.....and just bought one.

A J. C. Higgins bolt action 12 gauge. It was online @ $125 plus shipping for a total of $155. The fact that it is a 28” Improved Cylinder intrigues me. We will see how it handles #7 1/2 and # 8 shot when it gets here. I saw these in the Sears catalogs for years.

Anybody here have one? Opinions??

Attached Images

	24B7A1CF-F57F-4811-B4B3-2C1544EF3269.jpeg (47.3 KB, 147 views)
	F4C696D8-272D-415F-96EA-D65480E8C064.jpeg (40.7 KB, 118 views)
	3F57FDE8-F742-433E-B95F-EC9651720E63.jpeg (41.6 KB, 110 views)
	4E0E37C9-D261-4738-9D3C-D09BD373FA45.jpeg (49.0 KB, 109 views)

I like it!

I was looking at the same model the other day at a gun store, but it had a big, clunky-looking homemade stock, so I didn't want it.

I need to get off my rear and eventually get a bolt action shotgun. Just because I never had one.

Congrats on your purchase!

If that's a Sears Modl 583.20 (can't quite read it in the pic), those have been on a recall since the 90's.

Their explanation of what the problem actually is with the guns is somewhat hazy when you read the statement(s) from S/R &Co.
Here's part of it:
".. The retailer said it is recalling the J.C. Higgins bolt action 12-gauge shotguns due to a potential problem with the bolt latch assembly. A spokeswoman for Sears said if the assembly failed, the bolt latch could dislodge and strike the operator in the face..."

Sears used to offer a $160 for simply returning the bolt assembly to Sears.
Then later that offer was changed to a Sears store credit voucher, it can't remember the amt.
I honestly don't know if Sears even still does the recall on these anymore.

The shotguns were made in the 1950's and maybe the early 60's. Seems to me people have told me that High standard actually made them, but that may be wrong. Stevens perhaps or H&R,,really doesn't matter.

With all that said, you'll find more 'It's never happened to me' storys on the net about the problem than anything else and how the guns have with stood everything ever loaded.

Just an FYI I guess, take it for what it's worth.
Here's a link to at least one of the recall notices early on from Sears. It lists the Sears Model numbers involved,,there are several.
Sears recalling 1950's era shotguns - Mar. 13, 1998

Safe to shoot??,,,
Don't ask me,,I still shoot Low# 03 Springfields and Damascus BBl'd shotguns w/ smokeless powder..

I had one for many years. I always wanted to have it rebarreled with a rifled slug barrel. Money got tight once and it got sold. Never had a problem with it. Have fun with yours.

__________________
1SG, USA (Ret)

I have a 20 gauge full choked one.
It's rolled a lot of rabbits.
A friend always shot fast at partridge.
I let them even out and nailed most with it also.

__________________
Paul
S&WCA #2726

Congratulations , great shotgun good price. Most certainly it was made by High Standard but debate exists about that, if High Standard built all of them. The recall is nonsence, Google has all sorts of stories about it. The short story is that if you are a complete moron you can hurt yourself with one. Bolt shotguns can be addictive, not much compititation for them so there cheap, and a variety exist. I am a sucker for a anthing with a polychoke, espically in 410 and 16 ga. It took some searching but I found a Marlin goose gun, a Western Field slugster, and what has got to be the stupidest, most clumsy and ugliest shotgun ever, a Stevens 124.

It was my grandfathers shotgun. I used to hunt rabbits and squirrels with it when I was a kid. I haven't shot it in a long time and probably won't anymore, but it is a treasure.

Many years ago, I had one, and so did my friend, Pete. Both 12 gauge. I cut mine down and traded it off, Pete had his for years. He called it "Mr. Higgins", and he could hit anything with it. He could even hit stuff with slugs out to about 70 or 80 yards, looking down the barrel and using the bead as a sight.

They don't have the classic look of an 870, but they sure work.

Very Interesting. Any reliable reviews online?

I had one I shared with my brother. In 1966, my first hunting season, I doubled on ducks one time. You have to know how thick they were that opening day to do that. Brother still has possession of it.

__________________
Front sight and squeeze

I've got one I picked up at a garage/yard/tag sale about twenty years ago. The guy I bought it from was saying something about a $50 Sears gift card. I offered him $60 CASH and he jumped all over my offer.


I've used mine to take a few armadillo and skunks, bunches of tree rats and one big fat doe that wandered too close to the tractor barn (10 yard neck shot with a Remington rifled slug.) No problem out of mine in the approximately 20 years I've owned it.


BTW, mine lives in in the tractor barn in a Bianchi "Blue Bag" (Remember those???) and a wipe down coat of Lucas Motor Assembly Lube. I don't think mine has been shot in the last ten years. I'll have to rectify that this weekend.


Class III

Thought that old shotgun looked familiar.
Checked the safe I have one in 16 ga....exact model.
I think I bought it out of a pawn shop years ago for
less than a C note. It is actually in pretty good condition.

Own three of them. Two 16’s and a 20. One of the 16’s was my dad’s, I grew up hunting with this shotgun. It has accounted for hundreds of squirrels back in the 60’s, also a fair amount of rabbits. The other 16 belonged to my grandfather ( my dad’s father). The 20 belonged to a cousin that I grew up with, it has also accounted for a truck load of squirrels. These shotguns have been in my family for 60 plus years. I still hunt squirrels with my dad’s 16 and the 20. Good solid shotguns. Good memories of day’s gone by attached to all of them. I certainly have more “high speed” shotguns, but these old bolt guns still get the job done.