Help me out.

T

tedangus

Inactive
I have recently come into possession of a 1914 Winchester Model 12 twelve ga. As I understand, the gun most likely is chambered for 2 5/8". How can I confirm this (on the off chance that someone has modded it for 2 3/4" since)?

Also, how much does this matter anyways? I understand that all this shorter chamber would do is disallow the shell to un-crimp to as great a degree as normal, causing a pressure spike. But the chamber would only be 1/8" too short. Couldn't I just make my trap or pheasant load a little on the light side to compensate for this?

Thanks.
 
Take the gun to a gunsmith and have them measure the chamber. Just chambering a 2 3/4 inch shell will not tell you the length required for a fired shell. Just loading lighter will still not be the proper solution.
 
Greetings tedangus, and welcome aboard
Couldn't I just make my trap or pheasant load a little on the light side to compensate for this?
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As mentioned, lighter loads won't solve a mechanical no-fit. But, if you can make your loads lighter, then I presume you are a re-loader. If you can re-load light, then why not re-load short? Until you have your chamber length verified, just trim your hulls 1/8-inch and lower you crimp start and finish dies. Obviously, you'll want a wad with a shorter column.

Some of the super frugal shooters at my club will shoot their practice hulls until the crimps are almost burned off. They then cut off the crimp area, re-skive the hulls, lower the appropriate press dies, switch to shorter wads, and start kicking out shorties.
 
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Try a fired hull?

I would take a fired 2 3/4" hull, make sure the crimp is well opened up, and gently chamber it by hand to see how it "feels"

Obviously if a fired hull chambers easily and fully it would at least be an addl. clue, not the definitive answer.

Have a gunsmith measure the chamber. Given the price of barrels for a model 12 I would be talking to the smith about extending the chamber if it is indeed short.
 
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