I went to an area Gun Show Sunday- bought a few 'parts guns" 12 ga. IJ Champion made for HBS hardware-and a Sears J.C. Higgins Model 583.1 12 gauge Bolt action with the tubular magazine- not the box style- original and unaltered even std brown pad- 28" Full- but no choke markings or sn- As this was at an area Gun Club, i could test fire both before purchasing. While doing so with the BA J.C. Higgins (Marlin mfg? or High Std?) with of course the mandatory safety glasses and ear muffs- a club member mentioned that some years ago Sears was offering a return/recall on some series of their JC Higgins BA shotguns- due to a possible problem with the bolt coming back out of the receiver upon firing- a la the ill-fated Canuck Ross Rifle of WW1 (and Lord Ross's bribery scandal as well)!!
I always test fire in either a sled, or in this case, with the butt against the wood support of the bench and stand "side-saddle" not shouldering the weapon to fire it until I am 100% sure of its mechanics and reliable function. This gun worked fine with 12 AA trap loads, ejection, feeding from the magazine elevator, safety engages, etc-
Has anyone herein ever owned or shot one of these shotguns? Might make a swell turkey or deer shotgun--Just wondering--
