Another Old Dog With a New Trick- JC Higgins Model 20 12-gauge

[Michael Tinker Pearce]

I'm pretty much always on a strict budget so when I saw a JC Higgins Model 20 in excellent condition for $100 7-8 years ago I snapped it up. I'd been wanting a pump shotgun for home defense and this not only fit the budget, it was the slickest pump-action I'd ever seen. Made for Sears by High Standard it's a quality piece. I shortened the barrel to 18-1/4", fabricated a front sight and viola! I had my HD shotgun. I always meant to install a rear sight but it worked fine at HD ranges so it wasn't a priority.

This year I am deer hunting on Whidbey Island where one is restricted to shotgun, handgun or primitive weapons. I planned to take my .44 Magnum handgun but got to thinking. I had some random bits of Pic-rail and an old TRS25 sitting around and a couple boxes of Brenneke slugs... Hmmm. I shortened a section of the rail and refinished it with Aluminum Black, drilled it for counter-sunk screws and super-glued it to the receiver. I marked the holes, removed the rail and cleaned off the glue residue, then drilled and tapped the receiver, applied some Loctite Red to the screws, mounted the rail and put the TRS 25 on.

Works a treat, and I was able to sight it in at 25 yards. At that range it stacks the Brenneke slugs about 3"above POA, which keeps them nicely 'in the basket' at fifty yards. It'll work fine for deer and is better for HD too. Win-win! I gotta say though, recoil is brutal with those slugs. Going to go for a lighter slug/load next time I buy some.

 

[EMC45]

I really like it. 100 bucks? Done and done!

They really are a slick pump too. I believe the High Standard was a rival to the Model 12 Winchester back in the day due to slickness.

 

[welldoya]

Very cool.
I just sold a J.C. Higgins shotgun. I’m helping a widowed neighbor sell her husband’s guns.
I’m thinking about buying this one myself - High Standard K-1200 Riot, an old Florida Highway Patrol gun.

 

[Blue Brick]

Very cool.
I just sold a J.C. Higgins shotgun. I’m helping a widowed neighbor sell her husband’s guns.
I’m thinking about buying this one myself - High Standard K-1200 Riot, an old Florida Highway Patrol gun.
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This was her husband's shotgun?

 

[LoonWulf]

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I'm pretty much always on a strict budget so when I saw a JC Higgins Model 20 in excellent condition for $100 7-8 years ago I snapped it up. I'd been wanting a pump shotgun for home defense and this not only fit the budget, it was the slickest pump-action I'd ever seen. Made for Sears by High Standard it's a quality piece. I shortened the barrel to 18-1/4", fabricated a front sight and viola! I had my HD shotgun. I always meant to install a rear sight but it worked fine at HD ranges so it wasn't a priority.

This year I am deer hunting on Whidbey Island where one is restricted to shotgun, handgun or primitive weapons. I planned to take my .44 Magnum handgun but got to thinking. I had some random bits of Pic-rail and an old TRS25 sitting around and a couple boxes of Brenneke slugs... Hmmm. I shortened a section of the rail and refinished it with Aluminum Black, drilled it for counter-sunk screws and super-glued it to the receiver. I marked the holes, removed the rail and cleaned off the glue residue, then drilled and tapped the receiver, applied some Loctite Red to the screws, mounted the rail and put the TRS 25 on.

Works a treat, and I was able to sight it in at 25 yards. At that range it stacks the Brenneke slugs about 3"above POA, which keeps them nicely 'in the basket' at fifty yards. It'll work fine for deer and is better for HD too. Win-win! I gotta say though, recoil is brutal with those slugs. Going to go for a lighter slug/load next time I buy some.

I dig it! I put something together that was similar (but yours is far cooler and more affordable) using a Mav88 I had quite using for bird hunting. It ended up going to a friend of mine not long after I finished it, but it got me started on red dots on shotguns as well as stubbier barrels in general.

 

[fishermen0105]

Hard to beat an old model 20 for $100