Im not trying to be ignorant and get myself put in the hospital but my gun is in the recall and has been working for years, killed over fifty deer and neether my Great Grandfather or Grandfather ever had a problem with it. I used it last year and now I find out that there is a recall on it. I was wondering if anyone still uses these guns or would this be an extremily bad idea?

 

You never know when that next shot will be the one to cause the bolt to shear. Personally, I would send it in.. Bushrod

 

my gun is in the recall and has been working for years

Sometimes when a gun is known to have a weakness, you can just shoot it until it breaks, and then send it back to the factory or take it to a gunsmith. But if the malfunction results in the bolt going through your eyeball into your brain, you ain't taking it nowhere!

I was wondering ... would this be an extremily bad idea?

Yep!

 

:shock: Pardon my skepticism but a recall on a gun fifty years old? I would really like to have more info of who/what/and why there is a recall first, then decide what action to take! Possibly just a trip to the gunsmith could determine if there's a problem or even fix it if there is.
I'm sorry but the whole thing sounds fishy to me. :roll:

 

Why be skeptical? YOu send sears the bolt fropm the 183 models listed and they send you a check for $160. Type "J C higgins Shotgun Recall" into Google and you can satisfy your skeptic feelings.. Bushrod

 

Sounds great to me. Where else are you going to get $160 for one of those things!

 

I wish I had bought all those I've seen in the last 50 years for $50 each.. Bushrod

 

:shock: Pardon my skepticism but a recall on a gun fifty years old? I would really like to have more info of who/what/and why there is a recall first, then decide what action to take! Possibly just a trip to the gunsmith could determine if there's a problem or even fix it if there is.
I'm sorry but the whole thing sounds fishy to me. :roll:

WB, this recall happened YEARS ago, Sears may not even still be honoring it.

 

Yeah, this recall happened at least several years ago.... perhaps longer. I would contact Sears and see if it's still in effect before sending the bolt in. My guess is that it IS still in effect, but I would check to be sure.

 

The recall was issued on March 13, 1998. It was a voluntary recall, not one required by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and therefore is not listed on the official government recall list, and (for reasons I don't understand) is not listed on Sears' recall list. However, the press release that announced it is still up on the Sears web site. Here it is:
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/micro ... ar+5,+1999

 

To me, it seems the question here may be whether Bang wants to take $160 to render his gun incomplete or to hang it on the wall, together with a lot of family memories. I'd opt for turning it into a wallhanger, bolt and all, so every time my eyes fell on it, I might remember something about my Grandaddy or an old hunt. I'd make a big deal about retiring it so my household and friends would know it shouldn't be shot and keep a copy of the recall notice to pass along with the gun should its possession change.

Wish I had my Grandaddy's quail gun.

 

Before my shotgun was given to me my dad took it to a gunsmith and he repaired the the shotgun before I got it. I just wanted everyone to be aware of the problem.

 

How did he repair poor heat treatment and any possible stress fractures in the latch?

 

Before my shotgun was given to me my dad took it to a gunsmith and he repaired the the shotgun before I got it. I just wanted everyone to be aware of the problem.

He may have repaired something on that gun, but I seriously doubt that he could do anything to make the bolt safe!

 

I tend to agree with Marland and Mr. Ben. There's no way to make them safe other than a complete modification, with locking lugs on the bolt etc, Big bucks for a $100 gun.. Bushrod

 

Thank you for all the help. I will definitly be hanging this gun up for viewing purposes only. Im not going to risk a shotgun bolt in my head. My granpa would like to know if anybody knows how many people were injured by accidents from this gun.

 

Here's the word- The flaw is a DESIGN problem with the 12 gauge ONLY- bolt MAY fail on firing- not enough metal around bolt lock up point. THERE IS NO FIX FOR THESE. Yes, recall is still in effect, yes, Sears is still buying back the bolts for 12 gauge models 583.13 thru 583.22- and it has cost them a heck of a lot more than they expected it to cost! You MAY shoot that gun for another 50 years and never have a problem- and it may kill you next time trigger is pulled. If it were mine, I would call 800-817-9165, have them send me the mailer, ship them the bolt, buy another shotgun, and turn my old one into a floor lamp. Keeping one of these in firing condition is the equivalent of keeping a hand grenade on your nightstand. And yeah, I'm serious about the floor lamp- good memories every time you sit under it reading. The 16 g and 20 gauge have more metal due to smaller bolt, and are not affected by recall. Good luck, shoot safe.