A dear friend left me a few of his old guns because he "...knew I would get their soul back and use 'em...". I use old Carl's Ithaca Featherlite almost exclusively for squirrels. I was able to share that with him before he passed. I came across the box o' parts that was his J.C. Higgins bolt action that he always wanted to get put back together. Why it was dis-assembled, I didn't ask at the time. A 12 gauge in fair to middlin' shape with just honest wear from a lifetime of use. I used acetone and extra fine steel wool to get what little was left of the original finish off. The wood was also darkened at the middle of the gun from being carried all over creation for years. The metal is soaking in Kroil right now. I'll try to get it as far apart as I can later today.
This is so cool, chadwimc. My first gun was a J.C. Higgins bolt action shotgun, in 16 gauge. I’m looking forward to seeing how things turn out.
Bolt action and single shots make better marksmen of those who would otherwise... never mind.. For those who understand, no explanation is needed. For those who don't understand, no explanation is possible.
I used to have a of mossberg 16 ga, with the adjustable accu choke. It was a shooter. Unfortunately, it was lost with the rest of guns in a old strip mine pond, which has since been filled in. I know were a 410 just like it is, that hopefully is passed down to my boys one day..
This one had a piece of foam behind the trigger. I don't know if that was to help keep old Carl's trigger finger from getting pinched or if something else is going on. It seems to function without the foam. 'Cept it sprays Kroil oil around when dry firing...
I grew up shooting a marlin 55. It is a bolt action. The detachable magazine was broken so in essence it was a single shot. I did just fine rabbit hunting growing up. I still don’t understand the idea behind a bolt action shotgun.