Bolt action shotguns were once very common and millions were made in the U.S., mainly by Savage and Mossberg. They never were popular in other countries, except for our close neighbors, Canada and Mexico, and were almost unknown in Europe. They were inexpensive (usually priced even lower than the cheapest break-open guns) and were reasonably rugged and durable. Many shooters and hunters who previously had owned break-open guns became familiar with the bolt acftion in the military in WWI and WWII.
There were several reasons for the demise of the bolt action shotgun. One was the 1968 Federal law which required all guns have serial numbers. That pushed up the bottom line of all guns so most makers dropped their lowest price lines, since they made no money on them. Also the newer generations of shooters and hunters had more money and naturally wanted better quality guns. Another factor was that most of those guns used stamped steel magazines, which often were lost and replacements sometimes cost more than the gun had cost originally.
There are still plenty of BA shotguns in closets and corners across the nation; it is hard to believe, but someday they may be collectibles.
Jim
