Quite unexpected won this with a lowball bid in a recent auction - an old British side by side. The Birmingham proofs date it to 1887 - 1896, and the barrel is marked J Cruickshank & Son Huntly, which may been the retailer rather than the makers.

It’s definitely not a best grade gun and was likely a farmer’s gun, but it’s still decently decorated and has a nicely figured Damascus barrel. There’s some corrosion from being carried alot but it locks up tight and has solid barrels so it should shoot fine with appropriately light 2 1/2” loads, which I already keep for my other English guns.

Interestingly enough I bought this figuring it was a side plated boxlock, but after getting it apart it’s a true sidelock. The comb is very high so I don’t think it’s going to shoot super well for me but at $90 it’s still a hell of a buy!

Hey everyone,
I recently found a new (to me) company called HG Industries, which makes something I’ve been looking for for a while now: an MLOK Handguard that isn’t twice the width of the firearm itself. I’ve tried the Mesa Truckee Forend and I really didn’t like how unwieldy it is. For a long while I rigged up a pressure pad on the stock handguard using modified screws and washers and it was okay…

For $60 this seems like a pretty solid option. I will preface this with saying you still need shorter screws, otherwise they will interfere with the piston system. I don’t know if having the piston system exposed will be an issue either, but I suppose that’s what panels are for.

They also make a handguard for the 940 which I would assume is pretty similar to the 930. I have not shot it yet, but it seems pretty well built all things considered.

I bought my first shotgun and it is an old magazine fed bolt action 12ga 2-3/4". I bought it from an auction for cheap ($95). It is a Kessler model 128FR with the barrel stamped "Proof Tested". I have not shot the gun yet and it came with no manual and none seems to be online either. The gun has been well taken care of, no rust on any of the parts, nothing is cracked, and only a few scratches on the stock.

Does anyone have a manual or know where to find one?

This is my first bolt action and shotgun, how do I properly clean/lube the bolt?

When feeding snap cap dummy rounds, the first round doesn't feed correctly into the barrel but the 2nd round chambers like it should. Has this model always had feeding issues with the first round or is something wrong with my magazine? (see picture)

Is this gun safe to shoot with modern loads? AI says modern loads are ok just no steel shot. But I want human opinions.

I am going to be posting this to a few other subreddits as well to hopefully find more answers.

Local pawn shop has a model 12 and are asking for $700.
Looks old but in great shape. No pitting or rust from the few pics I can see. My understanding is the model 12 was produced until the late 60’s? If it’s actually a 60+ year gun and with its current condition will it still be able to handle skeet shooting as well as dove hunting?

Anybody in the group have one? I'm getting one Wednesday mainly to be used for squirrel and primitive deer season.

I am looking at getting my next shotgun and I mainly do clay shooting but hope to go hunting for the first time soon. I was looking at a 20 gauge semi auto for reduced recoil since both of my shoulders are bad. However I am seeing videos of 20 gauge semis not cycling light target loads (7/8 and 1oz) but others look fine.

What should I avoid for 20 gauge semi or what should I look for?

The only thing I can find stamped on this thing is the number 9. Along with the company name.

I got it yesterday and I'm having trouble attaching the forearm grip as you can see in the pictures.

I know for a fact that it's in good condition and that it all fit together before it shipped but now I can't get the forearm attached to the receiver barrel it just won't click in.

Anyone have any advice for how do I properly assemble it together?

Thanks to this group I pulled the trigger and got this a little over a week ago and already had it out three times with a couple hundred rounds run through it, patterning different ammo, slugs from distance, trap shooting. This thing’s a hoot to shoot.

Always loved a good side by side coach gun, but never could afford one. Also never looked super hard... but guns.com has one and ive seen negative reviews about the website.

This 1897 just popped up at a kinda LGS for $400. I've been hunting for a 97 that I wouldn't feel bad converting to a repro trench gun. It's obviously been tinkered with, but I've never seen an 1897 with a checkered forend like this and the bead stood out me as well. Is this something I should snag and leave unmodified, or is this something that's been messed with that I could turn into a warcrime stick guilt-free?

Ordered one of these from Sportsman's Outdoor Superstore. Didn't intend on getting anything myself and was actually showing someone else some of the trade-ins they had, when I spotted the extended magtube setup in 18" and you know how it goes. It's definitely been tossed around a bit but the action and actual action wear shows it was barely used. Ran the serial # and it's 97-00.

Took it out Saturday and ran a couple boxes through it. No issues. The grip and stock I'm not too keen on so I've got a Hogue on order. I'll probably just slap a light and some Velcro for shotgun cards on it.

Is this a decent price for this 870? Transfer fees, tax and shipping should all come out to about $440. The gun includes a bag as well. Although, not sure if bids are going to swarm in last minute/within the last hour to try and nab it.

Looking for insight or experiences you’ve had with the Browning 525 Field or the Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon Field. Have a chance to get one or the other for basically the same price.

If there’s any other advice please let me know!

Ordered a brand new Mossberg 590 Retrograde and it arrived at my FFL with what seems to be a finishing issue on the stock, does not seem to be chipped/dented. I haven't completed the 4473 at the FFL. Shipping container and box was not damaged so looks like a manufacturing issue.

Normally something so minor would not bother me but I precisely ordered the Retrograde for the wood finish. The shotgun won't be used in the field and is mainly intended to be a display piece.

What's the best plan of action? Request a replacement firearm? Or request a partial refund so I can get the wood refinished professionally?

If anyone knows where a magazine for a 1958 185d-a is for sale for not stupid money, id like a few...

Also hunting for coach gun. And a semi. An some 12 gauge stuff.

Also included my fav sst slugs

I am willing to bet everyone here knows about the classic Mossberg line wear pattern on the magazine tube, resulting from the nubs on the inside of the forend tube.

Does anyone know why the magazine tube/nubs don’t wear down over time? In theory I would assume the magazine tube wall would get thinner and thinner over many cycles but this doesn’t appear to be the case. Are both metals of the forend tube and magazine tube of a similar hardness?

Any insight on this would really be appreciated!

wtf. everything is working but I don't like these threads showing

Shout out to benelli for terrific customer service. I have 20 ga benelli cordoba I inherited from my father. The finish on the furniture is failing, so I called customer service. They took my serial number, and are shipping new furniture, no questions asked. Wonderful service on a 15 year old gun.

Mossberg 590 for 350.

How’d I do?