J.C. Higgins muzzle break

[vagabond1]

Can someone tell me how to remove the muzzle break from the Model 60, 12 gauge? It' looks pressed on.

Thanks,

Jim

 

[rcmodel]

I think what you have is an adjustable choke with a compensator chamber attached.
It is likely either a Sears & Sawbuck branded Cutts Compensator that uses screw-in choke tubes, or a PolyChoke that you can turn to different choke settings.

Most likely the barrel was threaded, and then the choke body screwed on and soft-soldered to the barrel to keep it from unscrewing.

What is it you are trying to do once you take it off?

rc

 

[vagabond1]

Part of the comp is missing, broken away at the slots, in one place.
Do you think it's safe to shoot?

 

[vagabond1]

If I got it off, where could I find a replacement??

 

[rcmodel]

I doubt you can find an exact replacement as the Sears choke was not quite a Cutt's Comp. Probably made by High Standard, who made the gun.

I think your best bet is to send the barrel to Carlson's, have them cut the old comp choke off, and thread the barrel for choke tubes.

http://www.choketube.com/instal.html

rc

 

[Chawbaccer]

Polychoke will install a new adjustable choke for $145.00
http://www.poly-choke.com/choke.htm

ETA, checking with Numrich I see they have "Choke Caps". for about 17 bucks, I don't know itf this is the complete unit or not.
http://www.gunpartscorp.com/catalog/Detail.aspx?pid=399040A&catid=9658

 

[GURU1911]

Contact "briley manufacturing" in houston. They are scattergun specialists who can help you with anything shotgun related.

 

[KosmicKrunch]

RC is correct, it is actually a High Standard. They were press fitted with both barrel and choke at a temp of about 10 degrees F. Then it was slightly silver soldered at the base, the solder was drawn into the space between the choke and barrel. Only two ways to fix it and reinstall new chokes. The choke tube must be slit length ways and then reheated and the choke tube base will slide off, then buy a generic choke, reinstall same way with cold first to slide on and then a simple silver solder at the back end.. You can also have the barrel cut back to just below the choke and then re-crowned You are best served by threading or have it threaded by a smith and use screw in chokes. There is a choke threading tool and kit at Brownells if you wanted to do it yourself. Model 60's are at best $150 on the auction sights.

One other way to go is keep searching the auction sites like Gunbroker for a new to you used barrel, prob about $80 or so and no gunsmithing involved.

You could also just have the barrel cut and a new bead sight & choke bored/honed in with your preferred choke. Again, Brownells have kits for both of those tools and parts. Pro gunsmithing fees would run about $100 - $125. If you do the work yourself, the tools for cut off, recrown, single choke honed internally and bead install cost about $80 in tools and parts.

If you are not mechanically inclined, I would not do the work and just buy a used barrel with a choke on the auction sites and then sell the barrel you have that is broke on the same site.

Another option is cut the barrel back to 18 1/2 - 20 inches and install a slug front sight. You will have to get a extended raised sight (because of the barrel cut, the taper of the barrel will be changed) and also hone the choke for slug/buckshot. Still buy the barrel on auction sites. This way you would truly have a multi use shotgun.

A few options yes, but in the end it is a fixable issue.

 

[KosmicKrunch]

Just putting on a new choke barrel over the broken tine choke tube will cause the shot pattern to scatter in the direction of the broken tine. welding on a new tine will also cause scatter issues, no matter how well it is done. Breaking/cutting the opposit tine will cause a flattened scatter issue as it will spread to a verticle/horizontal spread and not round and even.