What did I find?
Posted by UnlikelyNecessary737@reddit | Firearms | View on Reddit | 24 comments
Recently acquired this 12 gauge. I saw it and had to have it. Stamped Russell arms co. That's all the information I have one it. The Google machine was helpful in verifying it's a side by side coach gun but not too much else. Does anyone have more info?
BrianFuckingFischer@reddit
Based on the butt plate, it seems close to the shotgun in this listing.
https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-for-sale-online/shotguns/shotguns---belgium-double/sold------belgium-12ga-art-deco-hand-carved-and-engraved.cfm?gun_id=101402844
Rebel-665@reddit
We need a lot more info and photos someone else said there is usually lots of info on the underside of the barrels. Plus some bore pics and barrel pics could help.
qtypical@reddit
If you hand it in to prapor, he’ll give it back to you and tell you to kill 5 cultists with it.
illEMERSEyou@reddit
Yup, can confirm. That's a gun.
OG_Fe_Jefe@reddit
Check the underside of the barrels, where the foregrip would cover, there may be proof stamping located there. These would give us clues as to the age and even proof testing of the bbls.
Material_Victory_661@reddit
Anything on the underside of the barrels?
StorkyMcGee@reddit
Can we see a closeup of the hammers and, more importantly, what is under them?
dadbodsupreme@reddit
IIRC, Belgian manufacturer, Russell imported them. They (Belgian shotties) were cheap and plentiful pre-WWI.
Think of it like a Turkish shotgun today- cheap, plentiful, questionable reliability.
DISCLAIMER: I'm not an expert, but I spent some time running around with my uncle in west Texas in the 90's as we tried to figure out what his dad had in his collection when he passed.
UnlikelyNecessary737@reddit (OP)
Think it's still good to fire after I get it cleaned up? 2 3/4 shell? Amateur opinion of course
StorkyMcGee@reddit
You should absolutely have a gunsmith check it first. The barrel may only be rated for black powder,
TacTurtle@reddit
Absolutely not. Many of these older hammer doubles were not proofed for nitro loads and used a shorter 2", 2 1/2", or 2 5/8" shells. Note this is the fired shell length.
Automata1nM0tion@reddit
Just shoot light load out of it if you're worried
igotbanneddd@reddit
Yes. 2 3/4 target loads should work in it. As long as you stay away from "Max."-dram goose loads or "critical defense" 1600fps 00 buck you should be fine. As always, steel shot through a choke is not the best idea. I actually disagree with the other guy who said Belgian guns are low quality. Belgian guns actually had some of the highest quality damascus barrels you can find. All guns marked with a reputable brand were made to "good-enough" quality. They aren't gorgeous 10/10 craftsmanship; but they aren't shit either. They will shoot nice and put supper on the table.
12B88M@reddit
That shotgun is probably 100+ years old and was most likely intended to shoot low-brass, paper wrapped shells. I have a Remington 1900 "K" model double barrel shotgun (looks like this one) that my dad used to shoot. It was originally chambered for a 2 5/8" shell, but was reamed out for 2 3/4" at some point, probably in the 1920s.
From what I've been able to find, the shotgun shells around 1900 had a chamber pressure of about 9,000 psi and modern shells have a chamber pressure of about 11,500 psi. Your shotgun might handle a few modern rounds, but every shot you'd be risking a catastrophic failure.
If I were you I'd make that gun a safe queen and nothing else. That's what I did with my dad's old shotgun.
walt-and-co@reddit
If it’s Belgian, it should have Belgian proof marks around the chambers.
If you do shoot it, I’d stick to low-pressure light loads as a precaution, personally.
dadbodsupreme@reddit
I wouldn't. I doubt it'll handle modern powder. either way, I'd have a gunsmith look at it, check out the action/lockup.
If it were me, I'd clean it up and hang it in my office over the Big Mouth Billy Bass and Jackalope .
mccscott@reddit
Black powder cap-lock coach gun..nice
TedBug@reddit
That’s a 357 Glock, Kamala has one.
PdoffAmericanPatriot@reddit
A shotgun
Ill_Procedure_4080@reddit
Probably in 12 gauge
Adventurous-Chef-370@reddit
I have a 110 year old Crescent firearms shotgun that I shoot target loads out of fine, however I got it checked out by a gunsmith. You should do the same to determine if it’s safe to shoot and what size shells it will take.
12B88M@reddit
That shotgun is probably 100+ years old and was most likely intended to shoot low-brass, paper wrapped shells. I have a Remington 1900 "K" model double barrel shotgun (looks like this one) that my dad used to shoot. It was originally chambered for a 2 5/8" shell, but was reamed out for 2 3/4" at some point, probably in the 1920s.
From what I've been able to find, the shotgun shells around 1900 had a chamber pressure of about 9,000 psi and modern shells have a chamber pressure of about 11,500 psi. Your shotgun might handle a few modern rounds, but every shot you'd be risking a catastrophic failure.
If I were you I'd make that gun a safe queen and nothing else. That's what I did with my dad's old shotgun.
Unlikely_Anything413@reddit
Neat. Something of an old coach gun.
BigassLawnmower1776@reddit
neat!