Model 12 Chamber length???

R

Ropeburn

Inactive
I've got a 1918 model 1912 Winchester 12 gauge that has a 2 1/2" chamber length. What are my options to be able to shoot 2 3/4" ammo? Can I just change the barrel with a newer 2 3/4" Barrel?

Thanks in advance!
 
the Blue Book says that 12 gauge model 12 shotguns had 2.5 inch chambers until 1927. it depends upon the condition of the shotgun before you have the chamber changed and how much that would affect the value
 
if it was mine I wouldn't do anything with it. I would decide what the condition of it is and how much emotional attachment there is in it. if there isn't any emotional attachment I would sell it to a collector. if the shotgun is in good mechanical condition I would look for some old reloading data and have a reloader that knows what he is doing load a couple of boxes of shells for it and shoot it once in a while. you might also check with the "Old Western Scrounger" and see if they don't have shells available for it. "Old Western Scrounger" deals in a lot of obsolete and hard to find ammo. it might a be a bit pricey though. You probably don't have the only M-12 with a 2.5 inch chamber so if any of them are being shot they have to get the ammo some how. another possibility is that a lot of the old shotgun shells had roll crimps instead of star crimps. a roll crimp would be just about right for a 2.5 inch chamber. I wouldn't spend the money for another barrel.
 
I talked with a friend of mine and he says there are a couple of companies that make 2.5 inch 12 gauge shells. they were a foreign brand but couldn't remember the name
 
model 12 2 1/2 chamber

just putting on a 2 3/4 inch chamber barrel assy on your gun won't work.if you wanted the gun converted,lengthen the chamber to 2 1/2,the chamber ring is 1/4 of an inch,the port needs to be opened up 1/4 of an inch so the fired hull will eject properly.total conversion is $200.00,depending on parts.now that there are factory 2 1/2 shells out there,save your money and shoot it as it is.cabela's has the 2 1/2 inch shells.
 
This is a bit confusing to me. I have some information directly from Winchester that shows all M12-12ga all had at least a 2 3/4" chamber. The 20ga and 16ga although had a 2 9/16 chamber for a period of time and I have one in 16ga. I think I would find a gunsmith to measure it and give you the exact length.
 
I would suggest you take the shotgun to a qualified gunsmith to confirm the chamber length. all I know is what the Blue Book says and some very qualified friends of mine. I have my doubts right now that anybody at winchester know what they are talking about as far as the old stuff is concerned.
 
All Winchester Model 12's in 12 gauge were chambered for 2.75" shells. It's the early 20 gauge guns that were chambered for 2.5" shells and after 1925, 2.75" shells were standard for the 20 guage.

Early 16 gauge guns had two and nine-sixteenth's inch chambers but in 1927 and thereafter 2.75" chambers were standard.
 
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