Have a Marlin 1909 Modle number 42 Shotgun. i know it cant use slugs and iv heard that using steel shot could damage the barrel. so the only other option is lead i guess.
iv been looking online for some ammo but i can never tell if it is steel shot or lead shot. most of the time it dose not say.
is there anyway to discern what type of shot it is? what would be the best type of ammo to shoot out of this gun?
I have allready shot some Federal Birdshot number 8 but even looking online i cant tell if it is steel or lead shot.
Many old shotguns used blackpowder shells. Modern one's would kill the barrel and possibly cause serious injury to you. I've got a 1912 LC Smith shotgun and wouldn't ever think about putting modern shells through it.
While it is possible that your shotgun is capable of shooting modern shells, I'd stay away from it. If you must shoot it, then if it doesn't signify steel shot/tungsten/etc, then it's going to be lead. And by all means, if you must, shoot low brass light loads.
Also, take it to a qualified gunsmith before you decide to shoot it or not. He'll be able to tell if the barrel is too worn, or even at that age, it may be a Damascus twist barrel which is extremely dangerous to shoot!!!
My 2 cents, it's a wall hanger and conversation piece. My 1912 LC Smith has been in the family since it was new and has passed from my great great grandfather, to my grandfather and then on to me. I'd never think about taking a risk of damaging it.
The first thing you should do is have it thoroughly inspected by a gunsmith. A lot of these old guns have had the snot shot out of them to the point of being unsafe. If it's ok, I'd suggest 2 3\4" light target loads.
Many old shotguns used blackpowder shells. Modern one's would kill the barrel and possibly cause serious injury to you. I've got a 1912 LC Smith shotgun and wouldn't ever think about putting modern shells through it.
While it is possible that your shotgun is capable of shooting modern shells, I'd stay away from it. If you must shoot it, then if it doesn't signify steel shot/tungsten/etc, then it's going to be lead. And by all means, if you must, shoot low brass light loads.
Also, take it to a qualified gunsmith before you decide to shoot it or not. He'll be able to tell if the barrel is too worn, or even at that age, it may be a Damascus twist barrel which is extremely dangerous to shoot!!!
My 2 cents, it's a wall hanger and conversation piece. My 1912 LC Smith has been in the family since it was new and has passed from my great great grandfather, to my grandfather and then on to me. I'd never think about taking a risk of damaging it.
Well i found some info from marlin themselves with safety checks to be sure everything works properly. and all safety's work perfectly. after i found out they worked i took it out in the back 40 (not mine lol) and shot 3 rounds from it using that federal burd shot and it worked like a champ. after that i took it to a friends house and cleaned the hell out of it. ater it was cleaned i looked down the barrel and it was like chrome. it was so damn clean it was amazing. it dose not have any rifling its just a straight barrle.
and that federal ammo was modern ammo. it kicked like a mule but it shot perfectly.
But still what type of ammo would you guys reccomend. i have fallen in love with federal but if there is something better ill use it.
I personally use the cheapest available at the time. Right now, that's Winchester. In the next few, it may be Remington, then Federal. To me, shotgun shells are shotgun shells as long as you're basically just shooting to be shooting for the enjoyment. If you're hunting, the shells I use depend on the foliage and game in question. For me right now, thats squirrel with lots of leaves. That leave Remington high brass Long Range Express in #6 shot. Later when the leaves drop, I'll use the cheap low brass #6 shot.
If I'm shooting skeet/ clay birds, I use #8 shot light target loads.
I think u should try the Winchester AA Low Recoil Low Noise Target loads as they will probably cause less stress on the old girl.
if they are cheap then yeah. i will. but i dunno about it being stressed. it looks like it can handle it like a champ. the barrel is not damaged and the inside of the barrel is nice looking.
if they are cheap then yeah. i will. but i dunno about it being stressed. it looks like it can handle it like a champ. the barrel is not damaged and the inside of the barrel is nice looking.
Bt the steel might be stressed at some critical points. i always like to say "remember a firearm is a controlled explosion next to your face" they aren't to expensive they cost abt a dollar more than the cheap target loads. just be careful man. iv seen a shotgun blow up and it aint pretty.
man if I had a 100 year old gun I know what I would do.....I'd have a good gun smith that knows what their doing look it over and clean it up ....then put it on a shelf and admire it ....although shooting it sounds like fun to me my better senses tell me its something you should respect not shoot
I would err on the side of caution/safety and not fire a 100 year old shotgun.
I am not saying it was not well made for its time and place in history.
You do not know to what stresses the chamber/barrel may or may not have been subjected to over the life of the gun.
This is my opinion although this is a forum and I respect the possible
opposing opinions of other members.
i will try and find a good gunsmith to look at it but i will never stop using it. im not someone who thinks that just because something is old we shouldn't use it.
its like people who own old cars. they hardly drive them at all and keep them locked up 99% of the time. a car was meant to be driven just like a shotgun was made to shoot. im not just gonna hang it on the wall and be like oh its to old to shoot. im gonna keep on using it because it was meant to be used.
its all about finding the right ammo to use. i probably wont use anything bigger than bird shot because its relatively small compared to buck shot. im completely fine with shootin skeet and small targets. if im gonna hunt anything bigger ill use a rifle.
i will try and find a good gunsmith to look at it but i will never stop using it. im not someone who thinks that just because something is old we shouldn't use it.
its like people who own old cars. they hardly drive them at all and keep them locked up 99% of the time. a car was meant to be driven just like a shotgun was made to shoot. im not just gonna hang it on the wall and be like oh its to old to shoot. im gonna keep on using it because it was meant to be used.
its all about finding the right ammo to use. i probably wont use anything bigger than bird shot because its relatively small compared to buck shot. im completely fine with shootin skeet and small targets. if im gonna hunt anything bigger ill use a rifle.
Comments? Remarks?
Just a couple of wee counter points:
I agree if somethoing is old we shouldn't just stop using it because it is old. If it is old and possibly dangerous to use, then that is a reason to stop using it.
Older cars do not come anywhere near the reliability & the safety standards of new cars, that's one of the main reason people who have them don't use them as much.
Using an old gun in good condition is acceptable as long as you do not overstress it by using cartridges which generate higher stresses than what the gun was originally designed for.
It is about finding the right ammo to use but shot size does not come into the equation.
Check the chamber size, I doubt whether it is designed for larger than 2 1/2" or 2 5/8" cartridges, so do not use any modern cartridges larger than this. You may be able to find 2 1/2" light loads somewhere.
Using modern hi pressure/hi velocity loads for which the gun was not designed is actually dicing with death................
There is a wealth of practical experience on this forum, please listen & take heed; we don't want you to become another gun related statistic.
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Hallow you are getting some good advice. I shoot with some old firearms myself. Some of these are from the 1870's or even earlier. BUT you MUST have someone who knows what they are doing to check it out for you. You can "overlook" a problem when you are excited to shoot a gun, so get someone else to help you along.
As for Ammo check out some "cowboy action" loads they are pretty light, made of lead and are made for "old" guns. Good luck, Andy
Just a couple of wee counter points:
I agree if somethoing is old we shouldn't just stop using it because it is old. If it is old and possibly dangerous to use, then that is a reason to stop using it.
Older cars do not come anywhere near the reliability & the safety standards of new cars, that's one of the main reason people who have them don't use them as much.
Using an old gun in good condition is acceptable as long as you do not overstress it by using cartridges which generate higher stresses than what the gun was originally designed for.
It is about finding the right ammo to use but shot size does not come into the equation.
Check the chamber size, I doubt whether it is designed for larger than 2 1/2" or 2 5/8" cartridges, so do not use any modern cartridges larger than this. You may be able to find 2 1/2" light loads somewhere.
Using modern hi pressure/hi velocity loads for which the gun was not designed is actually dicing with death................
There is a wealth of practical experience on this forum, please listen & take heed; we don't want you to become another gun related statistic.
and i am listening. i wont shoot heavy loads. bird shot seems small and perfect. i will find a gunsmith to look at it but in my area it might be hard to find a good one. i was shooting 2 and 3/4'th im guessing thats the size of the shell. it fit perfectly and it seemed that it could use something even a little longer.
again i am listening and most of the advice given was 1 take it to a gunsmith and have em check it out. and 2 its to old to shoot hang it on the wall.
i have already shot 4 rounds of this bird shot out of it and there has been no problems. it was the first time it had been shot in over 20 years. and after checking it some more it seems it can be slam fired like the Winchester model 1897 so the next time i go out i may take apart some shells down to the Primer and try it out.
I've got a '97 Winchester 12ga made in '03 shoots fine, it'll last a long time. #8 shot to 00 buck commercial. My 1873 Colt SXS has damascuss steel bbls. Shoots fine with BP loaded brass shells, just can't shoot smokeless shells. I have a buddy that reloads the BP shells so don't ask for the loads, all I know is it's 1oz of birdshot o/ ffG
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I've got a '97 Winchester 12ga made in '03 shoots fine, it'll last a long time. #8 shot to 00 buck commercial. My 1873 Colt SXS has damascuss steel bbls. Shoots fine with BP loaded brass shells, just can't shoot smokeless shells. I have a buddy that reloads the BP shells so don't ask for the loads, all I know is it's 1oz of birdshot o/ ffG
You've got more guts than me!! Damascuss twist barrels, even with BP shells, I'd still leave it be. But I'm the type that believes some guns need to be retired to a life of a display case.
You've got more guts than me!! Damascuss twist barrels, even with BP shells, I'd still leave it be. But I'm the type that believes some guns need to be retired to a life of a display case.
the thing is this shotgun was barley used. my grandpa died in 1962 and my dad inherited the shotgun from him. and even when my dad had it i don't think he used it more than 2 or 3 times and each time didn't shoot much. so really i dont think its even close to ready to be retired.
the thing is this shotgun was barley used. my grandpa died in 1962 and my dad inherited the shotgun from him. and even when my dad had it i don't think he used it more than 2 or 3 times and each time didn't shoot much. so really i dont think its even close to ready to be retired.
I'm not saying not to shoot it, and if given a clean bill of health, I'd be fine with full-power loads. The problems come from not knowing the exact chamber size(The chamber should be long enough to accommodate the full length of the hull after it is fired), and the fact that it may not be built to withstand the pressures of modern ammo. I'm not scared of old guns, most of my collection was built well before I was born, the oldest is (was) dated 1895, but they aren't family heirlooms either.
I own and shoot old guns too. just remember that metalurgy (sp.) has come a long way in the last 100 years. don't shoot anything "magnum" or +p in it. a 3'' shell might chamber in a 2 3/4 chamber untill it is fired. then the crimp unfolds on to the smaller diameter chamber throat and causes a restriction that could build dangerous pressure that the old steel might not be able to handle. stick with low to medium power loads and you should be fine. don't even think about putting any of the current maximum power turkey or buckshot loads thru it.
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As far as I'm aware your model 42 has a 2 1/2" chamber and shooting 2 3/4" cartridges in it could prove dangerous. Get the chamber checked before firing it any more!
