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Winchester Model 12 12ga. 30" Full

ggeary
Hello Gentlemen,

I have a common Winchester Model 12, 12ga., 2 3/4, 30" Full, serial 822xxx, made around 1939 as far as I can tell. It looks to be about 90%. Winchester Proof Steel marked on the barrel. All original blueing (very good), excellent wood. I have two questions for the Experts.

1) Any ballpark on the value as stated? Or do you need more info?

2) Can I hunt/skeet/trap shoot with modern shot? Or should it be a sentimental piece of art hanging on the wall? I have been told that steel shot can damage the gun/barrel and could be dangerous. My local gun shop sold me Estate heavy Game load, 1 1/4oz, 2 3/4 no. 6.

Thanks in advance.
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Comments

4 comments

Date Votes
  • only winchesters
    Hello ggeary! You are correct! you have the most common Md 12 field gun made. sounds like a nice pre-war gun. If you notice, it has the patent dates on the right side of the barrel. They stopped doing that in 1942.

    1) Ball park, $350-$550. What would make it worth more is the wood. some field guns came with real nice wood, mean a lot of figure, most came with very plain walnut.

    2) You can shoot any 12ga. load from 7/8s of an oz. to 1 1/4 oz of lead. I do not recommend 2 3/4 in Magnums, they will beat the recess inside of the receiver to death. You can also shoot 2 3/4 in Bismuth, or Tungsten/matrix water fowl loads. DO NOT shoot steel shot through it.

    Regards Dave
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  • snowtigger
    What about Heavi-shot in these old guns??

    It ain't what you shoot, it's what you hit.
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  • ggeary
    Hi Dave,

    Thanks for the informative reply. Yes, there are patents on the right side of the barrel, right up to 1913.

    Glad I asked about the steel shot.. how do you tell what composition the shot is? It doesn't specifically say on the ammo I bought. Suppose I could Google to find out...

    Greg
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  • only winchesters
    Good morning ggeary: I'm guessing here that your case of #6, 1 1/4 oz load is lead, since that is a quite common hunting load in lead. Steel shot to get that much in there it would have to be a Magnum load. Also #6 in steel is real light, unless you were going dove or quail hunting. Ask the dealer who you bought it from.

    Good morning snowtrigger: From what I've read about "Heavi-shot" I wouldn't use it in an "old" gun. My rule of thumb, if a gun has screw in chokes, I would shoot anything that's on the market. Myself, if I can't use lead, I use Bismuth. Regards Dave
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