Sears JC Higgins Model 20

[Rebelpvtj]

I’d like to pick the groups hive mind.

I got a Sears JC Higgins Model 20, 12 gauge as part of a trade deal. Shot very little, stored in a closet most of it 73 years. The wood is in great shape, very little blueing missing/worn from the action. Only very light surface rust on the barrel. Negative choke. 30” barrel.

From what the gentleman who I received it from told me, he had bought it when he was 16 living in Cincinnati in 1950. He used it for pheasant and skeet shooting until he had his son in 1959.

Now my questions are would it be worth the effort to bring it back to “close to new” appearance, mainly just to practice working with blueing.

Would this make a decent, not good or great, just decent Trap and Sporting clays shotgun? The reason i ask is on my Sporting Clays team I have a guy who loves the sport but is financially unable to buy a shotgun with the market like it is right now. I figure if it’s safe to shoot, I could loan it to him instead of letting him use my 500A or having him rent from the range each session.

Thanks.

 

[kenpoprofessor]

Loan it to the guy, you can smile when he makes good use of it.

Have a great, gun carryin', Kenpo day

Clyde

 

[Ballistic Therapy]

It will be fine to shoot clays or hunt with.
Personally I would leave it as is.

 

[Rebelpvtj]

Appreciate the feed back. I did end up just waxing the exterior and wood. I’ll let y’all know his reaction after our team practice next week.

 

[Rebelpvtj]

Update on the model 20. My new kid on the team shot his best round ever with it today. (36/50). But, we did find it needs a new ejector. Thankfully that’s an easy fix.

 

[straightcut]

Good for you for helping the “kid” with a loaner!

My first shotgun was a High Standard pump 12 gauge my parents picked up at a garage sale for $30. It started the ball rolling!

 

[Big Al]

If the rust is slight, I would leave it along I think. I have a 30:30 I got in trade that had small rust spot. Been in the safe for 25 years or so and I've not shot it or handled it but one time when I first got it. I see no Chane in it. The problem I can say, the older shotguns were not ported and had more recoil. I started out with my Winchester Pump 1200. I took it out to try trap. about 40 rounds, my shoulder was black and blue. I then bought a cheaper 12 GA. After shooting a few week of Trap and Sporting Clays. I came to the conclusion I would wear out the cheaper one. Bought the A300 Bretta. Shoots really good, BUT...... Then the auto eject was peppering the other shooters. I did put a shell catcher on it later and it helped. Then...... I went to the Over Under and every since then, it's all I will shoot unless hunting.