Old Shotgun. Safe to use??

[Shoffy]

My cousin wants to get into a little upland hunting with me this fall. He  has this old shotgun from his great grandpa. This thing looks way cool. I believe it is a Marlin 1898 12Ga. The action and hammer work fine. The barrel and the magazine tube seem a little loose, but from what I've researched the gun is a take down. All the screws seem tight and snug. I've seen a couple posts on the internet that Marlin does not recomend shooting these old guns. I'd love to see him use this thing. It's just so cool. What do you guys think? You think modern 2-3/4" game loads are too much for this thing?? I've had no luck finding any blackpowder or low power loads any where and I don't have any reloading equipment. Don't they make short 2-1/2" or 2" shells somewhere??

[Shoffy]

Another pic

[Bean Counter]

I would give almost any thing to have a family heirloom firearm. If I recieved that from grandpa it would.be in a display.case. 

[goosegetter79]

I would give almost any thing to have a family heirloom firearm. If I recieved that from grandpa it would.be in a display.case. 

   I don't think I would risk ruining that kind of a firearm.

[mfswallace]

 
I'd keep that sweet peach clean and locked behind some glass!!

[CP]

Guns are meant  to be shot not looked at.  Have a gun smith look at it and find or load some suitable ammo for it then go whack some birds with it:

http://www.polywad.com/guide.html

[Bigshooter]

Guns are meant  to be shot not looked at.  Have a gun smith look at it and find or load some suitable ammo for it then go whack some birds with it:

http://www.polywad.com/guide.html

 

I think grandpa would be a lot happier if he new it was being used rather than just being looked at.

[bobcat]

Guns are meant  to be shot not looked at.

I also agree with that, 100%.

If it were mine, handed down from my grandfather, I definitely would find some way to put it to use. I'd at least take it out and shoot some grouse.

I see no point in having a gun just to have it sit around and collect dust.

[toothfangclaw]

It's definitely cooler to pass down a working family hunting gun then a piece of furniture. My two cents. At any rate, a trip to a gun smith would be money well spent for peace of mind.

[jeepster]

The action and hammer work fine.

yeah, my grandpas old shotgun looked cool too, and the action and hammer worked fine... it was an old semi auto remmington from the late 1940s... i was only shooting light target loads, and the entire bolt exloded and shot out the side of the gun.... the charging handle, extractor, carrier, bolt, the only part of the shot shell that ejected was the metal base cap, and the hull was lodged about 8 or 9 inches down the barrel. i almost got killed by the friggen thing, and i will NEVER EVER shoot it again


DONT RISK IT 

if your cuz needs a shotgun and doesnt have much cash look into a NEF pardner pump. 12 ga, 3" chamber, shoots pretty well, 200$ (or so) brand new

yes, guns are meant to be used, but, old guns are a liability

[high country]

That gun was proofed to a standard. There are some proof marks on it somewhere. Find them, and stay under them. Measure the chamber, as some were short. If the action is truly loose, have it looked at. There are lots of low pressure shells out there.

[Encore 280]

I wouldn't risk it. I've heard that the bolt on those old Marlins can shoot straight back into the shooters face, not good. I don't know of anyone that it's happened to. I don't think I'd do it. 

[Johnb317]

I'd make it a wall hanger.  Nothing worse than being way out in the field and have you gun fail.  Added that you'd want to buy low pressure ammo etc. you would come out ahead buying an 870 to be your workhorse.   
FYI.  My wife surprised my with the tricked out beneli sbe flyways edition and I hunt with it all the time.