Any comments on the J.C. and Higgins 583.23 12 gauge?

[khunter#1]

Just curious if anyone has comments, is it good quality? Do any of you own one? How accurate are they with rifled slugs? Because I just ordered one online, Thanks

[rotty33]

Is that the bolt action shotgun?

[rotty33]

There was a recall on the bolt action malfunctioning and causing injury. I got 150 from the company for turning the bolt in.  Not sure about your model though

[lokidog]

I have one of these with the polychoke, it was my dad's first shotgun purchased in the 50's.  I've only shot one deer with it.  I don't know why it would be any better, or worse, than any other shotgun.  If shooting off a rest, it would be better for a second shot than a pump.

[khunter#1]

Yes its a bolt action. Lokidog how accurate is your shotgun with slugs, and how would you compare the recoil to a 30-06? The recall was for models 583. 12 to 583. 22, mine is .1 above that though I'm not sure what the difference is between those models and mine, Thank you for all the comments

[lokidog]

The last time I shot a slug out of it was in 1984.  I did the pie plate at 50 yards test.     I hadn't planned on actually shooting anything as I was hoping my college friend would get a shot so I gave him my 870.  I had shot a buck already so was giving him until 9 to shoot something (we were in a doe only area, my sister had a buck tag) since he had to get back to study for a test.  I had many does around me before 9, but at 8:55 decided to shoot the next one I saw.  A few minutes later, two huge bucks come walking over the ridge with a doe between them.  They stopped broadside at about 40 yards, I aimed at her shoulder and she dropped right there.  Still could have shot those bucks as they looked at her like what the heck's wrong with you, before they walked away.  Turned out I took out her jugular right below her jaw.  I don't know if it was the gun or the shooter that put it so far off.     My buddy just shook his head when he told me he heard the shot and looked at his watch as the second hand ticked onto 9:00.     He had only seen three deer and they were trotting by so he didn't want to risk a shot.  My sister, at age 12, filled her buck tag with her one and only deer to this day, though she did shoot an elk last year in CO where she now lives.

Rifled slugs are cheap, just go out and shoot some to see how your gun shoots.  You could also use buckshot and keep your shots under 40 yards (though I don't like buckshot).

BTW, I used this gun for duck hunting one day, for kicks, and a guy I met at the ramp was surprised to see I was shooting a bolt.  He thought it was a pump with the quickness of my follow up shots.  I got my first goose with this gun as well.

A lot less recoil than an -06, though on the goose it pounded my shoulder into the ground pretty hard since I was laying on my back and I was a small 12 year old.   

[Heredoggydoggy]

Each year Sears contracts out its guns, so it might be made by any gun manufacturer.  My first shotgun was a J. C. Higgins pump 16 gage.  (I think it was made by Hi Standard or Mossberg that year.)  it jammed constantly, and didn't fit me, so I couldn't hit anything with it anyway.  Sold it to a tall lanky friend of mine, and he couldn't miss with it!  I still have the J. C. Higgins 22 bolt action rifle I got when I was a kid, and it's deadly accurate.  Looked it up in a book a while back, and that year they were made by Marlin.  Same gun, jus the barrel stamp is different.    I guess that year Marlin was the low bidder!

[lokidog]

Each year Sears contracts out its guns, so it might be made by any gun manufacturer.  My first shotgun was a J. C. Higgins pump 16 gage.  (I think it was made by Hi Standard or Mossberg that year.)  it jammed constantly, and didn't fit me, so I couldn't hit anything with it anyway.  Sold it to a tall lanky friend of mine, and he couldn't miss with it!  I still have the J. C. Higgins 22 bolt action rifle I got when I was a kid, and it's deadly accurate.  Looked it up in a book a while back, and that year they were made by Marlin.  Same gun, jus the barrel stamp is different.    I guess that year Marlin was the low bidder!

Marlin made a lot of their .22s from what I have seen, I love Marlin made .22s.

[Heredoggydoggy]

Each year Sears contracts out its guns, so it might be made by any gun manufacturer.  My first shotgun was a J. C. Higgins pump 16 gage.  (I think it was made by Hi Standard or Mossberg that year.)  it jammed constantly, and didn't fit me, so I couldn't hit anything with it anyway.  Sold it to a tall lanky friend of mine, and he couldn't miss with it!  I still have the J. C. Higgins 22 bolt action rifle I got when I was a kid, and it's deadly accurate.  Looked it up in a book a while back, and that year they were made by Marlin.  Same gun, jus the barrel stamp is different.    I guess that year Marlin was the low bidder!

Marlin made a lot of their .22s from what I have seen, I love Marlin made .22s.

I got mine back in the mid-1950's.  (That was at the start of the second half of the last Century!) 

[khunter#1]

Lokidog, A lot less than an 06 even with slugs? I thought slugs kicked a lot

[lokidog]

Lokidog, A lot less than an 06 even with slugs? I thought slugs kicked a lot

They can, but that's only a 2 3/4" gun and mine is a lot heavier than my 30-06.

[khunter#1]

Thanks for all the replies, really helpful!

[lokidog]

Thanks for all the replies, really helpful!

You're welcome.  Just get out there and try it.  Let us know what you think.  Merry Christmas.

[khunter#1]

I have few more question what open sights would you suggest I get? For a scope, I am thinking about getting the Redfield revolution 2-7x33 4 plex scope for slug hunting for deer, is this a good decision do you think? Thanks

[lokidog]

I think whatever sight you put on will be better than the front bead that I used back in the day.     I think your 2X7 would work fine, it's not going to be a 300 yard or probably even 200 yard gun.   

[gunparts]

Sears Was paying $160 per 12 ga bolt. I turned in a few and then Sears Changed to only Paying $50 per bolt. The Bolts have no locking lug other then the bolt handle and some letting go and getting the shooter the Carriers seem to break alot.
here is a good link
http://www.guns.com/2012/06/20/jc-higgins-model-10/

[khunter#1]

Thanks again for the advice Lokidog, Merry Christmas!

[coachcw]

those old higgens kicked like hell to a ten year old