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| Tools of Survival |
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
JC Higgins Model 20
Hello!
My name is RJ and welcome to my blog "Tools of Survival."
My first blog will be about the JC Higgins model 20 shotgun. Not everyone has $500 bucks to shell out on a new scattergun. Well, I'll speak for myself. I don't have 500 dollars for a new shotgun. Luckily for me and maybe you, there are high quality alternatives out there, and this is one of them available on the used market.
As previously stated this is about the JC Higgins model 20. My particular example is a 12 gauge with a fixed full choke. This shotgun is a pump action, and was made in the 50's through the 60's. It was sold through Sears back in what I am told was the "good ol' days." It was also sold as the High Standard model 200. Either one is a slick, well made gun which I highly recommend and can be found in fair to good condition for around $150 dollars if you look around.
Mine was acquired about a year ago while at a gun show in Denver. I was looking for an inexpensive but quality shotgun. I wanted something that I wouldn't feel bad walking through thick brush looking for rabbits or having it take a bump or two behind the seat of a truck. I found that gun in the JC Higgins Model 20.
I had never before heard of JC Higgins, but when I saw it on that gunshow table it beckoned me. It was obviously well made, crafted with pride in an age when quality was the rule, not the exception. Nothing fancy, but I wanted a "working man's" shotgun, not a safe queen. When I picked it up it was light, yet solid in my hands. When I shouldered it fit like it was made for me. It swung well and pointed very naturally. Six twenty dollar bills and a background check later I had myself a new scattergun.
There is a lot to like about this old gun but perhaps the best thing about this shotgun is the extra-smooth feel of the pump. The actions on these model 20's are truly something to behold. The pump on a Remington 870, Mossberg 500, and Winchester Model 12 feel good, and each of those pump actions is great in it's own right. They each have their own strengths, however when only considering the feel of the pump I believe that the JC Higgins Model 20 has these other guns beat, hands down.
In fact, with the muzzle pointed up a guy can push the detent (located behind the trigger guard on the left side) to release pump, and the action will open by gravity only. I said it once, I'll say it again. The pump on this gun is slick.
This shotgun is limited to 2-3/4 inch shells only, as many older shotguns are. With the wide array of excellent shells these days in that size I hardly feel like this is a limitation. If you live anywhere near a halfway decent sporting goods store you can find a suitable load that will work for anything you can go after with a shotgun. This includes some great turkey loads. (like Federal's lead 5 shot with flitecontrol wad - patterns coming soon!) These guns typically pattern so well that many folks like to use them in turkey shoot competitions.
As I said, this old shotgun has a fixed full choke and it was made well before the hindrance known as steel shot was introduced. Long story short, don't run steel shot through this gun. If you choose to go after waterfowl, or just want to use non-toxic shot then use bismuth or tungsten matrix shot. Some of the tungsten alloy based non-tox loads are actually harder than steel so stay away from those.
I will post various patterns as soon as I test them, but field experience shows that inexpensive Winchester Super Speed Extra 1oz of #6 shot moving at 1350 fps is flat out lethal on doves! I think 7-1/2 shot would be better but 6 shot is what I had and it worked very well on pass shots on longer range birds.
So heck, this is a lightweight, well-made shotgun, that points and swings well with five plus one shell capacity all for about $150... What's not to like? Well there are, as with most guns a few things I can nitpick. First, I wish the safety was a tang safety like the Mossberg 500, not a cross bolt job like the 870. Just my personal preference, but I'm sure others out there would agree. Next, while I don't really mind the fixed choke, a removable one would be nice to better tailor the gun to one's quarry.
The shotgun breaks down fairly easily for a through cleaning. Here is a link with the owners manual. http://stevespages.com/pdf/histandard_k200.pdf
There are also a few YouTube videos on the breakdown and assembly if you should need extra help.
If you get one or already have one here is a link to see how old it is. Mine is from 1952!
http://www.histandard.info/models/private/Sears/SearsPump.html
Well, there you have it, the JC Higgins model 20. A great old shotgun that is well worth a look.
Thanks for reading,
RJ
My name is RJ and welcome to my blog "Tools of Survival."
My first blog will be about the JC Higgins model 20 shotgun. Not everyone has $500 bucks to shell out on a new scattergun. Well, I'll speak for myself. I don't have 500 dollars for a new shotgun. Luckily for me and maybe you, there are high quality alternatives out there, and this is one of them available on the used market.
As previously stated this is about the JC Higgins model 20. My particular example is a 12 gauge with a fixed full choke. This shotgun is a pump action, and was made in the 50's through the 60's. It was sold through Sears back in what I am told was the "good ol' days." It was also sold as the High Standard model 200. Either one is a slick, well made gun which I highly recommend and can be found in fair to good condition for around $150 dollars if you look around.
Mine was acquired about a year ago while at a gun show in Denver. I was looking for an inexpensive but quality shotgun. I wanted something that I wouldn't feel bad walking through thick brush looking for rabbits or having it take a bump or two behind the seat of a truck. I found that gun in the JC Higgins Model 20.
I had never before heard of JC Higgins, but when I saw it on that gunshow table it beckoned me. It was obviously well made, crafted with pride in an age when quality was the rule, not the exception. Nothing fancy, but I wanted a "working man's" shotgun, not a safe queen. When I picked it up it was light, yet solid in my hands. When I shouldered it fit like it was made for me. It swung well and pointed very naturally. Six twenty dollar bills and a background check later I had myself a new scattergun.
There is a lot to like about this old gun but perhaps the best thing about this shotgun is the extra-smooth feel of the pump. The actions on these model 20's are truly something to behold. The pump on a Remington 870, Mossberg 500, and Winchester Model 12 feel good, and each of those pump actions is great in it's own right. They each have their own strengths, however when only considering the feel of the pump I believe that the JC Higgins Model 20 has these other guns beat, hands down.
In fact, with the muzzle pointed up a guy can push the detent (located behind the trigger guard on the left side) to release pump, and the action will open by gravity only. I said it once, I'll say it again. The pump on this gun is slick.
This shotgun is limited to 2-3/4 inch shells only, as many older shotguns are. With the wide array of excellent shells these days in that size I hardly feel like this is a limitation. If you live anywhere near a halfway decent sporting goods store you can find a suitable load that will work for anything you can go after with a shotgun. This includes some great turkey loads. (like Federal's lead 5 shot with flitecontrol wad - patterns coming soon!) These guns typically pattern so well that many folks like to use them in turkey shoot competitions.
As I said, this old shotgun has a fixed full choke and it was made well before the hindrance known as steel shot was introduced. Long story short, don't run steel shot through this gun. If you choose to go after waterfowl, or just want to use non-toxic shot then use bismuth or tungsten matrix shot. Some of the tungsten alloy based non-tox loads are actually harder than steel so stay away from those.
I will post various patterns as soon as I test them, but field experience shows that inexpensive Winchester Super Speed Extra 1oz of #6 shot moving at 1350 fps is flat out lethal on doves! I think 7-1/2 shot would be better but 6 shot is what I had and it worked very well on pass shots on longer range birds.
So heck, this is a lightweight, well-made shotgun, that points and swings well with five plus one shell capacity all for about $150... What's not to like? Well there are, as with most guns a few things I can nitpick. First, I wish the safety was a tang safety like the Mossberg 500, not a cross bolt job like the 870. Just my personal preference, but I'm sure others out there would agree. Next, while I don't really mind the fixed choke, a removable one would be nice to better tailor the gun to one's quarry.
The shotgun breaks down fairly easily for a through cleaning. Here is a link with the owners manual. http://stevespages.com/pdf/histandard_k200.pdf
There are also a few YouTube videos on the breakdown and assembly if you should need extra help.
If you get one or already have one here is a link to see how old it is. Mine is from 1952!
http://www.histandard.info/models/private/Sears/SearsPump.html
Well, there you have it, the JC Higgins model 20. A great old shotgun that is well worth a look.
Thanks for reading,
RJ
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