nchawkeye

I wouldn't have any problem using, as long as it looked in good shape.
I have a 12 gauge double that my dad gave me when I was 12 (1967) and a Remington 552 Speedmaster that I bought myself when I was 16 (1971).

Growing up in the country, where I could walk out the back door and go hunting, these were my "go to" guns until I was 25 or so. I bet they were used more in the first 10 years that I had them then most guns get used in a lifetime...In fact, I wore the sear and trigger out on the 552, shooting so much...Both of these guns get used each year, no problems.

Dang, I'm getting old too, I just remembered my Remington 1100...Bought it while in college, I graduated in 1977...So its better than 30 years old as well...Still in great shape.

tschaef

You can't argue with safety, but being realistic 30yrs isn't old for a gun thats been well cared for.
I have a 22 thats stamped 1933, and plenty of 303 brits show up at our deer camp, I think your big fear is steel shot thru a soft barrel.
I'd bet its fine for upland birds with lead shot, just check before firing steel shot at waterfowl.

Pawildman

At 33 yrs. old, the way I do math would put it about 1974. I wouldn't have much thoughts about shooting that gun. Like has been stated here, if it seems to function and cycle O.K., I'd have at it. It's still a 'youngun'.

eldeguello

If it has been well cared for and has not been damaged or altered in any way, it certainly IS safe to shoot. It's really NOT very old - I regularly shoot rifles with heavy loads that are at least three times older than that, with no problems at all.......

JeffS

A friend of mine brought back a old matchlock rifle from Yemen and we shoot it. We arwe even planning on taking it out to shoot a doe with it next year just to be able to say we shot something with a gun that old. Most of my guns are at least 20 years old and they are as good if not better than the new ones. 30 years old is not old for a gun at all.

8mm/06

I've got shoes older than that!

Rebel Hog

RH, when I was engaged to my wife back in 1967, she bought me a BRN A-5 at Sears for that X-Mas. It came with 28" ribbed barrel. Over the years I have bought a Plain 30" barrel and a Hastings Fully Rifled barrel, which is the barrel in the picture.

I have shot 100's of Quail, Doves, Ducks with it. I have also taken many Turkeys, Hogs and Deer with it. It still has all the original parts on it, including bushings.

I always cleaned it and lubed it after a day in the fieldshooting it. Hey, it's 40yrs old and it still shoots like the first day!