Part of Americana?
 

OK guys,
Tell me if I am going off the deep end. I came across a J.C. Higgins 16 gauge bolt action with a poly choke in 98% condition. It is offered for a whopping price of $150.00. If you grew up in the '50's and '60's like I did, J.C. Higgins, Ted Williams, Firestone stores, etc. were all part of going huntin' and fishin' with dad. I just had to have it, and unlike in times past, I called out a series of numbers on a piece of plastic and suddently it became mine. Will I ever shoot it? You bet, next dove season, and I guarantee every one of my hunting buddies will ask me where in the @#$%^&$$#@# did I get that?

YUP! I remember those and Firestone Stores...

I still have my J. C. Higgins single-shot .22 in my safe...Bought new at Sears back in '63, IIRC...Birthday gift, I'm pretty sure...

I should fire it, and blow out all those spiders... :)

That brings back memories. A buddy had one and thought he was somethin else cuz all I had was a single shot. He probably was. I envied him. Glad ya got a nice one.

Charlie

I still have my 1957 birthday present JC Higgins 12 gauge pump with variable compensator.

David

Good luck finding 16ga. shells...

--Dwight

It was about the price of a decent luger mag.:burnout:

...???...Really??? Just in Oregon, or anywhere??? I haven't paid much attention... :confused:

It seems like the 20ga has undergone a revival with more women shooting these days...

My local gunshop has boxes of 16ga (not sure if shot or slug) for sale...

I bought a 12ga Ithaca mod 37 from this shop two years ago; would rather have had a 16 but none in stock at the time...My parents bought me a used 37 in 16ga when I was 16; it was stolen while I was overseas back in '69...I'd like to get another...

16 gauge shells are not hard to find in Louisiana. Cabelas for one, has an ample assortment of loads and shot sizes.

Mike

I have my father's 16 ga Ithaca Model 37. A nice shotgun.

David

The 16 ga. is very popular in the South East. Here in the North West, it's hard to give one away. 16 ga. ammo is a bit more available than it used to be, but still hard to find in any appreciable selection. You rarely see a 16 ga. gun in the shops because they just don't sell. Everyone wants a 12 ga. for Ducks and Geese, or a 20 ga. for Upland Game Bird hunting.

I bought a beautiful old Pre-War German 16 ga. SxS "Driven Game" gun several years ago. I finally sold it to a non-shooting collector because I couldn't find ammunition.

There used to be a guy who would fly up from Louisiana or Alabama(?) and make the rounds of the gun shops about every 6 months. He would buy any and all Model 37 Winchester single shots he could find, especially 16 ga. He would pay $75 -$150 depending on condition, and ship them back home. He said that he could double his money + on them where he was from.

Here's a photo of the first shot gun that I fired. A Marlin "Goose" gun. I was 12 years old and shot a big Bull Frog at about 20' away. All that was left was the legs. I felt, and still do feel bad about that for some reason.

Ron

One more bit of trivia about a 16 gauge shotgun. Ever notice which Browning A-5 brings the most money? By far it is sweet-16. Not long ago, a 95% Belgium sweet-16 could be had for just north of $800. Now, most gun sites are asking $1600 or more for a nice one with a rib.

Mike

I can remember when the local "Western Auto" store had a large gun department. I bought several guns there over the years until they went out of business.

Around here, it was a "Jenss" department store basement, back in the 50's...My dad and I were waiting for mom to finish shopping; there was a big barrel full of greasy old Enfield SMLE's, for $12ea ...My dad bought one, we stripped it & cleaned it, and eventually shot it...Heavy old rifle... :)

Dwight has been steering me in the right direction since I joined the forum several years ago. So I am certainly not going to ignore his advice now. He said 16 gauge shells are hard to find, so a jumped at this opportunity.

http://www.simpsonltd.com/product_in...dcdb6381e0a06f
Mike

In the same vein, this last year, I have bought a Steven's 22 LR semi auto rifle and then just last week bought a Savage 22 LR pump; ya just can't help it...


ed

Mike,

Truly an excellent score, congratulations.

A little bit more on 16ga.--The last time I wanted ammo I ended up having to scrounge through the Portland gun show for it. The big ammunition dealers didn't carry it at all, I ended up finding the odd box (or part-box) at individual tables.

Also, a shooting tip for 16ga. (and probably other sizes, as well)--my old Winchester Model 12 was made in the day of roll-crimped, paper cartridges. When fired, these shells are uncrimp to only a fraction of an inch longer than unfired. Modern plastic cartridges, with star crimp, end up considerable longer when fired. The Mdl. 12 ejection port is not long enough for the star crimps, and they inevitably hang up in the port during ejection.

--Dwight

So...Round file??? Dremel tool??? Hammer & chisel??? :D

OK, enough humor... :rolleyes: What's your workaround for the ejection problem??? My Ithaca was made in 1949; but with bottom-ejection, and no port, I don't anticipate any problems... :thumbup:

I stopped hunting long ago, so at the occasional gravel-pit clay pigeon shoot it is simply an annoyance I live with. Actually, I prefer shooting handguns anyway.

--Dwight

According to a article by Winchester as well as knowledge of my gunsmith, the 2 9/16 inch chamber was used in the Winchester model 12 16 gauge shotgun until the early 1920's. I think it is fair to assume that these shotgun shells where intended to be used in trench battle during World War I.

Mike