Winchester Shotgun Barrels
I've got a ? for the experts on Winchester shotgun barrels. I have a Model 12 made in 1953 that is marked "Winchester made in USA, model 12/12Ga/2-3/4"Cham, Winchester Proof Steel, Mod" and a Model 97 made in 1950 marked "Winchester, made in US of America, Model 97/12Ga/2-3/4"Cham, Full". Are these barrels made of different materials? The barrel marked "proof steel" seems much thinner, but this maybe due to the choke. I've been shooting standard lead shot loads thru these guns as this is what they were made for. I am also asking the experts here for advice regarding amunition: steel shot (I've assumed that this is not a good idea), "maximum" buckshot loads, and standard rifled slugs. Both shotguns are in good condition and I don't want to feed them anything foolish or ill advised.
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Typically Winchester full choke barrels are much thicher at the muzzle end than a Mod. or Imp Cyl, meaning wall thickness. Winchester made these barrels for a lot of years, and the design concept is 100 years old, (there abouts, 97 a little more, 12 a little less) Look at a Model 12 Duck gun Full choke, these where tanks! I measured mine, and the wall thickness is about .015 thicker, than a 2 3/4 inch chambered barrel. When Winchester was making these they use to advertise "it would last a life time". I've seen probably 1000 md 12's in 30 years, the only ones that the choke was shot out were a couple of Trap guns with a full choke and the guns where 50 plus years old at the time I saw them.
As far as shooting standard steel thru these, well that 97 full choke, I wouldn't. There is some I believe it's Tungsten/matrix that is suppose to be safe to shoot. I've seen a few Md 12's where the full choke did gradually open up to about a Mod in diameter after a case or two of standard steel. These barrels aren't as hard as todays barrels. I shoot bismuth thru mine, and am very happy with my results. Shooting slugs, well I believe that there are slugs that can be shot, sabot. Rifled slug I don't know. Any lead buckshot should be safe, I'd stay away from the 2 3/4 mags, these beat the hell out of the breech bolt and the receiver.
Last thing, Md 12 barrels are getting harder to find. They usually start about $125 for an average one and rise quickly. 97's are close. Plus these are fitted barrels to the receiver. Regards Dave0
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