"GRANDPA Shotguns"

[gold40]

"GRANDPA Shotguns" is a term several of us use for the pumps and sem-autos sold in the 1940-1960 time period. Now, a lot of these are showing up in gunshops and auctions at very reasonable prices. Grandpa has died and the kids don't want these old guns around -- if they even want any guns around -- so they get sold at moderate prices.

Among these are the Remington 31 pumps, Remington 11-48 and Sportsman 48 autos, various Savage and Stevens', Ithaca 37's, and Winchester Model 12, 50, 58, etc. Although 50 years old, they have a lot of useful life left in them. Most sell for $150 to $250 (except the M-12's and A-5's).

Often the exterior finish shows signs of usage, scratches, dents, etc. but the interior parts are usually very good. A simple refinish with Tru-Oil perks them up. Sometimes a bit of cold blue also helps. But appearance isn't that important on these old-timers. They aren't supposed to look new or mint. They're shooters, not collector's items.

I've been having fun shooting two old 11-48's -- a 20 and a 12 with a polychoke. Also a Remington 31 in 20 gauge. All are recent gunshop purchases under $200 each. My skeet scores are a few birds less than with my newer Citori, but just as much fun. I really get a kick when I'm sometimes lucky enough to beat one of my pals at Clays who is shooting a much newer O/U with choke tubes. I shot a decent Sporting Clays course last week using the 12 gauge 11-48 that was made in 1951.

By the way, you can easily check the birth date of Remingtons and Brownings via their website and/or e-mail.

Is anyone else here shooting "GRANDPA Guns"?

Jerry

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Remington model 11 and Ithaca M37, both in 16 gauge.

[popplecop]

Rem. 11-48, 48 Sportsman and a model 31L all in 16 ga. of course.

[skeet]

I shoot a M-12 skeet in 12 ga...as well as an old Rem 31 C skeet.. in 20 I have a Win M-12 pigeon skeet in 28 I have 2 also..a M-12 28 vent rib mod choke gun as well as a Browning remake of the M-12..and a Rem 11-48 28 ga skeet and in 410 I have a pair of M-42's one skeet and the other a solid rib mod choke one and a gun I have never shot a Rem 11-48 410 skeet. I bought it from the original owner and it has had only 7 shells shot through it. He got it from a Remington Rep and I even have a custom made(in the Rem factory) magazine cap weight for it. I also have a set of D grade M-1100's made in 1969. Pretty guns for certain. I used to shoot skeet competetively with them years ago. Shot many 100 straights with them...but only one with the 410. Hard gun(410) to shoot well. The best I could ever do with the m-42 skeet gun in registered shooting was a 98. Really hard to shoot well at clay targets. OK in the field though. I also have a couple or 4 M-12 trap guns. One I bought last year at an auction is a solid rib trap, another trap that was made in 56 and a first year vent rib(1919) Trap gun. I also have a NID Ithaca 28 ga 4E double of which they only made either 5 or 7, not sure, but I shoot it so infrequently . It is worth in the 20-25000 dollar range and I surely don't want to break it....but it really does shoot well. The old ones still shoot well...even if they aren't all high tech and pretty as the new ones...and a lot more fun than the new stuff. I shot a club shoot a couple of years ago for fun..and shot a 99 at doubles with my old M-12. Won the darn thing and really PO'd a couple of shooters. Just goes to show that the ol' ones still work.

[rainydays]

Still have an old Savage/Stevens 311A 20 ga. SxS thats still going strong. I used it for better than 30 years. Passed it on to my youngest son who just loves it. He shot a nice turkey with it last week. Just a great old gun. Many times I have wished I'd have kept it and given him some other gun instead.-tr

[Rapier]

I have the shotgun I learned to shoot ducks with and other critters, my grandfather's single shot 12ga. If you want to shoot it you are welcome. I think it is a Stevens. It has been in my safe since 1984 and I have no intentions of ever bringing it out, either. It kills at one end and maims at the other end. It has a hollow brown plastic butt stock and forearm, with a hard plastic butt plate and no recoil pad. With a T-shirt on and high brass shells it will raise a blood blister, and it will also loosen your fillings.

I have my deceased father in-law's A-5, 1946 version, 12ga full choke, full rib gun also. It is a rompin, stompin gun, but on comparison, a much nicer gun to shoot than the single shooter. I got tired of the Phesants coming up far out and running away after I shot them with my 20ga during our late November phesant hunt. So I went to Cabellas in Mitchell, bought me 2 boxes of Remington #2 Nitro Mags 1 1/4s for the A-5. The next day the phesants became deceased prior to making contact with the earth. That running off BS ceased immediately.

Just thinking about the single shot beastie makes my shoulder hurt, where is my wuss gun, the Beretta 391.
Ed

[jmarriott]

Picked up a red label winchester model 37 this summer for 150 bucks. It is about to change into a card shoot gun.

[jplonghunter]

gold40

Fox Model B 20 Ga. SxS. Great for quail,chukar,and pheasant.

jplonghunter

[fabsroman]

Rapier,

The 391 is what I use for almost all my sporting clay and 12/20 gauge skeet shooting. I love that gun. It is the least felt recoil out of all my shotguns, and I just plain shoot better with it.

[gumpokc]

Grandad's mossberg model 500 (receipt dated 1957)

great grandads unknown shotgun, 12 ga, 30 inch barrel, pump with hammer. Don't shoot this one anymore, but I do the mossy.

[Rapier]

Fabs,
I have owned three 20ga guns and a 12ga in the 391. The one I use now is a 20ga Sporting God, silver side gun with a custom exhibition grade wood stock. In the dove field it is a consistant doubles and triples gun. If I could just get someone to clean it for me. :-)

Two weeks ago, I had my first problem with a 391 in the several years I have been shooting them, including 5k shot trips to Argentina. The edge of the sear notch on the hammer sheared off and I had to send the trigger group to Beretta for repair.

The 391 is a great gun.
Ed

[Gil Martin]

They include Ithaca Model 37s in 12, 16 and 20 gauges. Came across a Remington Model 58 on 20 gauge that I really like. Most of my bird hunting is done with a Remington 11-48 in 16 gauge. I have a Stevens Model 5100 double in 16 gauge that will get out this year. Then there are the Remington Model 870s with corncob forends that I got for $100.00 each in 12 and 16 gauge. I scan the used gun racks and often find something that interests me. I prefer the older classic guns with fixed chokes and there are a lot to choose from. All the best...
Gil

[fabsroman]

Ed,

I will admit that they are a pain to clean. However, I have found that the dremel tool with a polishing wheel works pretty well on the gas cylinder with all the grooves on it. The 682 is much easier to clean, but I don't shoot as well with it. Such is life. Haven't had any problems with any of my three 391's or my 3901, but I probably haven't put as many shells through them as you.

[skeet]

I bought one of those ol' Stevens 20 ga double guns with the plastic stock. Paid 100 bucks for it but it didn't have the trigger guard. Saw the guy I got it from last weekend and guess what he had for me?? Yep he found the trigger guard! Gun is in really nice shape. Now I might even shoot it!

[Contenderizer]

Skeet, I saw a Stevens 12 Ga, single shot, at a gun show last week -- they were asking the same price you got your double for. Anyway, the seller was trying to tell me that the gun's stock had been replaced, and that's why it was plastic. Right.

I have a single shot in 28 Ga with wood stock. While those old Stevens aren't anything special, you sure can't beat the price.

[skeet]

I think I did ok on the double. It is an ok gun and surprisingly the stock is not warped or the "grain"worn off yet. Blue is about 95% too. Not much on doubles myself though. And I bought a 16 ga Winchester m-24 not long ago at a yard sale. Now I have 5 doubles. Almost as bad as having a (gag) Browning(gag):rolleyes: ;) :D

[Brithunter]

Hi All,

Hmmm what may I ask is up with Brownings?

As for old guns ;) I am sorry to say that I have none of Grand-dads as they were stolen whilst he was dying in hospital when I was 8 years old. Dad was not interested in guns and is still not but I always have been. The police were not intrested back then not like they would be now with anything to do with guns. Got to get their quotas in you know :rolleyes: . Anyway he was a gamekeeper and I am told had several SxS English guns in the cases :mad:

So I had to buy mine and I have accumulated the folowing :-

Cogswell & Harrison SxS 12 bore Non Ejector 30" barrels made around WW1.

Browning Auto 5 in 12 bore with 25" vent rib barrel, rounded "Prince of wales" pistol grip stock with embossed horn butt plate, farily nice wood but shows slight rusting to metal. Picked it up last Friday for a total of $290 US. gun cost $140, new service kit $70 and gunsmiths work restrictin it to two shot magazine so I can have in on the shotgun licence instead of a firearms (more restrictive) $80.

I did have a very nice English game gun, sxS ejector by A.J. Russell of Maidstone but traded it for a P-H 1100 deluxe rifle in 30-06 and some cash a couple of years back.

My others are only about 10-30 years old being a trio of Russian baikel model 18's single barrels, two in 12 and one in 20 bore and a model 27 O/U Baukel SST ejector pus an Italian .410 folding single barrel.

Boy I have wanted a Browning A-5 or Franchi Hunter for the last 30+ years and now finally I have one :D .

[Rapier]

Skeet,
I just bought a 20ga browning Superposed grade VI with 30 inch barrels, carrying case and exhibition wood, at a garage sale on Saturday, for $230. I will trade you even for the Stevens.

That was also a joke, a gag.:D
Ed

[skeet]

When it comes to "gag" Browniings "gag" I know why you treated it as a joke... Why no self respectin gun ownin Merican would ever want one them ol Citori's. So...Tell ya what I'll do to hep ya out. You send me that ol "gag" Browning and I'll bury it somwheres so it won't embarrass ya any more. I do feel yer pain about havin to pay so much fer that grade 6. By the way...did it have that ol fake gold ingravin on it that makes 'em look so cheep?? I can really unnerstand yer pain if'n it did. Oh an if'n ya really need that ol Stevens after I git the junk gun...just to keep the pain from ownin a "gag" Browning at bay...I send her to ya. Just ta make ya feel better ya unnerstan!!:D :D

You know..it really wouldn't surprise me to see you get a deal like that at a yard sale. It happens more than you think!! I got a 3000 dollar custom rifle this year at a yard sale for 400 bucks or thereabouts. It do happen.

[jplonghunter]

Stumbled across Remington Model 11 16 ga.,however barrel has damaged Poly-Choke. Anyone know where I might find replacement barrel?

jplonghunter

[skeet]

I'll have a friend check out a gunshop back east for a bbl. With just a little work...even a browning bbl will fit on some guns. Other bbls also..Savage 720 bbl as well others too.

[Classicvette63]

Grandpa shotguns is about all I shoot. Winchester M1897 is an all time great pump gun. Usually gets a lot of looks and questions at the range. One of the most under rated shotguns of all time is the J.C. Higgins pump. Dead tough and reliable and can usually be had for $100-150.

Since Brownings were brought up, I also have a Belgian made Superposed in 12 ga. Don't shoot it as much as the others since it's cherry, but it is a sweet swinging firearm that that just oozes quality and craftsmanship.

[skeet]

Had a couple of the ol superposed and they were good guns but in 12 ga kicked the snot outta ya. Understand i shot a LOT of shells back then. 75,000 or more a year. The darn things just got to be too much in the thump line ...and to be very honest the quality of the steels then were not as good as the Jap made guns..The blue wore badly and the guns wore appreciably when shooting like that. I had a Browning Broadway that i shot at trap for a while(PAIN). Sold that thing and later found a Charles Daly configuration of the same gun(Browning sued them and they only made a few). Seriously, the gun kicked less and the gun handled the quantity of shooting better than the Browning.. I also had a Browning 4 bbl set once for a short time and no 2 bbls seemed to shoot to the same point of impact. The 410's were way off. Browning would not fix it either. Kinda soured me on them.

The JC Higgins M-20 was a gun made by High Standard and the darn thing was one of the smoothest pumps you could find back then. And if it had the Pachmayr Power Pac choke it was very versatile. A friend had one in 12 ga that he shot at skeet and you couldn't even see him pump the gun. He shot a 99 with it in a registered shoot one day...missing the last gimme bird of the match. Not expensive guns but they really worked well. That fellow is visiting here now and I know for a fact he still has that gun cause I found him an extra short range choke for it at the last gun show I went to.

:D

[Rapier]

Well I finally came off the wallet and bought a Golden Clays gun...I do love the quail to clay transition and that old yellow junk on the side. :D
Ed

[gold40]

It was raining all weekend, and I wanted to go pheasant hunting nearby in Illinois. so I took my 12 gauge Remington 11-48 with the polychoke barrel. Didn't really want to get any of the more expensive shoguns soaking wet.

I did get soaked, and so did the shotgun and the bird dog, but it was worthwhile. Shot two nice cock pheasants, but it toook almost four hours. The "GRANDPA GUN" did just fine!

[Minihuntur]

My "GRANDPA GUN" is really my dad's. When he was 15 he did some work on a man's car and he gave my dad a shotgun. Its a Remington Model 31 with a 30 in. barrel and full choke. But it has no letters after the model number. I beleive, for that reason, that it is the first type produced. It shoots fine and fits me well. I have never shot clays but it does fine on every thing else. Can anyone tell me if I can shoot steel shot through it? And don't you tell me to use that crazy priced tungsten stuff! It'd be cheaper to shoot golden bullets! $40 for 10 shots!:mad:
Minihuntur

[Dan Morris]

Originally posted by skeet
Had a couple of the ol superposed and they were good guns but in 12 ga kicked the snot outta ya. Understand i shot a LOT of shells back then. 75,000 or more a year. The darn things just got to be too much in the thump line ...and to be very honest the quality of the steels then were not as good as the Jap made guns..The blue wore badly and the guns wore appreciably when shooting like that. I had a Browning Broadway that i shot at trap for a while(PAIN). Sold that thing and later found a Charles Daly configuration of the same gun(Browning sued them and they only made a few). Seriously, the gun kicked less and the gun handled the quantity of shooting better than the Browning.. I also had a Browning 4 bbl set once for a short time and no 2 bbls seemed to shoot to the same point of impact. The 410's were way off. Browning would not fix it either. Kinda soured me on them.

The JC Higgins M-20 was a gun made by High Standard and the darn thing was one of the smoothest pumps you could find back then. And if it had the Pachmayr Power Pac choke it was very versatile. A friend had one in 12 ga that he shot at skeet and you couldn't even see him pump the gun. He shot a 99 with it in a registered shoot one day...missing the last gimme bird of the match. Not expensive guns but they really worked well. That fellow is visiting here now and I know for a fact he still has that gun cause I found him an extra short range choke for it at the last gun show I went to.

:D
Hey, I still have A Superpose/ Purbaugh Tube set... man I didn't think it 'kicked' at all. Haven't shot it in years.......loved the 28ga tube.
Dan

[gold40]

MINIHUNTER-

Unfortunately you should NOT shoot steel through your old Model 31 because it is full choke.

The barrel is likely to "bulge" if you were to do so. Gun won't blow up, but will be disfigured and permanently damaged.

JERRY

[popplecop]

Minihunter, Rem. 31s refered to as 31Ls, are the ones with the alloy receiver instead of steel. Otherwise Md. 31 is the standard model designation. Excellent shotguns no matter wich receiver used.

[gun_nut2]

I love the old guns. They handle so much better than the new ones. I have 9 Winchester model 12's; 4 Remington model 11's:
3 Browning A 5's; 1 Remington model 10; 1 Remington model 29; 1 Remington model 17 and 1 Remington model 31 plus assorted other oldies. Compared to the old ones most new guns look like a 2X4. Oh well, just my opinion.

[fabsroman]

gun_nut2,

Welcome to the board. Glad to see that you are a shotgun fan like me and some others on here.

[Larryjk]

Well, All of you youngsters call those old pumps and semi-autos "Grandpa guns". I am a hair older and my Grandpa taught me to shoot with his guns, which were L.C.Smith side-by-sides.
He had me shoot the old twist gun with low base shells and light loads. It also had a set of hammers and he felt I was safer with those (even if he didn't know the gun might blow up). I still have the old gun, but his hammerless "Elsie" got away, but I do have a really tight and clean hammerless like he had. I try to let it take a couple of birds each year. It shoots really tight for just modified and full but I attribute that to modern shells. Some friends refer to it as "Old Grinder".:)

[DaMadman]

Fabs will attest that I almost exclusively shoot my 1951 Remington 870 wingmaster and shoot it quite well. I may not be 100% as accurate with it as some of these guys with the $$$$ guns but I always have just as much fun on the trap/skeet/sporting clays range, and I almost always bring home my limit is whatever I hunt with it.

Also have a 1953 870 Wingmaster that I picked up with a handful of other guns.

Also have a Winchester model 12 in 16 guage but the ejector on that doesnt' work all the time and it will hang onto the shells and jam more than just occasionally. I have seriously thought about selling that gun to someone that would fix it and use it but I have never ever sold any of my guns before and it just seems wrong to sell it.

have an 11-87 in the gun safe that almost never gets used. I have a bad habit of trying to pump it after I shoot and it throws me off target....LOL (true story)

[fabsroman]

Yep, I can attest to DaMadman using some pretty old 870's and using them well.

DaMadman, you should just take that 16 gauge to a gunsmith and get it fixed. That would be a pretty fun gun to shoot. Granted, the shells aren't easily available, but it would still be fun.

[Larryjk]

To DaMadman, Is your model 12 marked 2 3/4" on the barrel. You know that the early ones in 16 gauge were 2 9/16" chambers. If it isn't marked 2 3/4" on the barrel, or on the receiver by the serial number, it may be the early, short chamber!:(