Shotgun life span

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Posted: 10/2/2009 2:43:07 AM EDT

Lets say you grabbed a shotgun of acceptable quality (Mossberg/870/etc) and just started firing shells. We all know the average breakage points of most rifles/pistols we own I'm sure. But with a shotgun, can you expect to fire thousands of shells before breaking?

Posted: 10/2/2009 2:45:45 AM EDT

[#1]

I would think so... my Mossberg 500 has to have at least a couple of thousand rounds through it. No breakage. I've probably had the thing 12 or 13 years.

Posted: 10/2/2009 2:47:21 AM EDT

[#2]

I have an article from some gunmag from the 80s talking about how long various guns last. I guess shotguns can go forever. I'll have to dig it out

Posted: 10/2/2009 2:48:10 AM EDT

[#3]

there are a couple of 870's in my p.d.'s arsenal that have atleast 8-10k rounds through the pipe.

Posted: 10/2/2009 2:49:00 AM EDT

[#4]

Quoted:
I have an article from some gunmag from the 80s talking about how long various guns last. I guess shotguns can go forever. I'll have to dig it out

very interesting... I wasn't sure the the recoil suggested a more violent effect on the gun.

Posted: 10/2/2009 2:53:01 AM EDT

[#5]

Tom Knapp claims to have over 100K through one of his Benelli shotguns. The only thing done to it (other then cleanings) was replace 1 pin that started to get sloppy. The gun still fired but it was making the trigger inconsistant.

Posted: 10/2/2009 2:53:37 AM EDT

[#6]

Quoted:
Tom Knapp claims to have over 100K through one of his Benelli shotguns. The only thing done to it (other then cleanings) was replace 1 pin that started to get sloppy. The gun still fired but it was making the trigger inconsistant.

that is certainly very interesting...

Posted: 10/2/2009 2:56:01 AM EDT

[#7]

I've got 120K+ on my oldest target shotgun. It's slicker than whale shit in an ice floe.

Posted: 10/2/2009 3:01:15 AM EDT

[#8]

Shotguns are going to probably out live you (especially an 870 (IMHO).

You know whats really awesome? We have a shotgun forum where you can ask these questions.

Shotgun forum

Posted: 10/2/2009 3:02:27 AM EDT

[#9]

50K rounds before a major componrent failed.

Stoocks, and smalll paerts are probably a little more fragile.

Posted: 10/2/2009 3:02:40 AM EDT

[#10]

Quoted:
Shotguns are going to probably out live you (especially an 870 (IMHO).

You know whats really awesome? We have a shotgun forum where you can ask these questions.

Shotgun forum

Well it was just something I was curious about and I thought it might be cool to have a response by the end of October

Posted: 10/2/2009 3:07:10 AM EDT

[#11]

Win 1897 12ga 20K through it +/- 5K still runs strong,...

Posted: 10/2/2009 3:07:27 AM EDT

[#12]

I think one of the big factors in longevity is the receiver material, be it steel or alloy.

Either way, I'd imagine a hell of a long time.

Posted: 10/2/2009 3:10:48 AM EDT

[#13]

Shotguns have very few parts to break and the parts they have are much bigger than most pistol and rifle components.

If everything else holds up, pistols and rifles can be used until the rifling of the barrel wears down, making them far less accurate. Smooth bore shotguns don't have that problem.

I think you would run out of money or time to get one to break.

Posted: 10/2/2009 3:22:57 AM EDT

[#14]

Quoted:
Win 1897 12ga 20K through it +/- 5K still runs strong,...
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn286/jt556/1897E-1.jpg

Dude...it broke in HALF!

"Runs strong" my ass....

Posted: 10/2/2009 3:23:23 AM EDT

[#15]

Quoted:

Quoted:

Tom Knapp claims to have over 100K through one of his Benelli shotguns. The only thing done to it (other then cleanings) was replace 1 pin that started to get sloppy. The gun still fired but it was making the trigger inconsistant.

that is certainly very interesting...

That's the sort of thing I was referring to in receiver metals.

While I agree that generally shotguns are very robust, there are certainly different quality levels...

People pay good money for 870s over a Chinese clone. People pay more than double for a Mossberg over a Maverick 88.

How long can you expect a Maverick 88 to last compared to a Mossberg? How about Charles Daly products?

What about shotguns where polymers come into play?

I can't imagine firing one enough to "wear it out" in my lifetime, so I guess other than wanting good quality, I don't really worry about it at all.

Posted: 10/2/2009 3:36:06 AM EDT

[#16]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Win 1897 12ga 20K through it +/- 5K still runs strong,...
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn286/jt556/1897E-1.jpg

Dude...it broke in HALF!

"Runs strong" my ass....

Posted: 10/2/2009 3:41:44 AM EDT

[#17]

Quoted:
Lets say you grabbed a shotgun of acceptable quality (Mossberg/870/etc) and just started firing shells. We all know the average breakage points of most rifles/pistols we own I'm sure. But with a shotgun, can you expect to fire thousands of shells before breaking?

Not an 870, but I had a Remington Model 11 that I probably put 3 or 4K through. No breakages.

Posted: 10/2/2009 3:49:12 AM EDT

[#18]

Shotguns run at much lower pressures too...

Posted: 10/2/2009 3:56:36 AM EDT

[#19]

I always figured if I wore out my 870 Trap model I would buy a nice over/under. I bought my 870TB used, its a 67'. I might be waiting a while.

If you wear out a shotgun with "normal" use, you deserved a new one!

Posted: 10/2/2009 5:01:26 AM EDT

[#20]

I guess I'll be the one to shit the bed here......I've broken a few of the 'better' shotguns.

I had a Mossy 500. I got about 1500 rounds of 7 1/2 birdshot before the receiver cracked. (this shotgun never saw anything more stout than Wally World bulk pack bird shot ammo––I only used it for rabbit and ptarmigan hunting)

I replaced it with another Mossy 500––the price was good, and I figured that the first one was a fluke. After about 250 rounds, the tang mounted safety would engage itself under recoil––which made follow up shots a little difficult. The soft aluminum receiver had a groove worn where the detente ball contacted it––I tried several things, but couldn't figure out a permanent repair for it, so I went shopping for a new shotgun.

Bought a Winchester 1300. Broke the slide after 1 dove hunt and a couple of rounds of skeet. Again, never used anything more powerful than Wally World bulk pack ammo. (a spot weld broke on one of the bolt carrier rails)

I was looking for an 870, but on a whim, I picked up a Browning Gold (semi) instead. This was 15 years ago––countless dove/quail/pheasant/skeet and haven't had a problem yet. It's a bonafide Fudd gun, but unlike the tacticool pump guns, this one hasn't let me down.

Posted: 10/2/2009 5:07:30 AM EDT

[#21]

Quoted:

I guess I'll be the one to shit the bed here......I've broken a few of the 'better' shotguns.

I had a Mossy 500. I got about 1500 rounds of 7 1/2 birdshot before the receiver cracked. (this shotgun never saw anything more stout than Wally World bulk pack bird shot ammo––I only used it for rabbit and ptarmigan hunting)

I replaced it with another Mossy 500––the price was good, and I figured that the first one was a fluke. After about 250 rounds, the tang mounted safety would engage itself under recoil––which made follow up shots a little difficult. The soft aluminum receiver had a groove worn where the detente ball contacted it––I tried several things, but couldn't figure out a permanent repair for it, so I went shopping for a new shotgun.

Bought a Winchester 1300. Broke the slide after 1 dove hunt and a couple of rounds of skeet. Again, never used anything more powerful than Wally World bulk pack ammo. (a spot weld broke on one of the bolt carrier rails)
I was looking for an 870, but on a whim, I picked up a Browning Gold (semi) instead. This was 15 years ago––countless dove/quail/pheasant/skeet and haven't had a problem yet. It's a bonafide Fudd gun, but unlike the tacticool pump guns, this one hasn't let me down.

Those are not "better" shotguns.

Posted: 10/2/2009 5:20:40 AM EDT

[#22]

I run a Mossy 500 and have had no troulbe so far. I have only had it about 2 years but in that time I started shooting A LOT of trap (once or twice a week). I must have close to 5000 rounds through it so far without a single problem.

You should ask your question to skeet and trap shooters, they shoot more shells in 3 weeks then a bird hunter shoots in 5 years.

Some of the guys at the trap range have shotguns that must have tens of thousands of rounds through them.

Posted: 10/2/2009 5:24:43 AM EDT

[#23]

I think part of the beauty of pump action shotguns is the simplicity of the action, which leads to reliability and a longer lasting life span.

Ditto with bolt action rifles. Does anyone think the M4's being made today will be working as well in 70 years as the old Mausers do today?

Posted: 10/2/2009 5:25:57 AM EDT

[#24]

I've got a 1960's 870 12ga that my dad gave me when I was a kid. I have no idea how many rounds have been through it, but it is many thousands. An average week back then would have us shooting clays at least two or three days a week for hours on end, and it also saw some magnum loads from hunting deer, goose, and turkey. It has never had a single hiccup of any kind and runs better now with some wear on it than just about any "slicked up" modern pump shotgun I've ever handled.

Posted: 10/2/2009 5:28:58 AM EDT

[#25]

I have a ~70 year old 12 gauge that my grandfather passed down to me. He used it nearly daily to put food on the table and still functions perfectly with a silky smooth action. Since there is no rifling in the barrel to wear down, no lead to build up in, I would assume that they last nearly forever. Certainly several lifetimes worth of use. Outside of a few test shells I don't use grand-dad's gun.

Posted: 10/2/2009 5:32:31 AM EDT

[#26]

I've been shooting my Remington 870 Wingmaster in Trap and Skeet quite a bit since the late 1970s, it has also shot a lot Phesants and Dove

I'm thinking it has had more than 15,000 rounds through it, probably a lot more.

I've never replaced any parts on it.

Posted: 10/2/2009 5:32:49 AM EDT

[#27]

Quoted:

I have a ~70 year old 12 gauge that my grandfather passed down to me. He used it nearly daily to put food on the table and still functions perfectly with a silky smooth action. Since there is no rifling in the barrel to wear down, no lead to build up in, I would assume that they last nearly forever. Certainly several lifetimes worth of use. Outside of a few test shells I don't use grand-dad's gun.

I would keep that shotgun out of the shooting rotation and pass it down. If that gun could talk, I'll bet it would tell some great stories. Its a testament to WHY we need the second amendment in hard times.

Posted: 10/2/2009 5:33:49 AM EDT

[#28]

My 1897 Winchesters show no sign of wearing out. They are older than the internet and twice as fun.

Posted: 10/2/2009 5:36:38 AM EDT

[#29]

Stats for the two I shoot the most:

Browning 525 Sporting, 4 years old - 20,000 rounds, just replaced firing pins/springs

Benelli Super Black Eagle - 9 years old, ~4500 rounds of 3.5" duck and goose shells + 3,000 target loads, no parts replaced

One of the guys I hunt with has an M1S90 that probably has 20,000 3" duck/goose shells without anything broken or replaced.

Posted: 10/2/2009 5:36:39 AM EDT

[#30]

My Winchester 1300 (bought new for my dad in 1978[I think]) has had countless thousands of rounds through it. At least 30k. One freezing winter day I was shooting trap and one of the pump arms broke. That's the only part that's ever been replaced.

Posted: 10/2/2009 5:41:11 AM EDT

[#31]

got about 4k down my mossberg 500 and she still runs like a champ

Posted: 10/2/2009 5:47:12 AM EDT

[#32]

Quoted:
Those are not "better" shotguns.

yep.....you're right. Hence, the quotation marks in my original post.

There's a lot of Mossberg and Winchester fans who claim that they're every bit as good as an 870/Browning/Benelli: My experience says otherwise.

Posted: 10/2/2009 5:47:49 AM EDT

[#33]

Quoted:
I would think so... my Mossberg 500 has to have at least a couple of thousand rounds through it. No breakage. I've probably had the thing 12 or 13 years.

A Mossberg 500 only gets more loose and sloppy with age. This is a good thing

Posted: 10/2/2009 6:07:54 AM EDT

[#34]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Those are not "better" shotguns.

yep.....you're right. Hence, the quotation marks in my original post.

There's a lot of Mossberg and Winchester fans who claim that they're every bit as good as an 870/Browning/Benelli: My experience says otherwise.

I can't speak about the Browning and Benelli, but I would argue that my Mossy 500 IS every bit as good as an 870. In fact, I picked my mossy OVER an 870 (prices are really about the same, at least not enough difference to worry about) for the reason of the safety position, shell elevator and the mossy has a smoother action. At the time, I also couldn't find an 870 with over a 26" barrel.

I also have a crap ton of rounds through my mossy without a single problem, so yes, my mossy is just as good as an 870 and I've proved it on the trap range.

I don't know how you got two 500's that crapped out on you, but I would have gone back to Mossberg as said, WTF??!!! You could have sent them in for the warranty too, unless of course you did something you weren't supposed to be doing and aren't telling us........I can see one gun breaking, I've seen fancy o/u shotguns choke too, but two....seems fishy.

Posted: 10/2/2009 6:34:36 AM EDT

[#35]

Something to think about any Shotgun made before 1970 will still be going strong when it turns 100 years old. You won't be able to say the same with one made after 1970. If you pay less than $1000 for a shotgun it's a throw away Gun.... The Manufacturers figure it's cheap enough that if it breaks you will buy another rather than try to spend the money to have it repaired even if you have it repaired it will not retain it's value like a quality shotgun.

Posted: 10/2/2009 6:41:22 AM EDT

[#36]

Quick someone buy O_P a benelli and 100k of shells so he can test this on his website.

Posted: 10/2/2009 6:42:14 AM EDT

[#37]

doubletap

Posted: 10/2/2009 7:33:42 AM EDT

[#38]

I was at one of my odd jobs two days ago and the dude I was working for had an OLD winchester laid up in his garage. That thing looked older than me with absolutley no finish on it what-so-ever.... he let me shoot it and it worked just fine. Pumps are gonna be handed down to grandchildrens children.

Posted: 10/2/2009 7:47:05 AM EDT

[#39]

I still shoot my Grandfathers Mdl 12 in skeet matches. EASILY 70K rounds thru it AFTER I inherited it. The only thing that ever needed replacing was the recoil pad.

My favorite shotguns for hunting are doubles. Since they were both made in the 30's I'd say the round count is very similar with no breakages, and this is coming from a guy that buys 20 ga. in multiple flats and has a progressive setup for 28 ga.

Posted: 10/2/2009 8:00:56 AM EDT

[#40]

I've got a Winchester model 12 pump that was handed down from my Grandfather to my Father, then to me. It's got to be around 80 years old and I'm guessing it's got at least 50k shells through it and it still works and shoots great. Not sure if my Grandfather or Father ever had it repaired before I was old enough to know, but it's had zero repairs for the last 30 years.

Posted: 10/2/2009 8:01:26 AM EDT

[#41]

I bought a mossberg 590 as my first shotgun. To some extent I kind of think about getting the metal safety and some other parts the 590a1 uses and replacing the plastic on my 590.

I bought an old remington wingmaster shotgun as well, that thing taught me to just buy some older stuff since it is well built and might already be closer to getting to that silky smooth level folks have mentioned.

Look at what you are buying and go from there. From reading I have done the most problems the mossberg 590s wind up having is with the plastic stuff or the spring in the magazine tube getting weak. But then the 590 is not made for hunting.

Posted: 10/2/2009 8:10:09 AM EDT

[#42]

IIRC shotguns produce a much lower pressure than rifles (12 gauge is around 12,000PSI in my Saiga, as opposed to 40,000+PSI in a 5.56 AR) and I'm sure that plays a part in longivity.

Posted: 10/2/2009 8:22:15 AM EDT

[#43]

My dad had a first gen. semi auto shotgun that he got from his dad fom the 40's. He remembers putting hundreds of rounds through it before handing it down to me.

Posted: 10/2/2009 8:22:23 AM EDT

[#44]

There's no reason they shouldn't last forever if you take care of them. Its not like you're going to wear the rifling out.

My field gun is an 870 Wingmaster that was built in 1952. It has seen a lot of bird hunts and the finish is worn here and there, but functionally its still just like new.

Posted: 10/2/2009 8:26:05 AM EDT

[#45]

I have a cheap Mossberg semiauto that I used for sporting clays. The firing pin broke partway through the course one day. I had probably 500 rounds through it and I bought it used so its round count is unknown. The pin broke right in half and rendered the gun unshootable.

Posted: 10/2/2009 8:28:53 AM EDT

[#46]

My Ithaca was made in the early '40's...had it Parkerized and she's a beaut.

HH

Posted: 10/2/2009 8:32:13 AM EDT

[#47]

Rudy Etchen put ~4,000,000 rounds through an 870. Not sure how many parts broke. Will look for link.

Posted: 10/2/2009 8:34:51 AM EDT

[#48]

My Great uncle had a 1897 Winchester 12 gauge that he got from his father and passed on to his son who passed it on to his son all used it to hunt that shotgun is just over 100 years old and still going.

I have a Remington 1100 my dad bought in 67 and there have been many thousands of shell through it. Probably a couple thousand plus a year for 20 years when I did a lot of dove hunting and skeet shooting. I don't know how many rounds exactly but maybe well in excess of 40,000-50,000. Never broke a part and still going.