Well said, Wingbone!

i think that is why she posted..not being sure about the history and condition of the guns. What you say might be correct but if there was a "rumor" that one or more might have a problem and she isn't experienced enough to understand guns a trip to a smith is good insurance and piece of mind. All guns can fail due to wear and or neglect. Just last year I was skeet shooting with a neighbor and he had an older side by side 12 ga shotgun given to him as an inheritance from his dad. He loaded and thankfully was using safe gun control and when he closed the action one barrel went off without warning. Upsetting for both he and I but things like that happen.

Some specific blocks of serial numbers of military .30-06 rifles are prone to failure during firing, especially with high power cartridges. Some old Mauser rifles are prone to failure. I don't know if the failure mode can harm the shooter or just ruin the rifle.


Old shotguns (here we are talking pre-1980 manufacture) are not suitable for firing with steel shot. They were designed to shoot lead shot which is malleable. Shooting steel shot in an older shotgun barrel may damage the barrel, though it would probably not result in catastrophic failure that would injure the shooter.

Totally agree. That would fulfill the "in good condition" part of my statement. That's the best advise we can give her.