Is anyone familiar with the Winchester Model 25? Anyone own/shoot one and have opinions?

I know it's the solid frame version of the Model 12. I'm wondering...can you slam fire the 25 like the Model 12, or does it have a trigger disconnect?

I know they were only made for six years, with less than 88,000 being made before being discontinued.

I've done quite a few searches, but can find no serial number/manufacturing year information.

So...any thoughts or info on these guns? Thanks in advance.

Wish I could give more info on this model watchdog but my Bluebook only states the quantity made and years of production as being from 1949-1954. Made in 12 ga. only with 26 or 28 inch barrels. Sorry cannot offer more.

Not sure about the mechanical question re. slam fire--2152hq will hopefully chime in on that. He's a well of knowledge on this stuff.

Are you considering buying one? As a curiosity I can see it--if you want a useable shooter, look for a Model 12. I have a 16 ga. made in 1915 that gets field time every year and has put birds on the ground for me. No telling how many before I got it. I'm not the first owner...

They don't seem to be something you see a lot of on the market.

From Win. dates of manufacture, 1949-54 after numbers passed 87,937.

I have never owned a model 25, but have had scads of model 12's. As I understand, the trigger group is the same on both models. I have shot untold numbers of model 12's and 97's and have never seen a need to slam fire either. Then again I don't hang around but one married woman.

I have one and yes you can just hold down the trigger and pump and it will fire just like a M12 or M97, the one I have my Great Uncle bought new and it has been a great shotgun! It is really like a no frills M12.

I have owned several all FC . Can't answer question of slam fire,
have owned many m-12s and never slam fired them. They had
a big following back in 60s/70s because they were very accurate
with slugs, because solid frame. Many were made up into custom
slug guns. As far as a hunting gun I don't see what disadvantage
of a 25 would be,it's solid frame 12, no frills. The ones I've owned
shot exactly the same as a 12. If I had chance to buy one at a
reasonable price,I wouldn't hesitate. You would have a better gun
than any new one now on market. Very few guys I know have
used take down feature on their m-12s anyway.

I;ve owned quite a few M-12's. I've seen bunt not owned M-25's. To me they appear to be a lightweight and perhaps economy M-12.

I've read that SN info is not available for this model.

They were made from 1949 to 1954, 87,xxx were made. You can ball park it by dividing 87K by 6 years.

From what I gather they are nice guns but were never popular with the M-12 collector folks.

I have a M12 12 gauge with an adjustable choke, a Riot Gun, a 16 gauge and a 20 gauge. Also have a M42 and my Dad's M97 12 Gauge. Tried to buy a M25 once, but the dealer wouldn't dicker. I have George Madis' book on the M12. He says it was made with full, modified and improved cylinder chokes in 12gauge only. Also they made a Riot Gun. Says the finish was not as nice as the M12.
I think it was a cool idea and I'd like to have one. Don't see them too often.
Jim

I have one and I think that the mod 25 is an under-appreciated gun
being in the shadow of the mod 12 as it is and was. It is very similar
mechanically to the mod 12 and will slam fire but I see no reason to
slam fire any pumpgun. I guess the idea is that slam firing would be
more "tactical" and would enhance combat capability. The 25 is an all
steel solid gun that was made for the hunter with few options other
than choke. They are serial numbered. The trigger group looks to be
very similar to the model 12 and most parts probably interchange.

The Model 25 can be referred to as an economy M12 but not a lightweight. Mine is the first 12ga shotgun that I ever shot. About a year after my Great Uncle bought it new, he was killed in a car crash, my Dad inherited it and it sat in a closet for close to 30 years. Now I have it. I do not shoot it much, but it is nice having a classic Winchester with family history.

Yes, I'm sort of halfway thinking of buying one. I stumbled across one while searching for another gun. I'd never seen one. I've owned Model 12s over the years and love them...currently have just two, both factory riot guns. I've slam fired a Model 12 only once, just to see what it was like.

You're right. The one I'm looking at is the first one I've seen. When I saw it, my first thought was someone had made an imitation Model 12...imagine my surprise when I saw the Winchester marks on it.

I'm more interested in it as a seldom seen gun than I am as a shooter.

Thanks for your input.

That's a nice looking Model 25, and you're fortunate that it's remained in the family for so long. Thanks for showing me the photos.

Thanks for all the info. I was not familiar with the 25 at all, and couldn't figure out why I'd never even heard of them. And I'm always partial to older guns as opposed to newly manufactured ones...always.

Good enough for me. I would never try to talk a man out of buying a gun he liked. Let us know if you get it!

I've never run across one...

Went by Cabelas in Kansas City today. They have a M25 for $399.99. It has replacement wood, not high figure type nor checkered. The gun has some rust on the left top of the action but looked like it was mechanically perfect and was not used much.

Make a great dove gun.

I shot a couple of older 12's at trap for quite a few years. One became a little loose, so I took it to the Grand to have Stu Wright, one of the premier M12 smiths, work on it. He told me that of the thousands of guns he had worked, far more had gotten loose from being taken apart for cleaning than ever showed any wear from shooting. Better to scant the cleaning, or clean from the muzzle than to take them apart often. A solid frame is a very good idea! The Model 97 was also made in take down and solid frame, although without different model numbers. For a brief time there was a Model 12 Lightweight version, that used a different take down design. I am not sure I have ever seen one.

If you think about takedown shotguns, bear in mind that when the 12 first came out, most shooters were used to doubles and singles, that were of course takedowns. It was common to travel by train on hunting and trapshooting trips, and a take down was much more convenient to transport. The take down feature on pump guns is pretty much only used for cleaning, not for travel these days.

If you look on an old parts list for the 12, you will see that were at least six and maybe eight take up collars available, each with a range of adjustment for wear. There was a reason! Do not take a 12 apart more often than absolutely necessary. Those take up collars are scarcer than Triplelocks!

BIGOLDDAVE, is correct about takedown guns. I have seen so many of varying brands that were loose from repeated takedowns. In my youth my dad had a beautiful 1899 Savage takedown. I showed all my friend how neatly it could come apart. Easily I took the gun down over 100 times and never fired it. When I get a new old model 12, I take it down and clean every part. Then I never take it down again. One has been used heavily for 17 years and never was taken down again.

Very true. They will loosen if the threads are not lubed with a good grease each time they are taken down. I have never had one loosen if handled carefully.