Resurrecting an old Sears Ranger

[FatChance]

Several years ago, my step dad gave me an old Sears Ranger 12ga pump shotgun (re-badged Stevens 520). It has a nice take-down feature and a 32" barrel with a PolyChoke. It has been well used and worn, but is in good, usable condition, though it balanced like a drunken sailor. Someone had cut the stock down about 1.5", probably for duck hunting with a thick jacket, and they are not all that rare. Here is what it looked like:



It wasn't worth anything and wasn't useful to me in that condition and configuration, so I decided it was a prime candidate for a make-over. I took it to a local shop for the work. I first had them cut the barrel down to 18.5" and install a Mossberg-type screw in choke. They had three used choke tubes (full, modified and improved cylinder) so I got all three. They also installed a large brass bead front sight. Since the stock was so short, they put on a recoil pad. Finally, it still had an old wooden dowel in the 5rd magazine tube for hunting, so I had that removed. Here is what it looks like now:





I am thinking about disassembling it and refinishing the metal with one of Brownell's stainless-colored bake-on spray finishes, but it looks pretty nice just like this. Now, it is a perfect truck/camping gun. It has a new lease on life and I think it was a good recycling project!

 

[ArmedBear]

I like the patina and the antique-looking wood, myself.

Way to take something of dubious value, and turn it into something both useful and neat-looking.

 

[Zero Knives]

You did exactly what I'm hoping to do this year. I just gotta find a beat-up donor for my own project! That looks awesome. Now how does it shoot?

 

[Riss]

I think you have done enough. I would just keep the metal oiled and leave it alone. As soon as you go and refinish it you will knock it over or put a deep scratch in the new finish and then it will look horrible. It think it looks great as is. BTW. How much did it cost to have the choke tubes installed ? I need a similar job. Need to put choke tubes in an otherwise too short barrel to make it usable for longer distances.

 

[W.E.G.]

Wow!

I like the look of that!

Have you "patterned" it yet?

 

[Armchair Bronco]

Great looking project gun. My granddad had one just like it. Unfortunately, he gave it away before he died unaware that I had had my eye on it for years.

If you're ever teleported back to the battlefields of WWI with that, you'll have a nice trench gun on your hands!

Looks great.

 

[FatChance]

Thanks for the nice comments. I think I'll probably keep it like it is, though I may add some sling mounts.

I have not patterned it yet. We're still pretty snowed in and I hope to get to the range next week. I also have a Winchester '97 takedown that a previous owner cut down like this and installed a modified choke tube about 15 years ago. I used that for years in cowboy shoots and it worked and shot great. Once I pattern it (and put the magazine block back in), it maybe could work for pheasant hunting also? At any rate, it will be a nice, handy firearm to take along when camping up in the mountains. The takedown feature is very practical.

I don't have a breakdown of the cost handy, but cutting down the barrel, modifying it for the choke tubes, three used choke tubes, installing the new sight, the recoil pad and installation came to just over $180. If I recall, modifying it for the choke tubes was only $30-40? Certainly reasonable whatever it was.

 

[Mp7]

awesome.

great for camping!

 

[Fred Fuller]

Very practical- it should be a great utility gun. Just don't forget the 520 was made without a disconnector, which means it'll slam fire- no matter whether you're ready or not...

lpl

 

[Otony]

Looks a lot like mine except I have a 20ga with 28" barrel (counting the Polychoke!).

Mine is actually in a lot nicer shape finish wise. The amazing thing to me is how little it weighs and how nicely it swings for an all steel and walnut gun.

Oh, and shamelessness is my name, mine is listed for sale in the Forum Classifieds.

 

[iheartboost]

Cool

looks nice, how is is it to take down?

 

[wnycollector]

Nice job on a classic shotty. I have been searching for a 520 to do the same type of mods on...but thus far no luck finding one for the right price