguns. It also resulted is prolly 10s of thousands of Boltless shotguns. Our shop would buy them for next to nothing and sell the bolt back to the lawsuit guys for $160.
While this was for the 12 gauge i understand any JC Higgins (hi standard) shotgun bolt was accepted for the award. The news about the bolt created a certain level of distrust to makers of any bolt action shotgun of the period. IMHO there was nothing wrong with them except a screw loose in the operators.

The press release from Sears read as follows:

Sears Issues Voluntary Recall on J.C. Higgins Shotgun

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., March 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Sears, Roebuck and Co.
(NYSE: S) today announced a voluntary recall of J.C. Higgins Bolt Action
12-Gauge shotguns, a product manufactured for and sold by the company during
the 1950s.
The shotguns are being voluntary recalled due to a potential problem with
the bolt latch assembly, which could cause the assembly to fail allowing it to
dislodge and strike the operator in the face. Sears is offering a $160
finders' fee for the return of the bolt, making the shotgun inoperable.
The shotguns were sold in Sears stores and through its catalog as the
"J.C. Higgins Bolt Action 12-Gauge Model 10 Shotgun" during the 1950s. It was
carried under a number of product numbers: 583.13, 583.14, 583.15, 583.16,
583.17, 583.18, 583.19, 583.20, 583.21 and 583.22. The product model number
is engraved on the barrel of the shotgun.
Consumers are advised to immediately stop using the shotgun. Call
800-817-9165 for identification verification and instructions on return
procedures.
Sears, Roebuck and Co. discontinued the sale of all firearms and
ammunition in the early 1980s. Through its network of more than 830 full-line
stores and 2,500 off-the-mall stores, Sears is a leading retailer of apparel,
home and automotive products and services, serving more than 50 million
households.

SOURCE Sears, Roebuck and Co.
 
vintovka said:
Would add the bogus lawsuit against Sears (JC Higgins) put a real dent in Bolt action shotguns. It also resulted is prolly 10s of thousands of Boltless shotguns. Our shop would buy them for next to nothing and sell the bolt back to the lawsuit guys for $160.
While this was for the 12 gauge i understand any JC Higgins (hi standard) shotgun bolt was accepted for the award. The news about the bolt created a certain level of distrust to makers of any bolt action shotgun of the period. IMHO there was nothing wrong with them except a screw loose in the operators.

The press release from Sears read as follows:

Sears Issues Voluntary Recall on J.C. Higgins Shotgun

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., March 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Sears, Roebuck and Co.
(NYSE: S) today announced a voluntary recall of J.C. Higgins Bolt Action
12-Gauge shotguns, a product manufactured for and sold by the company during
the 1950s.
The shotguns are being voluntary recalled due to a potential problem with
the bolt latch assembly, which could cause the assembly to fail allowing it to
dislodge and strike the operator in the face. Sears is offering a $160
finders' fee for the return of the bolt, making the shotgun inoperable.
The shotguns were sold in Sears stores and through its catalog as the
"J.C. Higgins Bolt Action 12-Gauge Model 10 Shotgun" during the 1950s. It was
carried under a number of product numbers: 583.13, 583.14, 583.15, 583.16,
583.17, 583.18, 583.19, 583.20, 583.21 and 583.22. The product model number
is engraved on the barrel of the shotgun.
Consumers are advised to immediately stop using the shotgun. Call
800-817-9165 for identification verification and instructions on return
procedures.
Sears, Roebuck and Co. discontinued the sale of all firearms and
ammunition in the early 1980s. Through its network of more than 830 full-line
stores and 2,500 off-the-mall stores, Sears is a leading retailer of apparel,
home and automotive products and services, serving more than 50 million
households.

SOURCE Sears, Roebuck and Co.
Click to expand...
THAT'S THE ONE WE HAVE! Yeah, I can see how it'd be easy to not righted the screw all the way down. After all, it's a singular screw that holds the bolt in the receiver.
 
I've got an old Lakefield (Mossberg) 12ga hand-me-down from when my grandpa passed. It had belonged to his older brother who was convinced no finer shotgun had ever been made. It's got the poly-choke and I had aspirations of cranking it down and whacking turkeys with it. Never got around to it, but I still have it.

I picked up a Marlin Slugster or some such years ago. Bolt action, 3"...before straight wall rifles were legal in Ohio. Thought it would be the closest I'd get to deer hunting with a rifle here. Scoped it...shot it off bags and never made it past 2 shots. Most brutal thing I've ever shot off bags and I had no desire to suffer through however many it took to sight it in. Told my dad there ain't a deer in Ohio worth going through that misery. Sold it the next day and stuck with the old 870Wingmaster.
 
I still have a Mossberg bolt in 16ga. It's parked behind the door in my reloading room. It got demoted out of the safe on one of my last 2 purchases.
It was my first shotgun, and I can't part with it, but I am unsure what to do with it. I could always buy another or a bigger safe :)
-Jeff
 
My first shotgun was a cut down Marlin bolt gun with the two round steel mag. Barrel was 20" and it kicked a lot. I loved it, but at 15 I loved anything that went boom. I have a 410 bolt Stevens at the moment. It needs a choke screwed back on it. Once I locate a choke I'm using it for jumping forest grouse.
 
Appalachiannative said:
The tube fed ones are the best IMO. box magazines and shotguns don't mix in my book.
Click to expand...
I agree, having shot a box fed one. I think the only real downside to the tube fed ones is the fact that you have to be somewhat judicious when working the action .
 
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I own a Mossberg 185 K 20 gauge. It is a nice light gun with a polychoke. I load only two shells into the gun....the first shell is loaded into the breech and the second into the magazine. Always feeds properly. Bolt is smooth enough that a second shot can be had quickly by simply rotating the bolt up and back with a flick of the wrist and the rotating forward and down with the thumb catching the bolt.
 
I also have a Mossberg 185K in 20-gauge that I currently use as HD backup. It's loaded with No. 6 shot in the full choke setting.

I use No. 6 because it's what I have at the moment but would prefer using something else if much better than No. 6 What size shot and choke setting would be best for HD in this shotgun?
 
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One can learn to work a bolt fast without conscious thought. When I was 17, I once shot a triple on incoming wood ducks with my dad's J.C. Higgins 16 gauge bolt action. I could toss a can in the air an hit it twice before it hit the ground. I'm 74 now, and haven't bird hunted in a long time.
 
I have a very old stevens .410 bolt action tube fed. The stock is shattered and the metal is rusty. It is held together with lots of duct tape. It won the ugliest gun contest some time ago and sits in the corner of the garage. It has accounted for untold numbers of squirrels and other disposable varmints and has never been cleaned in 3+ decades. It is worth less than a box of the cheapest 410's but has never failed me and all those who have used it. May post a pic but the inverse of eye candy.
 
earlthegoat2 said:
Only for slug shooting.

Savage 220 with Leupold Vari-X 3 1.5-5x20

Got the gun last year on GB for $180 shipped and transferred. (Without scope) I guess not enough lefties were looking at that particular moment because that was a hot deal.

The only reason I bid was because I saw the starting bid of $125 and I was not going to let anyone get it for that price so I put $200 for the bid just so any other joker would have to pay over $200. Well, I was the only bidder and got it for $125.:cool:

View attachment 1102296
Click to expand...
Savage is a good one! You did good!
 
I just recently got an old.410 bolt gun that's my new go to for squirrels. Stevens model 39A. A rare variant of the model 59. Basically the same except the front screw on the trigger guard is also the take down on the 39A and the 59 has a separate take down in front of the guard
 
Last edited:
i have my dads 39A and my own 59A. i was hoping to use it to rebuild dads shot out gun. there is enough dimensional differences to kill that thought.
...also have a savage 58 clip fed. even though i shoot sporting clays and five stand with a citori my walk in the woods is with the 59a or the 58.
 
Love my Browning A-Bolt 12 gauge. Shoots 300 grain slugs and I have a Leupold Firedot scope on it. Usually get one deer during our two-week shotgun season.
 
dieselchief said:
i have my dads 39A and my own 59A. i was hoping to use it to rebuild dads shot out gun. there is enough dimensional differences to kill that thought.
...also have a savage 58 clip fed. even though i shoot sporting clays and five stand with a citori my walk in the woods is with the 59a or the 58.
Click to expand...
I know what you mean, well sorta, I'm no clay shooter but I have been year after year moving to smaller lighter guns for hunting. Started with a 12 gauge pump then a 12 gauge SXS, then I started using a 12 gauge single shot, briefly tried a 16 gauge auto, went quickly to a 20 gauge single shot now I like this bolt action .410 repeater the best. A pump would be nice and all but its fun using something no body else you know has ain't it?
 
Something like 20 years ago I read a fascinating article in the old Shotgun News about why bolt-action shotguns were so popular in the 1950's. It was the writer's theory that millions of men who had never handled firearms had been introduced to them during their military service in WW2. They returned from the war eager to shoot, but with relatively empty pockets. The author of the piece wrote that bolt-action shotguns were cheap to produce, so a lot of vets snapped up these less expensive guns for a good price.
 
I have killed truckloads of bunnies and squirrels with an old New Haven (Mossberg) 410. It’s an absolute turd, the action feels terrible, trigger is terrible, there is NO primary extraction cam to assist withdrawing hulls after firing, but it’s light, it’s fun, it goes bang, and stuff on the other end stops moving.
 
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