Old 1938 winchester 12 gauge

[Ilovemyak47]

So my uncle once gave me this old winchester model 12 (12 ga) that he said belonged to my grandfather (or great) and has been since passed through a generation or 2. It's beautiful, the bore is immaculate, the rest of the gun has aged beautifully. I'm just curious about what's good to shoot in it. I've heard that it may be the perfect quail gun (heard it's killed thousands) but It's currently resigned to more of a home defence role. I'd also heard that magnum loads (? the buckshot i bought?) aren't that good for it, that it's better with bird loads and such. I'm itchin to put some slugs and some 00 buck through it but not if it's going to mess it up. Anyone help me out?


PS: it's sentimental value makes it priceless but anyone have a clue as to what prewar model 12's are doing marketwise? I'd called winchester and gave them the serial number and told me it was made in 1938, no choke, will post pix if wanted.

 

[guy sajer]

You say "no choke" . Has the barrel been cut off ?

Unless it's marked "Heavy Duck" on the barrel , I'd avoid any magnum loads . Whether 2 3/4" or 3" .

As it has sentimental value , I'd take it easy on the old girl Stick with field loads . A load of large bird shot #4 or #5 at close range will do extreme damage . I've seen dozens of Model 12's with the stock cracked at the receiver straight back along the grain . It's pretty thin in that area .