need help with my shot gun

[brett123]

ok so a few days ago my grandma gived me a remington model 58 20 gauge shot gun but i am not sure if its supposed to have a choke or not theres not one in it right now but i am just wondering about it its an old gun and just not sure any help will be nice thank you

brett

[Gutpile]

I doubt it. read the barrel. It should say it's modified or full (something to that affect) near where the gauge is stamped on the barrel. If you can't find a stamp mark look and see if there are any threads inside the muzzle. Be sure it's unloaded  .

Most older shotty's do not have screw in chokes. Don't go and shoot steel out of that thing either.

[brett123]

it looks like it had some theards in it but been worn out and why not steel

[carpsniperg2]

Most older shotty's do not have screw in chokes. Don't go and shoot steel out of that thing either.
 x2
 
 
a lot of the older shot gun barrels can't handle the hard steel shot it will ruin them,

[brett123]

thank you guys for the help
 

[jackelope]

does it have the dial a matic thing on the end of the mag tube?
good gun, replaced by the 1100. a little googling will give lots of info.
Light and Heavy Load Selection

The magazine cap is vented to reduce the recoil and ensure proper operation of your shorgun when firing light or heavy loads including the MAGNUM loads. Rotate the "Dial-a-Matic" selector ("L" - Light, "H" - Heavy) clockwise towards the barrel to match any of the three raised marks on the magazine cap. This will vent the piston mechanism sufficiently for the load used.

FOr the "Sporttsman"-58 STANDARD model (2 3/4 in. chamber), match the "H" letter on the selector to the raised mark on the cap when shooting heavy or standard length MAGNUM loads. Match the "L" letter to the raised mark for light loads. For rifled slugs or 00 buckshot, match the "L" letter to the raised mark on the cap.

For the "Sportsman"-58 12 gauge MAGNUM model (3 in. chamber), match the "H" letter to the raised mark when shooting 3 inch Magnum shells. When shooting 2 3/4 inch standard length Magnum shells in this model match the "L" letter to the raised mark on the cap.

[Gutpile]

Here's a pic of a shotty like yours with a modified stamp. Your.s should have this, it may be full or something else but it should be there. These do not have screw in chokes unless it was installed aftermarket. It would be faily obvious if that was the case.

[jackelope]

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=161725

http://www.remington.com/library/history/firearm_models/shotguns/model_58_sportsman.asp

Firearm Model History
 
Sportsman 58
 
Description: Remington's first gas operated, autoloading shotgun without the Browning-type recoiling action
Introduction Year: 1956
Year Discontinued: 1963
Total Production: 271,000 approx.
Designer/Inventor: L.R. Crittendon, Phillip R. Haskell, Ellis W. Hailston
Action Type: Gas operated, autoloading
Caliber/Gauge: 12, 16 and 20 gauge
Serial Number Blocks: 1,000 – 275,000
# of Grades Offered: ADL Deluxe
BDL Deluxe Special
D Tournament
F Premier
SA Skeet
SC Skeet Target
SD Skeet Tournament
SF Skeet Premier
TB Trap Special
Variations: Magnum
58 TX with Sun-grain maple stocks
58 SX with Sun-grain maple stocks
58RSS Rifled slug special
 

Model 58:  The model 58, sometimes referred to as the Sportsman 58, was the first gas operated Remington shotgun.  It was introduced in 1956 & discontinued in 1963.  It used basically the receiver section of the 870, a modified 870 barrel, and somewhat the marriage of the action slide/forend system of a 11-48 recoil operated gun, converted to make it gas operation.  This gun was made in 12, 16 & 20ga 2 3/4" chambering & a  separate 12 ga 3" magnum version.   The barrel sported a ventilated rib.  This model only holds 2 rounds in the magazine as the recoil spring is inside the forward end of this tube.

The gas system was not self regulating but required the shooter to adjust the regulator to match the loads used.   This regulator also acts as a magazine cap has a Hi & a Low setting.  This is regulated by twisting the end cap to where the marks line up for Hi or Low. This means that if you are using a "trap load", your should use a Low setting, & where a heavy duck load is used the Hi setting would be more appropriate.   If you allow the cap to get stuck between settings & fire the gun, the cap will blow off the regulator base.   If this happens the gun will probably not function properly with any load, as it is trying to utilize both the Hi & the Low port holes.  The internal holes are different in size & quantity of numbers for each of the gauges.

http://www.wisnersinc.com/additional_info/Remington58_1100.htm

[brett123]

well after i tokk and wnet and cleaned the crap out of the gun i found a thing that says modified and i had to clean the thing alot
thank you all for the help

[Gutpile]

WOW!! That was one dirty shotty!   Take care of that thing. I had a friend of the family give me an old Remmy shotty back when I was 15. I still have that thing to this day and I'm 42. I love it. When we have a good pheasant hatch I still take it out occasionally.