Hello
I'm just getting into shotgunning after a one day trap shoot in my distant youth. After expressing my interest while visiting the in-laws my Father-in Law presented me with three shotguns from the basement. These had belonged to a deceased uncle of my wife and hadn't been used in quite a while.
The first one I'm thinking of using is a Breda 12ga semi-automatic. There are no model numbers or any other identifying marks on it other than the serial number, 517641. It has a choke tube mounted on external threads. The bore appears bright and on opening the bolt there are signs of wear but it is exceedingly clean. My guess it it hasn't be shot in 30 years or so as I was also provided with a cardboard box labelled "ammo". Inside I found a full box of paper hulled shells and two boxes of "new and revolutionary" plastic hulls. (Also some 000 buck which I have no idea what I'd ever use that for.)
In preparation for using it I've been doing some fiddling and this is what I know:
Some of my questions are:
Any information you can provide would be appreciated. If our relatively mild weather holds I'd like to take it out next weekend.
I'm just getting into shotgunning after a one day trap shoot in my distant youth. After expressing my interest while visiting the in-laws my Father-in Law presented me with three shotguns from the basement. These had belonged to a deceased uncle of my wife and hadn't been used in quite a while.
The first one I'm thinking of using is a Breda 12ga semi-automatic. There are no model numbers or any other identifying marks on it other than the serial number, 517641. It has a choke tube mounted on external threads. The bore appears bright and on opening the bolt there are signs of wear but it is exceedingly clean. My guess it it hasn't be shot in 30 years or so as I was also provided with a cardboard box labelled "ammo". Inside I found a full box of paper hulled shells and two boxes of "new and revolutionary" plastic hulls. (Also some 000 buck which I have no idea what I'd ever use that for.)
In preparation for using it I've been doing some fiddling and this is what I know:
- Pulling the bolt handle all the way back will lock it open.
- The choke tube appears to be marked QUENCHOKE M/M 0 50 (it's awfully small)
- Pressing the little button on the right side of the receiver (looks like the safety from my 10/22) closes the bolt forcefully.
- The loading gate (on the bottom) always seems to be locked so you cannot insert shells. The only time is it unlocked is when the bolt is closed and you push the afore-mentioned little button. At that point you can push the gate and it will lock open.
- There is a rotating lever on the left side of the receiver near the barrel. I have no idea what this is for but it turns a pointed "thingy" inside the receiver near the barrel.
Some of my questions are:
- Do I really have to load it with the bolt closed then cycle it to load a shell? Seems like kind of a pain for trap, only 1/2 a pain for something requiring two shots.
- Assuming the bolt holds open on the last shot (not sure as I haven't fired it yet) can I just load a single shell directly into the chamber and then gently close the bolt?
- What is that lever on the left front of the receiver? Does it matter how it is set?
Any information you can provide would be appreciated. If our relatively mild weather holds I'd like to take it out next weekend.
