winchester model 12 mod choke question

T

timber_cruiser

New member
Hello, I am new to the forum and would appreciate advice on using my winchester model 12 12 ga. A friend has asked me to go duck hunting this weekend, I only have the model 12 which my father gave me. The barrel is marked "nickel steel winchester mod 12-12 ga mod". Is it OK to use with steel shot? Is this a 2 3/4 or could I use 3" shells?

Any help or advice would be appreciated!

thnx
 
If it's a model 12

and not a 1200, then it's probably a 2.75" model. According to http://www.nrapublications.org/TAR/Winchester12.asp, the Model 12 went out of production in the late 1960s, early 70s.

I say "probably a 2.75" model" because I can't determine when 3" magnum shells were introduced, and can't find anything on whether or not Winchester made the Model 12 in a 3" version if the shells were available before they stopped production.

Regarding steel shot, probably best to use bismuth. Steel shot didn't exist when that gun was made, so the barrel hasn't been made of hard enough steel to withstand the steel shot. You'll blow out the choke if you use steel shot. Here's a quote from http://www.chuckhawks.com/guns_faq3.htm. I know the question pertained to a SxS, but the barrel materials are probably quite similar, if not identical.

Steel shot in doubles

Q: Can I shoot steel shot in my Ithaca/SKB 200E double?

A: You should never shoot steel shot in any good double gun. It will trash the chrome-lined barrel of your Ithaca and pound out the choke of most doubles. Stick with lead shot, for which the gun was designed. For hunting waterfowl you can use Bismuth shot.
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The nickel steel marking was used up until about 1931 - all 12 ga M12's were chambered for 2 3/4 inch as standard. Early 20 ga. guns were for 2 1/2 inch until 1925 - then 2 3/4 inch was used. Early 16 ga guns were 2 9/16 inch chambers until 1927 - when they were changed over to 2 3/4 inch.

I wouldn't shoot steel thru it, they were made to shoot lead.
 
"Steel shot ...will trash the chrome lined barrel " Steel shot will not damage the chrome lining in a barrel ! The plastic shot cups are thicker for steel shot to protect the barrel . Many use chrome lined barrels with steel shot , me too ! Whether a barrel can be used with steel shot depends on the thickness and strength of the barrel steel and if the chokes are designed for steel. ...The shell length should be marked on the barrel .If there is no marking assume it's a 2 3/4" chamber or measure it . Your's should be 2 3/4" lead only.
 
I wouldn't use steel

The age of your gun ("nickelSteel) argues against it. It will screw up (ruin) your choke. Guns made before the 1950s when plastic shot cups came into use, are choked "tighter" than todays guns. I mean there is more constriction in the choke than there is today.

They needed the extra choke to get correct pattern percentages with the old card/fiber wad type shotshells. If you pattern your model 12 (mod), with current ammo, you will likely find it patterns at or near "full choke" percentage. My grandfather's rule was you could balance a dime on the muzzle of a full choked gun. With the guns of his day, you could. Try it today and the dime falls through.

Since the old guns "squeeeze" the shot column harder than todays guns, and since "steel" shot doesn't compress like lead shot, there is a lot more stress on the gun barrel than it was ever intended for. NOT A GOOD IDEA!

Using steel in these old guns results in the choke getting "shot out" (best case), or the barrel bursting (worst case). And nobody can say how many rounds it will take. It may take 10 boxes and be ok, or it may suffer damage from the very first round. Just don't do it.

After decades of using a Model 12, and an old Ithaca SxS, I bought a Remington 870 Express when steel bacame the law for waterfowl. No way was I going to shoot that stuff through my fine old guns!
 
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