I love bolt action shotguns !
- Thread starter Scott in NCal
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DWalt
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I always wondered who the maker of those Higgins bolt action shotguns was. I once heard it was Hi-Standard but have no idea if that is true. The Higgins I am familiar with (previously mentioned) had a tube magazine, not a box magazine. I neither liked or disliked it. It was just an inexpensive repeater that would do its job just as well as a Winchester Model 12, but maybe with a little less class and style.
GypsmJim
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My family didn't have a lot of money. I got my first job at 15. Half the money I earned that Summer went for a Mossberg 195 Bolt Action 12 gauge. When I turned 16 I shot many a deer with that gun. When not deer hunting rabbits and squirrels came easy. After College, with a decent Engineering job I finally was able to buy (what y'all might call) a "decent" shotgun. I still kept the ole' bolt.
When my first son got of age, he inherited the ole' Mossberg. Got a lot of deer with it as well. Ditto my second son.
After 45 years of a professional career, and having many classic S&Ws, Registered Magnums, Browning 12 gauges, etc, I still have the ole' precious bolt 12 ga.
If Armageddon ever happens, that bolt 12 gauge will be the last I ever get rid of. It's simple the best firearm I ever owned. Anyone that says otherwise is simply a gun snob......IMHO.
When my first son got of age, he inherited the ole' Mossberg. Got a lot of deer with it as well. Ditto my second son.
After 45 years of a professional career, and having many classic S&Ws, Registered Magnums, Browning 12 gauges, etc, I still have the ole' precious bolt 12 ga.
If Armageddon ever happens, that bolt 12 gauge will be the last I ever get rid of. It's simple the best firearm I ever owned. Anyone that says otherwise is simply a gun snob......IMHO.
me too
I was given a 16 ga Kessler by a friend of my dad's when I was 13. It had a 30 inch bbl and a full choke. My dad's friend supposedly used it for duck hunting--I used it for small game for years and passed it on to my younger brother--he used it and has now passed it on to one of his sons.
It was big and ugly -- but sure had a lot of fun and good stories with it.
I was given a 16 ga Kessler by a friend of my dad's when I was 13. It had a 30 inch bbl and a full choke. My dad's friend supposedly used it for duck hunting--I used it for small game for years and passed it on to my younger brother--he used it and has now passed it on to one of his sons.
It was big and ugly -- but sure had a lot of fun and good stories with it.
beagleye
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I am no expert, but I have heard those Geha's have a design flaw which is possibly hazardous. But as you say, there's not much of a demand.
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ArmyRover
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I have a old .410 bolt action from Sears and Roebuck. Not a bad old shotgun.
chopshopcop
Member
Based on the description it was most likely a Stevens mod. 59A. Bolt action .410, tube magazine. This is the first gun I ever owned, my dad gave it to me for Christmas when I was around 12 years old. I still have it now 50 years later. Still shoot it occasionally, runs like a Swiss watch. I did have to put a new stock on it though. When I was around 15 years old, I'd climbed a tree to get a better shot at a squirrel and fell out. Only fell about five feet but the gun landed butt first and split the stock all the up to the chamber. Took me a couple of years to locate a stock, finally found one through Shotgun News.
Based on my research, mine was manufactured sometime between 1934 and 1940 because it has no serial number and the barrel is marked J.Stevens. Apparently they dropped the letter "J" and shortened the company name to Stevens in 1940 and the model 59B replaced this model in 1949.
Good little gun, fun to shoot.
I read once a bolt gun is a single shot with a convenient place to store extra ammunition. That being said, I own a Marlin 55s quick pointing rugged reliable. I like it.
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DWalt
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Geha shotguns were made in Germany after WWI by using military 8mm Mauser actions. The only thing locking the bolt closed is the bolt handle, so it's difficult to consider them to be safe to shoot. They had some breech face piece attached to the bolt, and it is often missing, and is irreplaceable. A good condition and complete Geha is a fairly desirable collectible to Mauser collectors.
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The Geha (and the Remo brand) shotguns built on the Mauser 98 actions use the Mauser 98's 'safety lug' as the locking lug for their system.
It's the 3rd lug forged in place on the bolt body and a lug recess machined in the rear bridge of the 98 action for it.
In the rifle configuration, the 3rd lug has a small bit of clearance and doesn't actually seat in normal operation. Just there for it's name-sake,,a safety to catch the bolt in the ultra rare instance of complete failure of the front 2 lug system.
In the shotgun conversions, the safety lug does take the brunt of the load, but it's more than capable. Most commercial bolt shotguns use the bolt handle shank base against the tubular steel receiver.
Those handles are more often than not a separate piece brazed or even just screwed and staked into place.
The 12ga Mauser conversions have the original front locking lugs machined away in the receiver altogether to make room for the 12ga shell.
The 16 and 20 most often have a small engagement surface still remaining, but the bolt body has no lugs left on it so it doesn't help.
The bolt itself in all of them is machined up front to remove the locking lugs and bolt face. In it's place a separate bolt head is mfg'rd and simply sits in place inside the bolt body with the larger head of it outside and riding in the raceway.
The rifle extractor is modified to hold the new bolt head in place with simple spring 'snap' action and to extract the larger case head of the shot shell.
The bolt head does not rotate in manipulation,,the bolt body does.,,like a Mannlicher action now.
The problem with these is that the separate bolt head is easily detached. You simply pull it out of the bolt overcoming the spring tension of the extraction holding it in place.
The bolt heads have a habit of popping off during use and you may not notice.
The hazzard is that you can then still chamber a live round and fire that round as the firing pin and spring are still there and reach the shell. But there's nothing supporting the round in the chamber.
Much excitement exits the rear of the open chamber towards the shooter when this happens!
Separate bolt heads are almost impossible to find as replacements and are usually not a drop in fit anyway.
Many of these guns are sold with that part missing and the owners/buys not even knowing any different.
Most of the shotguns are stocked up in simple cut down military wood. But some were done in very nicely made custom stocks with the same likes and features as the pre-war Mauser sporters of the era.
Solid rib bbl, paneled stocks, checkering, ect. There are some really nice examples around.
It's the 3rd lug forged in place on the bolt body and a lug recess machined in the rear bridge of the 98 action for it.
In the rifle configuration, the 3rd lug has a small bit of clearance and doesn't actually seat in normal operation. Just there for it's name-sake,,a safety to catch the bolt in the ultra rare instance of complete failure of the front 2 lug system.
In the shotgun conversions, the safety lug does take the brunt of the load, but it's more than capable. Most commercial bolt shotguns use the bolt handle shank base against the tubular steel receiver.
Those handles are more often than not a separate piece brazed or even just screwed and staked into place.
The 12ga Mauser conversions have the original front locking lugs machined away in the receiver altogether to make room for the 12ga shell.
The 16 and 20 most often have a small engagement surface still remaining, but the bolt body has no lugs left on it so it doesn't help.
The bolt itself in all of them is machined up front to remove the locking lugs and bolt face. In it's place a separate bolt head is mfg'rd and simply sits in place inside the bolt body with the larger head of it outside and riding in the raceway.
The rifle extractor is modified to hold the new bolt head in place with simple spring 'snap' action and to extract the larger case head of the shot shell.
The bolt head does not rotate in manipulation,,the bolt body does.,,like a Mannlicher action now.
The problem with these is that the separate bolt head is easily detached. You simply pull it out of the bolt overcoming the spring tension of the extraction holding it in place.
The bolt heads have a habit of popping off during use and you may not notice.
The hazzard is that you can then still chamber a live round and fire that round as the firing pin and spring are still there and reach the shell. But there's nothing supporting the round in the chamber.
Much excitement exits the rear of the open chamber towards the shooter when this happens!
Separate bolt heads are almost impossible to find as replacements and are usually not a drop in fit anyway.
Many of these guns are sold with that part missing and the owners/buys not even knowing any different.
Most of the shotguns are stocked up in simple cut down military wood. But some were done in very nicely made custom stocks with the same likes and features as the pre-war Mauser sporters of the era.
Solid rib bbl, paneled stocks, checkering, ect. There are some really nice examples around.
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forrestinmathews
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Bolt action shotguns...limited use item. Slug gun...good. Other than that, it is essentially a single shot with onboard reserve ammunition. The recoil impulse is over with by the time the action is beginning to be cycled so it is much slower on follow up shots. I'd rather have a pump or double gun.
Sears has had different makers on their brand. They took bids on what
they wanted. Numerich has good cross reference on this in their catalog.
At one time the rumor was Sears caused demise of Hi Standard over a
Breach of Contract case.
they wanted. Numerich has good cross reference on this in their catalog.
At one time the rumor was Sears caused demise of Hi Standard over a
Breach of Contract case.
ArmyRover
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That they did if memory serves mine was made by Stevens
Qc Pistolero
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Very early,I started shooting pellet guns.Then,I remember at the age of 14,I went to my uncle who decided this was the day for me to become a man(1968)!
He drove his light brown Mercury Meteor out of the city and when we were far enough in a small road far away from any house,he stopped the car,opened up the trunk and got a Mossberg 12ga bolt action out.I remember being impressed by the adjustable choke at the end of the barrel looking like the guizmo at the end of tank's cannon.
He got an empty can of oil(I remember the heavy colored cardboard with metal top and bottom) and after loading the shotgun,handed it to me and asked me to hit the can...which he pitched up in the air.I remember taking carefull aim as in firing a rifle and let her roar!
I don't think I've hit the can.All I know is that I was laying back on the closed trunk of the Meteor and my uncle bent in half laughing!Of course,a 12ga's recoil compared to a pellet gun is like comparing the gentle caress of a maiden to the kick of an enraged mother in law!
When,about 20 years ago my uncle was to pass away to cancer,we both laughed through our tears at the souvenir of that day.Now,that shotgun is in my gunroom.
Yes,I like bolt action shotguns!
He drove his light brown Mercury Meteor out of the city and when we were far enough in a small road far away from any house,he stopped the car,opened up the trunk and got a Mossberg 12ga bolt action out.I remember being impressed by the adjustable choke at the end of the barrel looking like the guizmo at the end of tank's cannon.
He got an empty can of oil(I remember the heavy colored cardboard with metal top and bottom) and after loading the shotgun,handed it to me and asked me to hit the can...which he pitched up in the air.I remember taking carefull aim as in firing a rifle and let her roar!
I don't think I've hit the can.All I know is that I was laying back on the closed trunk of the Meteor and my uncle bent in half laughing!Of course,a 12ga's recoil compared to a pellet gun is like comparing the gentle caress of a maiden to the kick of an enraged mother in law!
When,about 20 years ago my uncle was to pass away to cancer,we both laughed through our tears at the souvenir of that day.Now,that shotgun is in my gunroom.
Yes,I like bolt action shotguns!
GypsmJim
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I copied your first statement and put it into my vault of "sayings to save"
Your second statement brought a tear to my old eyes because i have been there as well. Mu Uncle's old valueless gun is another of my prized possessions.
My older brother has a Mossberg 185K 20ga I sold him probably 25yrs ago.
He shoots it very well and very fast.
On the skeet range, doubles are no problem at all for him,,or 2 shots at a single bird. 3 shots at a double w/no trouble too.
I kept having to rebuild the thing as the trigger pin gets bent from the slamming it takes of the rapid bolt manipulation. The pin looked like a crankshaft after every 200rds or so. I made a new platform inside to accept a larger trigger pin (.125d) to avoid the bending. Hole in the trigger for the pin was oval shaped and starting to tear out. Had to repair and enlarge the trigger,,remake the safety to fit, ect.
Seems to be OK in that respect now. Old pin is .090d.
Had to limit the travel of the bolt striker head at the rear too so it wouldn't get locked out of it's channel in the bolt body when operated so fast.
A simple blind pin does that but removes the easy disassembly feature of the rear portion of the bolt. To get something you give up something.
Only had to disassemble that feature once since orig putting it together, not too bad,,just a new pin back in and belt ground flush again.
Three shots at a clay target before the first pieces hit the ground. A bolt action race gun,,who'd a thought.
They can be fast,,but It's mostly the shooter.
I could get the second shot off most times at a Skeet double w/one but the bird was just about to crash out there when I did.
So my adventures w/shooting a real factory made Bolt Shotgun were rather short and uninteresting to be sure.
I still have a Lee-Speed sporter (303) that I took the bbl off for some work.
In the mean time I put an SMLE 410 Ishapor bbl on it (same thread). I shoot that once in a while with 2 1/2" 410 reloads. It actually kinda feeds a second round from the magazine if you're nice to it.
Fun to break a skeet birdy or two with it.
That's my B/A shotgun for now.
Another Ishapor SMLE 410 is around somewhere but in disassembled condition and about in 'parts' condition.
He shoots it very well and very fast.
On the skeet range, doubles are no problem at all for him,,or 2 shots at a single bird. 3 shots at a double w/no trouble too.
I kept having to rebuild the thing as the trigger pin gets bent from the slamming it takes of the rapid bolt manipulation. The pin looked like a crankshaft after every 200rds or so. I made a new platform inside to accept a larger trigger pin (.125d) to avoid the bending. Hole in the trigger for the pin was oval shaped and starting to tear out. Had to repair and enlarge the trigger,,remake the safety to fit, ect.
Seems to be OK in that respect now. Old pin is .090d.
Had to limit the travel of the bolt striker head at the rear too so it wouldn't get locked out of it's channel in the bolt body when operated so fast.
A simple blind pin does that but removes the easy disassembly feature of the rear portion of the bolt. To get something you give up something.
Only had to disassemble that feature once since orig putting it together, not too bad,,just a new pin back in and belt ground flush again.
Three shots at a clay target before the first pieces hit the ground. A bolt action race gun,,who'd a thought.
They can be fast,,but It's mostly the shooter.
I could get the second shot off most times at a Skeet double w/one but the bird was just about to crash out there when I did.
So my adventures w/shooting a real factory made Bolt Shotgun were rather short and uninteresting to be sure.
I still have a Lee-Speed sporter (303) that I took the bbl off for some work.
In the mean time I put an SMLE 410 Ishapor bbl on it (same thread). I shoot that once in a while with 2 1/2" 410 reloads. It actually kinda feeds a second round from the magazine if you're nice to it.
Fun to break a skeet birdy or two with it.
That's my B/A shotgun for now.
Another Ishapor SMLE 410 is around somewhere but in disassembled condition and about in 'parts' condition.
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GypsmJim
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I agree with you about the slug gun reference.
For hunting ducks when a whole flock fly by, you might have a point. If you are deer hunting and need a second shot, you shouldn't be hunting deer.
In 50+ years of deer hunting I have never needed a second shot.
Electraclyde
Member
I have a Stevens model 58 bolt action, box magazine fed .410 shotgun that I got for my 8th birthday. Shot my first squirrel with it within the first month. Also shot my first rabbit with it several months later. Still have that gun, will never sell it even thou it has not been used in many years.
bigchuck83
Member
I have everything but the bolt from the savage/Stevens .20ga shotgun my dad and uncle used to hunt with and I used it some as well. If I ever find one at a pawn shop or gun show for a decent price I'm buying it
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DWalt
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"I read once a bolt gun is a single shot with a convenient place to store extra ammunition."
You can say the same thing about a pump, lever, or semiautomatic gun, shotgun or rifle.
You can say the same thing about a pump, lever, or semiautomatic gun, shotgun or rifle.
