Rifleman Q & A: .44-Cal. Iver Johnson

posted on March 15, 2017
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
iver.jpg

Q: I have an Iver Johnson gun that I believe is in .44 caliber, according to its markings. There is no rifling within the bore. Is it okay to use 2½" .410 shotshells? Also, what pistol cartridges are safe to use? The word “CHAMPION” is marked under the manufacturer information along with 53XXX under the trigger guard.

A: Your Iver Johnson single-barrel shotgun was made between 1891 and 1919. Serial numbers were not recorded at the time, so I cannot furnish a better date of manufacture. Shotshells in .410 bore are .41 caliber, so this was probably made for .44-cal. shotshells that were available during the era. These guns were considered to be versatile game guns for use on the frontier.

Because of the shotgun’s age, inexpensive manufacture and no repair parts, I would not fire this gun under any circumstances unless it is examined and declared safe by a qualified gunsmith. 

Latest

Customizing X Card Shotgun 1
Customizing X Card Shotgun 1

Building an X-Card Gun for Turkey Shoots

Unofficially known as a “turkey shoot,” X-Card competition challenges shotgunners to place shot pellets as closely as possible to the center of a target. And some makers have perfected a way to fine-tune shotguns for this purpose.

Spanish National Police Adopt Springfield Armory Echelon 4.0FC

The Spanish National Police (Policia Nacional) has officially adopted the Springfield Armory Echelon 4.0FC 9mm pistol as the issue pistol for its uniformed officers.

NRA Launches New NRA.org Platform and Official App to Modernize and Enhance the Member Experience

The National Rifle Association today launched its new NRA.org website and continued enhancements to the official NRA App, marking a major step and significant investment to modernize the organization and better serve members.

Political Report | Federal Firearms Rights Restoration is Officially Back

Criminal-justice reform has been distorted to mean counterproductive policies like eliminating cash bail or politicized district attorneys exhibiting a determined indifference to violence, but there is a place for sensible reforms that allow genuinely rehabilitated offenders to reintegrate into the community of law-abiding citizens.

Stable Fun: The Taurus Brace-Ready TX22

Taurus USA first adopted the ideal of a brace-ready format for a traditional handgun in its GX4 Strike Bravo, and now, the company is extending that concept to its TX22 rimfire handgun.

I Have This Old Gun: The Whitney Navy Revolver

One of the lesser-known revolvers from the Civil War era, the Whitney Navy revolver had several notable features and even inspired a copycat in the Confederacy.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.