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win.model 12 in 20 ga.

tmault5
My dad has one for the longest time ,and i love how it points and shoots ,BUT why are they so hard to find in 20ga. i see 12 and 16 ga at just about every gunshop i walk into. did winchester only make them a few years in 20ga????? or is everybody just keeping cause there great guns?????
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4 comments

Date Votes
  • only winchesters
    Hello tmault5: It's because those of us who have them know how sweet they are and wont part with them!! I have 9, 20ga. guns myself. But in reality although Winchester made 2,027,000 or there abouts, the 12 gauge by far was the most popular. When Winchester first came out with the Md 1912, (later just Md 12) it was only produced in 20ga., the 12 and 16 ga. were introduced in 1914. so by the time they came out, Winchester had already made 32,419 20 ga. guns. From what I've been able to find out over the years, about 1,300,000 12 ga. guns were made between all grades,( Field,Skeet, Trap, Pigeon, Black Diamond, Special Field, Deluxe Field, and Special Field Deluxe). The remaining 700,000 were made up between, 16,20, and 28ga guns. Of which estimates are between 80,000-100,000 were 28ga. That leaves about 600,000 total between 16 and 20ga. People that I've talked to feel the 20ga, out numbers the 16 ga. especially in Post War guns, simply because of the popularity of the 20ga. If I had to guess, I'd say about 320,000 20ga to 280,000 16ga. guns, were made.

    Now as far as you not seeing 20ga guns, on any given day I can find at least 25, 20ga. guns for sale on the net. They are out there, it really depends on how much you are willing to spend. In fact I bet there are at least 3 here at Gunbroker right now, I have two on my watch list now. The hard part is finding original ones, since the easiest modification is a recoil pad, then aftermarket Vent Ribs, Choke devices, cut barrels, replaced stocks and of course reblued guns.

    Regards Dave
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  • MIKE WISKEY
    IN ADDITION TO O.W.; THE M-1912 20 GA. GUNS ARE CHAMBERED FOR 2 1/2" SHELLS SO IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A SHOOTER KEEP THIS IN MIND. MANY OF THESE HAD THEIR CHAMBERS LENGHTENED TO 2 3/4".
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  • only winchesters
    Good morning all: As Mike said the early 16 & 20 ga. guns had short chambers, 1927 is when Winchester went to the 2 3/4 in chamber. Serial numbers above 464565. A number of early guns were sent back to the factory to be opend up, the chamber and the ejection port on the receiver. When Winchester did this they would reblue the receiver, and barrel, since they would mark the barrel, using the roll die marking it for 2 3/4 or 2 3/4 CHAM. or just below the serial number on the receiver. Most gunsmiths who did the job would just use a steel stamp if at all. If the gun was opened up by Winchester, true it's not original, but the value of the gun has not necessarily dropped, like those done by a gunsmith. Either way still a fine shooting pump gun!!!

    Regards Dave
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  • tmault5
    thank you everyone for the information about this , i am not really looking to buy one ,i am kinda attached to my pops and that suits me fine i think his was purchaced in early 1960's not real fancy just the standard grade one .and Only Winchesters i did not mean to say i Couldnt find one anywhere (Internet)(GB) ,i was just relating that for the last 10 years i have not seen one single 20ga in any gunshop in western Pa only 12 and 16 ga guns and was just curious as to why, But since you say the made just as many OR MORE in 20ga that makes it even more strange why i dont see them??? but thanks for all the insight !
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