I just picked up a Model 20 today. I greatly appreciate you taking the time to make this video! It's very conscise & saved me a ton of time, vs just reading the manual & following the parts breakdown.
How cute! Was mine TOO! Still got it DECADES later. But She don’t hunt n’more... But LOADS PLENY SHELLS💡 & DEFEATS “any” HANDGUN. (If you can execute PUMP-ACTION) Reliable BACK-UP! & 8” grouping w/in 30 yards. =‘s “ACCURATE” HOME DEFENSE Gun🇺🇸 Potentially? 👉🏽GRUESOME...
I appreciate your additional information. I'm sure there could be small design differences between different production years. Do you happen to have an idea when yours was made?
Just picked up a relatively good condition Model 20, but the slide is kind of sticky and doesn't drop by gravity as I've seen in other vids. Will have to take it apart and give it a deep clean and oiling and see if that fixes it.
That was the problem with this Model 20 when I purchased it. I will say to make sure to get all the gunk that's probably built-up in the lock recess and the receiver rails. I had to scrap a lot out before I could effective clean it. Good luck and thanks for watching.
@@Alloy211 Nice video, very clear. It's always good to familiarize with how the firearm works with a deep clean before firing it live. It has the build quality of a Winchester Model 12, but is a bit livelier in the hands. Kind of like the Remington Model 31 and Ithaca M37 in handling characteristics.
An Ithaca M37 is a gun I would like to pick up one day. I get what you by the handling. It's a nice contrast to the handling of my 870. I agree it's always best to familiarize yourself with any new to you firearm. I think this is especially true with used firearms. Regardless of the outside appearance you never know what the inside might look like.
@@Alloy211 I'm definitely a pump action shotgun kind of guy. I have a vintage Wingmaster, but looking at the build quality and handling it's kind of average. Took a deer with the M37 this year, the interrupted barrel threading makes it very accurate for slugs. It's like a magic wand to carry in the woods. Will let you know how my Model 20 works out.
Great video but I think my magazine tube/fore end is slightly different. I can't seem to get the magazine tube out of the fore end. It's retained somehow. It feels like there is a spring or something between the fore end and magazine tube when the fore end is completely forward. That little bit of spring force is causing the bolt to pop slightly out of battery when the trigger is pulled. Any ideas on how that forearm is retained? It seems like there is some kind of retainer that needs to be threaded off.
If you unscrew the magazine tube from the receiver then remove the retaining nut from the for end it should slide off the back of the magazine tube. Hopefully that helps, thank you for watching?
@@Alloy211 thanks for the reply! That looks exactly right. Looks like I'll need to fab up a special spanner wrench if I want to keep from mangling up the nut though, a couple taps with a brass drift didnt budge it. Thanks again and great videos!
I’ve got an issue with mine where the shells will not feed from the tube into the receiver. I really can’t tell what’s supposed to depress the little pawl that retains them in the tube. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Sorry it took me a bit to get back to you, when the shell carrier is at the bottom of travel it should depress shell stop into the reciever. Is the carrier possibly bent?
Thanks for the info! It seems to pass by without depressing it, I took it back out and it doesn’t seem bent or deformed in any way. i’ll ad a tiny bit of weld to it to see if it’s just worn away too much material to work properly.
I have a question, Can the capacity be extended? I was looking to install a 7+1 Mossberg 500 extended tube. I was wondering is there a factory shell limiter on the JC Higgins? I am looking to make the JC Higgins a poor mans defensive shotgun.
I've considered that myself and would have to do some other checking before I could give you a better answer on that. With my other projects I haven't gotten back into the shotgun yet. I was thinking there was something that complicated it but off the top of my head I don't remember what that might be. After I take a look maybe it will jog my memory. Thanks for watching.
@@Alloy211 thanks for the Speedy reply if you can give me any insight as to your findings let me know because I just recently picked up a JC Higgins model 20 in 12 gauge and it has a full choke on it and I'm checking with a company called bromley's gun shop to see if they have additional chokes for it. I'm preparing to do a video on the JC Higgins on my RUclips channel will send you a link once it's established
After taking a look at it, I remembered what I thought might complicate putting on an extension. The magazine band is at the very end of the magazine and the barrel is notched to clear the screw in the band. I'm sure there are ways to overcome it but it's something that may add some complications. Hopefully that helps.
this was a very good instructional video, THANKS. I still have a problem with the shells catching periodically on the frame of the receiver just before the shell gets to the shell holder.....any ideas?
@@Alloy211 the tube is straight and no lip on the mag tube, the shell seems to catch on the edge of frame right outside tube. frame as a small bevel or ramp the shell follows loading into the magazine. That bevel is exactly where it seems to catch about every other shell. Also if i oil the snot out of it....{way too much oil} it feeds perfectly ? should i , or can i polish that bevel??
I'll have to take a look at mine when I have a chance and make sure I know exactly what you mean. But if it feels rough at all it might help especially given the oiling seems to help.
What was the tool you were using to remove the action stop, I have taken everything off but cannot get the action to come off and it has that stop at the end, I’ve tried smaller tools but nothing has worked to rotate the stop, the shotgun was my grandfather in-laws and farther in-laws. It hasn’t been shot yet alone cleaned in about 20-30 years.
Mines was working nicely before I took it apart just for a cleaning. Now the action doesnt lock and the trigger doesnt pull for some reason. I feel like I'm missing something. Not literally cause I have every piece.
is the barrel screwed in? how do i remove the barrel.... still same problem with shell getting stuck 1/8th inch before the shell touches the shell catch. i removed the tube magazine , there is a serious burr catching the rim of the shell before it reaches the shell catch.
The barrel is screwed in and does require a good deal of setup to remove properly. Is the burr something you can polish out with light grit or is more substantial? Here's a good thread on barrel removal. www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/how-to-remove-barrel-from-a-jchiggins-model-20.238292/
@@Alloy211 after reading this post , i think i will let a gunsmith handle it... i really liked the idea of fixing it myself... but looks like better equipment than i have is needed... thanks again for your videos GOD Bless
@@322doug You're welcome, I'm always happy to provide any help I can. If it were me unless I were planning on doing it on multiple firearms I'd definitely have a gunsmith with the proper equipment do it. Thanks for watching and asking.
There's a good chance someone has put a plug in to limit capacity. It should definitely hold more than one. If you remove the magazine spring if someone has put a rod behind the follower it should come out with the spring. That's where I'd start. Thanks for watching.
I don't know of any specific stocks made for the Model 20. But given it's attached with a long flat head screw similar to other stocks I'm confident that one could be modified to fit. I'm not sure what would be a good candidate for modification but if I find out I'll let you know. Thanks for watching.
Unfortunately it's threaded into the receiver and isn't really intended to be removed. It can be done but isn't recommended unless you absolutely need to. Not the answer you probably want but I appreciate you watching.
That's a problem, I wonder if some gunk possible built up and has caused it to get stuck. I'd remove the trigger pack and see if the hammer and other components seem to have movement or are stuck. That's where I'd start hopefully it helps. In the future I will do a video dissembling the trigger pack.
@@Alloy211 I found out it was missing the hammer spring guide rod and I ordered the part. That would be a greatly appreciated video! I haven’t found any full trigger disassembly videos
I'm glad you were able to figure out the issue. I've had a few requests for it on this and the semi automatic J.C Higgins shotgun as well. They can be a real pain to do on camera because they're pretty small and have little springs and such. I'm currently trying to aquire the semi automatic so I can do one video on both at the same time. If I can't get ahold soon I'll just do this one. Thanks again for watching and glad to have been any sort of help.
@@Alloy211 When I first took the trigger assembly out of the receiver a spring fell out I believe it is the trigger spring and I am having trouble finding any assembly videos or diagrams that show exactly how everything is assembled. Do you think I could use a Mossberg 500 assembly as a reference? Thanks for all the help so far!
@@gordocalor18cordero78 I double checked and I don't see any options other than factory or factory style stocks readily available for the J.C. Higgins. There maybe be another shotgun stock that could fit or an adapter could be made but I haven't looked into it that far yet. Other than knowing a Remington 870 stock will not fit. Sorry I couldn't be more helpful.
I just picked up a Model 20 today. I greatly appreciate you taking the time to make this video! It's very conscise & saved me a ton of time, vs just reading the manual & following the parts breakdown.
You're more than welcome, I'm glad you found it too be helpful.
This video was nicely done and easy to follow! You should do a video of disassembly and reassembly of the trigger assembly.
Thank you and thanks for watching. Maybe if I'm really feeling like digging into the trigger group.
Very well done video, narrative and camera angles were spot on. Thank You very much!
Thank you very much, I do the best with I have. Thanks for watching.
Very thorough and complete. This helped me complete the assembly of a family heirloom.
Thank you and there's nothing better I can hear than that I've helped get a family heirloom back together.
Someone finally posted a video on disassembly of a Model 20 bolt. Thank you very much!!
I just finally got around to doing the trigger assembly too. Thanks for watching.
I just purchased one of these and I'm picking it up this week. This will be my first shotgun!
It's definitely a good place to start with a shotgun especially if you got it for a reasonable price. Thanks for watching.
In my opinion one of the finest pump shotguns ever made.
Agreed, many times it's seems over looked.
How cute!
Was mine TOO!
Still got it DECADES later.
But
She don’t hunt n’more...
But
LOADS PLENY SHELLS💡
&
DEFEATS “any” HANDGUN.
(If you can execute PUMP-ACTION)
Reliable BACK-UP!
&
8” grouping w/in 30 yards.
=‘s
“ACCURATE”
HOME DEFENSE Gun🇺🇸
Potentially?
👉🏽GRUESOME...
Nicely done straight to the point great explanation. Thanks
Thank you and you're welcome.
Thank you your video was really helpful. GOD BLESS you
You're welcome, I'm glad to hear that it was useful.
Thanks for the great video! Totally needed this to finally clean my JCH, didn’t know I could lol
Thank you, I'm glad I could be a help. Thanks for watching.
Thank you for the video, i was putting a piece backwards, now in just fine, thanks again
You're more than welcome, I'm glad that you found it helpful and can get yours running again. Thanks for watching.
Now you have a new subscriber
I appreciate it, and soon I'll have a major repair video on this particular shotgun soon. As recently a major problem developed with mine.
Thanks, good video
You're welcome, thanks for watching.
My model 20 does not have a tiny flathead screw, it has a roll pin that does not need to be removed
I appreciate your additional information. I'm sure there could be small design differences between different production years. Do you happen to have an idea when yours was made?
Just picked up a relatively good condition Model 20, but the slide is kind of sticky and doesn't drop by gravity as I've seen in other vids. Will have to take it apart and give it a deep clean and oiling and see if that fixes it.
That was the problem with this Model 20 when I purchased it. I will say to make sure to get all the gunk that's probably built-up in the lock recess and the receiver rails. I had to scrap a lot out before I could effective clean it. Good luck and thanks for watching.
@@Alloy211 Nice video, very clear. It's always good to familiarize with how the firearm works with a deep clean before firing it live. It has the build quality of a Winchester Model 12, but is a bit livelier in the hands. Kind of like the Remington Model 31 and Ithaca M37 in handling characteristics.
An Ithaca M37 is a gun I would like to pick up one day. I get what you by the handling. It's a nice contrast to the handling of my 870. I agree it's always best to familiarize yourself with any new to you firearm. I think this is especially true with used firearms. Regardless of the outside appearance you never know what the inside might look like.
@@Alloy211 I'm definitely a pump action shotgun kind of guy. I have a vintage Wingmaster, but looking at the build quality and handling it's kind of average. Took a deer with the M37 this year, the interrupted barrel threading makes it very accurate for slugs. It's like a magic wand to carry in the woods. Will let you know how my Model 20 works out.
I'll be happy to hear how it does. One of my older brothers really sold me on the utility of the pump shotgun when I was younger.
I don't like taking the screws off the front. If I need access to the magazine tube I'll just unscrew it from the receiver
I can understand that, if it works better for you or you find it easier, it seems reasonable. Thanks for watching.
Great video but I think my magazine tube/fore end is slightly different. I can't seem to get the magazine tube out of the fore end. It's retained somehow. It feels like there is a spring or something between the fore end and magazine tube when the fore end is completely forward. That little bit of spring force is causing the bolt to pop slightly out of battery when the trigger is pulled. Any ideas on how that forearm is retained? It seems like there is some kind of retainer that needs to be threaded off.
If you unscrew the magazine tube from the receiver then remove the retaining nut from the for end it should slide off the back of the magazine tube. Hopefully that helps, thank you for watching?
@@Alloy211 thanks for the reply! That looks exactly right. Looks like I'll need to fab up a special spanner wrench if I want to keep from mangling up the nut though, a couple taps with a brass drift didnt budge it. Thanks again and great videos!
You're welcome. I was lucky in that mine wasn't too tight so I could remove it without a spanner. I'm glad to have been a help.
I’ve got an issue with mine where the shells will not feed from the tube into the receiver. I really can’t tell what’s supposed to depress the little pawl that retains them in the tube. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Sorry it took me a bit to get back to you, when the shell carrier is at the bottom of travel it should depress shell stop into the reciever. Is the carrier possibly bent?
Thanks for the info! It seems to pass by without depressing it, I took it back out and it doesn’t seem bent or deformed in any way. i’ll ad a tiny bit of weld to it to see if it’s just worn away too much material to work properly.
@@timmiller9666That's certainly possible, if that doesn't work I'm curious as to what might be the cause.
I have a question, Can the capacity be extended? I was looking to install a 7+1 Mossberg 500 extended tube. I was wondering is there a factory shell limiter on the JC Higgins? I am looking to make the JC Higgins a poor mans defensive shotgun.
I've considered that myself and would have to do some other checking before I could give you a better answer on that. With my other projects I haven't gotten back into the shotgun yet. I was thinking there was something that complicated it but off the top of my head I don't remember what that might be. After I take a look maybe it will jog my memory. Thanks for watching.
@@Alloy211 thanks for the Speedy reply if you can give me any insight as to your findings let me know because I just recently picked up a JC Higgins model 20 in 12 gauge and it has a full choke on it and I'm checking with a company called bromley's gun shop to see if they have additional chokes for it. I'm preparing to do a video on the JC Higgins on my RUclips channel will send you a link once it's established
You're welcome. I'll let you know once I get chance to take it apart. Hopefully tonight or this week sometime.
After taking a look at it, I remembered what I thought might complicate putting on an extension. The magazine band is at the very end of the magazine and the barrel is notched to clear the screw in the band. I'm sure there are ways to overcome it but it's something that may add some complications. Hopefully that helps.
Take the forend and tube off a mossberg 500 choke tube wrench takes the forend but off easily.
Thank you for that additional information, sounds like a good use of tools at hand if you have them.
this was a very good instructional video, THANKS. I still have a problem with the shells catching periodically on the frame of the receiver just before the shell gets to the shell holder.....any ideas?
Is the magazine tube sleightly out of line to frame or is there a lip the rim could possibly be getting caught on? Thank you and thanks for watching?
@@Alloy211 the tube is straight and no lip on the mag tube, the shell seems to catch on the edge of frame right outside tube. frame as a small bevel or ramp the shell follows loading into the magazine. That bevel is exactly where it seems to catch about every other shell. Also if i oil the snot out of it....{way too much oil} it feeds perfectly ? should i , or can i polish that bevel??
I'll have to take a look at mine when I have a chance and make sure I know exactly what you mean. But if it feels rough at all it might help especially given the oiling seems to help.
@@Alloy211 thanks man, ill try some 0000 steel wool
Sometimes little things can make a big difference. Hopefully it's something that simple.
What was the tool you were using to remove the action stop, I have taken everything off but cannot get the action to come off and it has that stop at the end, I’ve tried smaller tools but nothing has worked to rotate the stop, the shotgun was my grandfather in-laws and farther in-laws. It hasn’t been shot yet alone cleaned in about 20-30 years.
Extremely helpful,thank you =)
I'm happy to have been a help. Thank you for watching.
I need a video on the trigger group reassembly
When I get a chance although loathed to I'll will take the trigger group apart. Thanks for watching.
Mines was working nicely before I took it apart just for a cleaning. Now the action doesnt lock and the trigger doesnt pull for some reason. I feel like I'm missing something. Not literally cause I have every piece.
I would say there's probably just one thing off. Usually if it's more than one they don't go back together so well.
Should the pump wiggle around the loading tube a little? My pump has some play from side to side but the tube is completely still.
Some play is normal as long as it's not excessive and the tube is tight. Thanks for watching.
@@Alloy211 awesome! Yeah it's not much just a little jiggle, I appreciate the speedy response
You're welcome, I try to get back to people as soon as I'm able.
is the barrel screwed in? how do i remove the barrel.... still same problem with shell getting stuck 1/8th inch before the shell touches the shell catch. i removed the tube magazine , there is a serious burr catching the rim of the shell before it reaches the shell catch.
The barrel is screwed in and does require a good deal of setup to remove properly. Is the burr something you can polish out with light grit or is more substantial? Here's a good thread on barrel removal. www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/how-to-remove-barrel-from-a-jchiggins-model-20.238292/
@@Alloy211 after reading this post , i think i will let a gunsmith handle it... i really liked the idea of fixing it myself... but looks like better equipment than i have is needed... thanks again for your videos GOD Bless
@@322doug You're welcome, I'm always happy to provide any help I can. If it were me unless I were planning on doing it on multiple firearms I'd definitely have a gunsmith with the proper equipment do it. Thanks for watching and asking.
Quick question, how did you remove the Pow-r PacK compensator? (assuming that yours came with one)
My compensator is still in place but I believe it needs to sweated off.
@@Alloy211 thank you!!
You're welcome
Nevermind..I figured it out
How many shells does the magazine tube hold? Or supposed to? Because some reason I can’t get more than one in there I’m doing something stupid huh
There's a good chance someone has put a plug in to limit capacity. It should definitely hold more than one. If you remove the magazine spring if someone has put a rod behind the follower it should come out with the spring. That's where I'd start. Thanks for watching.
Can I put a after market pistol grip on a JC Higgins Model 20 12 Gauge? Or do they make a after market stock that will fit?
I don't know of any specific stocks made for the Model 20. But given it's attached with a long flat head screw similar to other stocks I'm confident that one could be modified to fit. I'm not sure what would be a good candidate for modification but if I find out I'll let you know. Thanks for watching.
@@Alloy211 Thanks U ! Stay Safe Gid Bless America! 🇺🇸
You as well stay safe.
How is the barrel removed please?
Unfortunately it's threaded into the receiver and isn't really intended to be removed. It can be done but isn't recommended unless you absolutely need to. Not the answer you probably want but I appreciate you watching.
I have one of these and the trigger is stuck. The pump works flawlessly though any idea on how to get the trigger functioning?
That's a problem, I wonder if some gunk possible built up and has caused it to get stuck. I'd remove the trigger pack and see if the hammer and other components seem to have movement or are stuck. That's where I'd start hopefully it helps. In the future I will do a video dissembling the trigger pack.
@@Alloy211 I found out it was missing the hammer spring guide rod and I ordered the part. That would be a greatly appreciated video! I haven’t found any full trigger disassembly videos
I'm glad you were able to figure out the issue. I've had a few requests for it on this and the semi automatic J.C Higgins shotgun as well. They can be a real pain to do on camera because they're pretty small and have little springs and such. I'm currently trying to aquire the semi automatic so I can do one video on both at the same time. If I can't get ahold soon I'll just do this one. Thanks again for watching and glad to have been any sort of help.
@@Alloy211 When I first took the trigger assembly out of the receiver a spring fell out I believe it is the trigger spring and I am having trouble finding any assembly videos or diagrams that show exactly how everything is assembled. Do you think I could use a Mossberg 500 assembly as a reference? Thanks for all the help so far!
@@Alloy211 I bought it as a project shotgun and I was told it wasn’t fully put together and possibly missing a few parts
very similar to squirebingham model 30
That's intriguing, I wasn't aware of them before you mentioning them and now I'm curious what they based their design on. Thanks for mentioning it.
@@Alloy211 it's from the Philippines. Armscor formerly squirebingham
I looked into them a bit after you mentioned it and saw that. I didn't get a chance to get to much deeper into it yet.
Armscor mod 30 has double action bars @@dakobuto7291
How do you remove the stock
There's a large flat head bolt/screw under the recoil pad. It's pretty deep in there so you'll need a long screwdriver. Thanks for watching.
Hello barrel doesn't come off?
It can come off, just it's not exactly an easy process or one you should really engage in. Thanks for watching.
@@Alloy211 oh I see I have one and I wanted to clean it good
I can appreciate that and sometimes they certainly need it. Fortunately for functionality sake you can clean it well enough without removing it.
Does the barrel come off
From everything I've read yes but not easily as far as I know. Thanks for watching.
Yeah but not recommended.. it’s threaded
Not easy or recommended really. Thanks for watching.
Maybe next time show how to disassemble the shotgun all the way down to the molecular level, then reassemble. Just because nobody else has tried it. 😉
I think that might detract from it's significant value
@@Alloy211 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Can I put a pistol grip of shotgun
That probably depends more on your local regulations than anything else. It's a good question though.
Alloy do you know what kind of grip I can buy cause I want to change mines
@@gordocalor18cordero78 I double checked and I don't see any options other than factory or factory style stocks readily available for the J.C. Higgins. There maybe be another shotgun stock that could fit or an adapter could be made but I haven't looked into it that far yet. Other than knowing a Remington 870 stock will not fit. Sorry I couldn't be more helpful.
@@Alloy211 thank you
@@gordocalor18cordero78 You're welcome, if I find another stock that fits or something less traditional I'll let you know.