E-Mail 'Becoming a Savvy Pre-1899 Antique Gun Buyer' To A Friend

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1. I’ve been buying and selling antique guns for about 40 years now. If you’re just starting you might as well be prepared to get burned a couple times. I happens and you’ll learn. You might find a mentor to guide you on your early purchases.
   Reloading for these old guns isn’t difficult. Some of the larger calibers will shoot better with real black powder, case capacity is the major issue. I load for 45-90, 45-70,45-60, 45 colt,45 schofield, 44 special, 44-40, 38-40, 38 special, 38 colt, 38 S&W, 32-40, 32-20. I also load some modern calibers, 30-06, .243, 6 creedmore, .223, .22 hornet, 45 auto, 380 auto, 9mm. Probably forgot a few. I could never afford to shoot as much as I do if I didn’t reload, and the most important aspect is the incredible accuracy you can get.

2. Since the government could and probably will include registration on all guns my strategy is to buy modern rifles. And it seems with pending new laws, the bolt action rifles in 308 seem to be under the “assault weapon” styling that frightens liberals. Plus ammo is common and cheap at least today.

3. I recently saw two old double barrel 12 gauge shotguns in one of those “antique” stores that generally have junk that are listed as not working and only for wall ornaments. Considered seriously buying them on the chance they could be repaired. Could probably get both for under $125. Any thoughts??

   1. If they have modern steel (“fluid steel”) barrels and you can document that the shotguns were produced pre-1899, then they are probably worth buying. BUT if they have Damascus steel barrels (you can see a twist pattern) then they are probably not safe to shoot with modern smokeless shells.

      1. You can shoot Damascus barrels, I have been for 40 years. But, you can’t just jam any old shell in them. You need to hand load for them, IMR’s 7625 is the powder you’ll want, very low pressure loads. In fact you can load lower pressure with it than real black powder. You can also load your own black powder shells too. I reload the old style paper shells for mine. New Brass shells are available as well. Biggest problem with old SXS’s is the lock up is loose, avoid those. repairs on old SXS’s can be very expensive.
         My oldest SXS is English and was made ca. 1864. Started out as a pin fire and was converted to centerfire. Great old gun. Killed lots of pheasants with that old gun as well as clays and a bunch of cowboy action shooting.

4. Many shotguns built prior to WW2 have chambers that are short by modern standards,either for paper hull shells or just shorter than the current standards.
   Many 16 gauge guns have 2&9/16 chambers and 12 gauges often have 2&5/8 chambers.

   The chambers can be lengthened with the proper tools and gauges. The tools are readily available from gunsmith tool suppliers. A forcing cone reamer will suffice for paper hull chambers and will reduce recoil and improve patterns.

   In the past, Remington “promo” shells were a little shorter than standard, and would work better in paper hull chambers. I don’t know if this is still the case or not.

5. Think any firearm in the Northeast states regardless of age must be registered.

   Even building something from a 80% once completed also has to be registered . Is definitely wise to be educated in your local laws.

6. if this passes it will be time to follow our forefathers and the dictate of the Declaration of Independence and Constitution and shoot the tyrants well and often until they quit their sh*t!

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