fiasconva
Member
The first thing you may want to do is check the chamber length. It could be a 2 9/16 in. instead of a 2 3/4 in. That will make a big difference.
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Winchester Model 12 16 gauge
- Thread starter rchall
- Start date
By 1930, around serial #500000 they all had 2 3/4" chambers.
Baltimoreed11754
Member
DWalt
Member
There is no problem in firing a 2-3/4” shell in a slightly shorter chamber. That is a widely believed total myth with no foundation in fact. The REAL problem with the early Model 12s having shorter chambers is that they also have shorter ejection ports, and longer fired cases will not eject. And it is very difficult to lengthen the ejection port. I have a very early (first year of production) Model 1912 in 20 gauge with the shorter chamber. It ejects Winchester and Remington 2-3/4” fired cases just fine. But Federal plastic cases are slightly longer, and will tie up the gun as they will not clear the ejection port. BTW, the earlier Model 1912 (later the Model 12) shotguns were made only in 20 gauge. Other gauges came a few years later.
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If produced in late 1940’s it should have 2 3/4” chamber because Winchester standardized 16 ga chambers at 2 3/4” in late 1920’s.
Great guns!
TheHobbyist
Member
I have a late 1940s one in collector condition that I paid $575.00 for about five years ago if that helps. 16 ga makes a great goose hunting gun.
FWIW
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16ga.com ~ Index
This might be the one. I hadn't visited it for awhile. It feeds one of my other addictions. I still regret passing on a Model 12 that would have been 95% plus if not for a big chip out of the toe of the stock. That was 5 years ago for $350.
DWalt
Member
For some reason, the 16 gauge has always been very popular in Europe, but not so much in the US. As earlier stated, the availability of 16 gauge shells is somewhat problematic. There may be a few boxes to be found on dealer’s shelves, but if there, not offering much in the way of load variety. I occasionally drop into Academy just to see if there is anything of interest. Usually there is not, but I always peruse the ammunition area. Normally, nothing in 16 gauge shells is to be seen but occasionally there are several boxes. I once had a good friend who was an ace trap shooter. He used an old Mossberg 500 pump in 16 gauge and was very good with it. But he always reloaded his own shells. He was the only trap shooter I ever saw who used a 16. Nor do I remember seeing anyone using a 16 for Skeet. In terms of its present day popularity, it is probably on par with the 28 gauge. I would like to know comparative sales of all shotshell gauges in the USA, but I have never seen anything like that. I am not saying that the 16 gauge is a poor choice or that is lacking in performance, but only that for undefinable reasons it is not on the starting roster among American hunters and clay bird shooters.
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44wheelman
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Model 12s just are not as desirable as they used to be.
Years ago I had a 12 in 16ga (maybe 70%). Got it for $265, shot all my ammo, and what I could find locally. After a couple months of trying to sell, eventually took 250
Brother restored a black diamond trap that he had picked up for cheap, he came close to breaking even when he sold it. He enjoyed the project, but was disappointed in the interest (or lack of).
I suspect $300 might be a good number in these trying ammo times.
Years ago I had a 12 in 16ga (maybe 70%). Got it for $265, shot all my ammo, and what I could find locally. After a couple months of trying to sell, eventually took 250
Brother restored a black diamond trap that he had picked up for cheap, he came close to breaking even when he sold it. He enjoyed the project, but was disappointed in the interest (or lack of).
I suspect $300 might be a good number in these trying ammo times.
I feel the same way when I look at any Corvette or first gen Camaro that has been Resto Modded. Some things simply need to be stock. Refinish/restore is fine. But leave it stock. I have a model 12 16ga with poly choke. I had it professionally restored along with my dads 12ga model 12 back in the early 90s. They are almost too pretty to take in the woods.
OFT II
US Veteran
I have one that my Uncle bought years ago. It has the short chamber and the only modification done to shoot 2 3/4" shells was to open the ejection port at the front. Still shoots great.
DWalt
Member
I am sitting on seven full boxes of Western 16 gauge shells from the late 1940s. It is probably about time for me to sell them to someone who has a nice 16 gauge Model 12 from the same time period.
I have never attempted to lengthen the ejection port of my short chambered 20 gauge Model 1912. That is taking things a bit too far for such a good condition early gun. I simply do not use Federal shells in it as they have cases that are slightly too long to clear the port. Winchester and Remington case lengths are slightly shorter and do clear the port. About its only use today is for my 19-YO grand-daughter to shoot skeet with.
I have never attempted to lengthen the ejection port of my short chambered 20 gauge Model 1912. That is taking things a bit too far for such a good condition early gun. I simply do not use Federal shells in it as they have cases that are slightly too long to clear the port. Winchester and Remington case lengths are slightly shorter and do clear the port. About its only use today is for my 19-YO grand-daughter to shoot skeet with.
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fiasconva
Member
Yep, that was the problem with my grandfather's Browning A5. It has the 2 9/19" chamber and fires ok but ejecting the 2 3/4" shells was a problem.
Holy smokes!
I’ve long admired the Model 12, 16 GA that my dad, now 88, inherited from one of his 3 uncles, all of whom I knew as a kid. When I learned it was promised to my nephew, (I’m truly happy for him) I knew I needed to find my own.
This has been seen here, before. I believe I paid $600 out the door for this one in 2020 or 2021. It’s very close in serial number range to my dad’s and I feel fortunate to have found it in such good condition.
For anyone who’s never held one, it just feels like an extension of you, points naturally, and is a magnificent product of American (thank you JMB) design and manufacture.
$400? $600?…
I personally don’t get twisted up anymore about a couple of hundred dollars -if the condition is right!
-Bill
Holy smokes!
I’ve long admired the Model 12, 16 GA that my dad, now 88, inherited from one of his 3 uncles, all of whom I knew as a kid. When I learned it was promised to my nephew, (I’m truly happy for him) I knew I needed to find my own.
This has been seen here, before. I believe I paid $600 out the door for this one in 2020 or 2021. It’s very close in serial number range to my dad’s and I feel fortunate to have found it in such good condition.
For anyone who’s never held one, it just feels like an extension of you, points naturally, and is a magnificent product of American (thank you JMB) design and manufacture.
$400? $600?…
I personally don’t get twisted up anymore about a couple of hundred dollars -if the condition is right!
-Bill
No that's a sweet 16!
In part.
Though, I could have more accurately said…
Based on the Model 1893/1897 but improved upon by T.C. Johnson. Mr. Johnson deserves his due.
Thanks for catching that, James.
-Bill
T.C. Johnson - Wikipedia
