Old Shotguns. What can you tell me about these?

[whitetailbowhunter]

Hey guys, I was cleaning up all of my guns this weekend and i began to wonder about the history of two of my grandfathers shotguns.

1.) Mossberg 200k

- My dad learned to deer hunt with this gun and my grandpa used it for rabbit hunting.

2.) J.C. Higgins 12 Gauge Bolt Action Model 583.20

-My grandpa used this gun to fill the freezer during shooting matches.

That is all i know about these two shotguns. They are really enjoyable to shoot, especially the bolt gun. What else do you guys know about them. Were they "so-so" guns at the time they were produced, or a great gun? Popular shotguns, or not? Date manufactured? Any info at all would be awesome! Thanks INGO

 

[PGRChaplain]

Here's a little Info on the J.C.; This is from the American Rifleman magazine;
HIGH STANDARD/J.C. HIGGINS, MODEL 10, 12 GAUGE BOLT ACTION SHOTGUN
AND SEARS MODEL NUMBERS: 583.13, 583.14, 583.15, 583.16, 583.17, 583.18, 583.19, 583.20, 583.21 AND 583.22
The model of shotgun may be subject to a BOLT FAILURE. When this occurs the bolt will dislodge from the action, striking the shooter causing serious injury. These shotguns were manufactured for and sold by Sears, Roebuck & Co. during the 1950's.
Call (800) 817-9165 for identification verification. Instructions for the return of the bolt and refund of $160.00 will be provided.
Source:
American Rifleman, April 1998; page 24

 

[HoughMade]

I have the same basic model of J.C. Higgins, mine is a 583.16. The consensus seems to be that no one who actually has one of these can figure out how the incident in question that led to the recall could have been the result of anything other than user error. The bolt is locked by the bolt handle and it is one piece with the bolt...and hefty, very hefty. The story is (as told by others), that the person with the injury was missing the bolt stop screw and hit themselves with the bolt when they yanked it back and that it was not an issue with firing the gun. I don't know for sure, but I've read that account many places.

No, the gun's not worth much....that's an understatement, but I'm holding onto mine and using it on the odd clay pigeon or large varmint as the need arises. It was my first 12ga and I'm keeping it.

Here is a link to an owner's manual.
http://stevespages.com/pdf/jchiggins_10.pdf


I don't know anything about the Mossberg.

 

[Hookeye]

My friend has the 200K. He's used it since he was a kid.
Aluminum or zinc trigger housing I believe, cheap casting whatever it is, wobbled out a screw hole.

Replace housing the proper fix. Didn't want to try that hard, so we epoxied it and it's been fine (screw only holds some tab/lever that doesn't really have a large load on it, proly a shell stop IIRC).

Works fine.

If it goes to heck he's right back where he was.

 

[whitetailbowhunter]

does anyone know... were they very popular guns at the time they were made? i'm not worried about what they are worth as i would never sell either firearm for sentimental reasons alone. Just wondered if there are a lot of them out there?

 

[Hookeye]

I've seen them over the years at gunshows. Not common, but not rare either.
Indiana pretty much always being a .22 rf and shotgun popular state, proly bumps up the numbers.

 

[Mgderf]

I have a J.C.Higgins 581.?? I think. It's a 16ga. bolt gun.

Given to me by a friend. Rarely sees any use, but it's still a viable option when I open ythe safe door.

Never even heard of the Mossberg 200K