JC Higgins Model 20

[dak0ta]

Just picked up a 12 ga JC Higgins Model 20. Some research shows it was made by High Standard and evolved into the High Standard Model 200 Flight King. Mine is a plain barrel full choke, doesn't have the Power-Pac choke system. The gun sold for $60 USD in 1948 Sears catalog which works out to be $642.25 USD today. I did not pay that much for it in 2020

Even more research indicates the main lead for designing the M1 Carbine, Frederick Humeston, designed this shotgun when he left Winchester for High Standard.

It is a lovechild between the Remington M31 and Winchester M12. It's pretty amazing how the USA was able to make high quality firearms back in the 1940-50s, even for the budget mail-order segment of the market.

Pros and Cons?

 

[shootbrownelk]

I have a JC Higgins/High Standard model 20. I got it 56 years ago when I was 16. I still have it and it still shoots great even though I shot the heck out of it through the years. My Dad bought it for me on my 16th. birthday. It was used then.

 

[dak0ta]

Any weak points in the design or deficiencies you've noted?

 

[Meeks36]

I've been looking for one for a while now. Seems they pop up when I'm broke. Killed my first deer with one. Grandpa passed it disappeared along with 99% of all his guns.

 

[George P]

The biggest cons will be finding parts should something breaks so scour the popular part sites like Gnu Parts (aka Numrich) for things like extractors, springs, etc - all the usual stuff

 

[dak0ta]

Initially the gun was very sluggish, and doing some tear down, the coil spring that sits on the magazine tube was worn/gummed up. Similar to the Win Model 12, it pushes back on the slide and forms a friction fit against the action bar release. You normally have to push forward to unlock the slide. I took this coil spring off, as did High Standard in later production when they transitioned to the Flite-King model. One of the gripes about these guns is the broken action bars, and that was thought to be attributed to this coil spring. It gives you a springy feel when you close the action rather than the solid lock up. Hence, shooters tried to over exert on the forward stroke to overcome the spring and this resulted in broken action bars. Upon disassembly, mine was welded back on. I think High Standard realized the spring was causing people to really work the action hard and breaking the action bar arm, so they just got rid of the coil spring. Overall, the gun is really well designed, and you can see the Remington 31 heritage and Mossberg 500 evolution in it. I cleaned out all the nooks with Hoppes No 9, then greased the shell stop pin and the shell lifter trunnions and reassembled. Now the action falls by gravity as it was designed to. Slicker than my Ithaca 37, and on par with the Model 12. The 870 Wingmaster doesn't come close to these classic pumps.

Impressions: Very solid gun. It's well-balanced and hefty in the hands. About 7-7.5 lbs I reckon, all steel receiver. Barrel is thick and threaded into receiver, should be accurate with slugs. Good trigger pull as per 1950s specifications of a good trigger. Jewelled bolt and shell lifter. Nice walnut stocks with decent figure. Monogram brass plate in stock. A lot of shotgun for a Sears Roebuck mail order catalog budget gun.

Gun probably was a closet gun, still not broken in. Had to pump it a few times to get it glass smooth.


Gravity-Assist Action