Dad gave me this today.

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Cut down and mounted sights on a bunch of those back when IL started shotgunning deer, if that tells you my age group. Made sweat-on chokes for a bunch of the same guns when we started shooting turkey. Solid but not very ergonomic. I have one in 16 at deer camp complete with C-Lect choke that all newcomers have to shoot once wearing a t shirt.
About indestructible with normal use.
 
The first shotgun I ever fired (around age 13..) was a bolt action 12.. It made quite an impression on me... Yes I hit the old oil can propped up on a fence - and yes, it rocked my world... I'd use one if necessary but only then. For anyone needing something inexpensive and durable, though - it will certainly do the job, but stationary targets would be preferred...
 
lemaymiami said:
The first shotgun I ever fired (around age 13..) was a bolt action 12.. It made quite an impression on me... Yes I hit the old oil can propped up on a fence - and yes, it rocked my world... I'd use one if necessary but only then. For anyone needing something inexpensive and durable, though - it will certainly do the job, but stationary targets would be preferred...
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I'm sure they where a bunch of kids first shotgun to shoot, kinda funny thinking about it to lol.
 
Atavar said:
Ok, I’ll admit it. I obviously don’t know what I am talking about on this subject. I was just always told not to shoot slugs in choked barrels.
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I was never told it was dangerous, but I heard it was supposedly opening the full choke a little. Now, I don't think it is true, but it could have been the case with older, pre-steelshot shotguns, I don't know.
 
I am a sucker for bolt action shotguns. I have a Mossberg 283 .410 that I bought for 10 bucks at a yard sale. It has an blind magazine and a full choke. I loved to take this one on walks through the hardwoods. A full choked .410 is very effective on squirrels, rabbits, and other small game. Is is super light and carries well. I have always wanted to pick up a 20 or a 12 gauge to play with, but the prices I have seen are more than I am willing to pay. I would pick up a magazine and get that bad boy back into action. Enjoy!

Edit to add: I taught my son to hunt with it and hopefully one day he will teach his kids with it.

IMG-7776.jpg
 
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ECVMatt said:
I am a sucker for bolt action shotguns. I have a Mossberg 283 .410 that I bought for 10 bucks at a yard sale. It has an blind magazine and a full choke. I loved to take this one on walks through the hardwoods. A full choked .410 is very effective on squirrels, rabbits, and other small game. Is is super light and carries well. I have always wanted to pick up a 20 or a 12 gauge to play with, but the prices I have seen are more than I am willing to pay. I would pick up a magazine and get that bad boy back into action. Enjoy!

Edit to add: I taught my son to hunt with it and hopefully one day he will teach his kids with it.

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Thanks for sharing the story and picture, I had a bunch when I was young, dad would buy one for me normally from the gun shops with the cheap guns in a Rubbermaid barrel. I'd like to try making a chamber adapters some day, they would have to be short unless I can slide them in when the bolts out.
 
Bolt action shotguns are awesome. They're tough, light, economical, and functional. Yes, they're a bit slow, even with internal magazines, but if you're a good and patient shooter, this won't be a bother.

Pumps and autos came to dominate the market due to waterfowlers' propensity for getting overexcited and slipping into anti-aircraft gun mode.
 
Coyote3855 said:
Inexpensive bolt action and single barrel shotguns put a lot of meat on the table for families that couldn't afford a fancier firearm. My family was one of those.
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same here

I've got the department store named 12ga version with the poly-choke. I very nearly turkey hunted with it one year, but decided against it. It's got sentimental value, as it belonged to my great uncle for years until he died, then my grandpa for years until he died. The story is my great uncle, who fought in the Battle of the Bulge, was convinced that his 12ga bolt was all he ever needed. I was a kid, so I don't remember, but that's what was relayed to me from my dad who did hunt with him.
 
I remember reading years ago, somewhere down south maybe Virginia area or the Carolinas. They had rabbit shoots and a group of guys won every year, I've read they had geha mauser guns. In sure there was more to it then just the gun but having bolt action shotguns didn't seem to hurt them.

I've wanted a geha for ever being a big mauser fan but never really seen a nice example to pick up.
 
I remember Marlin had a bolt action shotgun model called "the goose gun", which came with a 36" barrel, supposedly to really reach out.

I don't know if they were any more effective, but with a 36" barrel, you're definitely getting closer.
 
Speedo66 said:
I remember Marlin had a bolt action shotgun model called "the goose gun", which came with a 36" barrel, supposedly to really reach out.

I don't know if they were any more effective, but with a 36" barrel, you're definitely getting closer.
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4-5 years ago I was working at a gun shop refurbishing guns they had after the owners son in law quit. I must have blued 25-30 guns and Done all the other work. Gun shop was in the front so I would see what would come in. One day a guy walks in with a vetterli and a goose gun. Shop wasn't interested in either, I did get the vetterli but think he wanted way to much for the goose gun. I was willing to pay $100 just because they were so Ridiculous. The longer barrel may have helped with shot velocity on long shots, don't think they patterned any better then shorter barrels.
 
troy fairweather said:
Up visiting my dad for my birthday, he gave me some odds and ends and a forster case trimmer I've been eyeing. Then he pulls out this Mossberg 485B and said you want it, I said sure it will be good for rabbits. I haven't had a bolt action shotgun in years, they have worked fine for me.

It's a 20ga marked 2 3/4 and 3" full choke, looks like 26" barrel. Condition is ok, needs some cleaning tho. Magazine is missing Unfortunately, I'll see if I can find a mag somewhere but not hopeful. This maybe nice for Turkey, it has the rear notch sight maybe to help with shooting slugs?

anyone still use these bolt guns and what you use it for.

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Really nice present troy. Had a couple over the years. My last one was a jc Higgins 12 GA. I bought it shortly after my shoulder healed up enough to consider hunting again, the recoil pad was old and quite hard and recoil, as it turned out, was too much, even with #6 bulk pack target loads. I gifted it to my sil that Christmas.

Funny story I found a box long enough to wrap it in but was too wide causing the gun to rattle arround inside so yo keep it protected I wrapped it in old ripped jeans, t shirts, and rags. Wife and I went to their place and dropped off all yhe presents we had for them, being Christmas eve he decided that they should all be able to open one gift. Guess which one he chose, upon unwrapping looked at our daughter and grandson asking why her parents thought he'd wand all of these old rags, then realized that there was more in the box, he beamed as he pulled it out of a pant leg. He also got about 90 bulk pack 12 ga rounds.

Sorry I missed him opening up that shotgun but still laugh when I think about it as told by my daughter.
 
I used either my dad's Montgomery Wards Western Field single shot 410 or a bolt action 410 for all of my small game hunting until I was able to get a 410 Mossberg 500 around the age of 13 or 14. I use to use the bolt action with slugs for raccoon hunting. The 410 slugs did a way better job at knocking them out of trees versus rimfire rifles my buddies all carried.

Dad still has the Western Field single shot and I still have my Mossberg 183K and 500. All three have taken every type of small game and turkeys too.
 
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