The last couple days I have come across several nice model 12's in 16 ga. some times the model 12 in 12 ga. fits me well other times the stock has way too much drop.. but every model 12 in 16 ga. I have picked up, fits like a glove.. It was my ideal gun when I was 15, but never did get one.. The guns I have picked up have an almost perfect fit.. BUT the length of shell is not marked on the barrel.. It seems to me I read where the early model 12's in 16 ga. had a 2 5/8 in chamber.. True.?? I suppose the serial numbers are the best way to know if it is a 2 3/4 inch gun.. I am not sure now at my age, with the shotguns I have, I want to have a 16 ga. BUT if one perfect one came along, who knows.. So I would like the info on the chamber length..

I know if you get a Model 12 with the barrel marked "Proof Steel" It will have a 2 3/4" chamber. IIRC Model 12s made after 1927 had 2 3/4" chambers.

Here's a link to a site that will give you the year of manufacture.
http://oldguns.net/sn_php/windateslookup.php?file=win1912.dat

WCH,

Mine has the 2 3/4 inch chamber and the off brand shells are too long after opening on firing and sometimes catch on the way out. Remington, Winchester and Federal however work as they should.

You can pay mucho more to the extreme for a shotgun, and not get one that handles and balances as well as a Model 12 16 Gauge.

Battue I had my ejection port opened up by a good smith around $25
works great and all 2 3/4 shells work in my Win model 12 16 gauge marked 2 3/4 inch. Certain brands would hang up also.

Battue I had my ejection port opened up by a good smith around $25
works great and all 2 3/4 shells work in my Win model 12 16 gauge marked 2 3/4 inch. Certain brands would hang up also.

Thanks for the info.. I will check this out and try and get it in my notes.. the proof steel will be a big help..

I use the B&P 2.5 INCH shells in my short chambered Model 12 16 ga and it is a squirrel killer

This one was built in 1947 or 1948 (depending on what serial number list you have). I've used many modern shells (REM GL and Express, WIN - USA & Australian, FED, Estate, and Fiocchi) - I have yet to have an ejection issue.

I'm getting ready to buy a model 12 16 ga from my dad. It's interesting in that it has a 23" barrel that looks factory. He says it was made in 1944 I believe. Any ideas what it is?

blair, the local shop has a 16 ga. mod. 12 with a 24 inch barrel.. I felt it had been chopped off as it said full choke..

I had one years ago. It was a nice light little gun but like you mentioned it seemed to have a lot of drop in the stock and I did not shoot it very well so I let it go in a trade. Mine never seemed to have any operational issues though.

The interesting part to me is I now have a browning 20ga reproduction that I really like and it seems to fit me much better. Someone informed me that the stock dimensions are the same on the original model 12s and the brownings. I cant dispute or confirm this as I don't remember the dimensions on the 16ga for comparisons sake. It may also have to do with the fact that 30 years later I have a little fuller face than I use to ;^) Anyway I hope you get your gun and enjoy it. Growing up when and where I did it seemed the model 12 and sweet 16 auto 5s were considered the choice of all of the real bird hunters at the little gun club in our town. I have been fortunate enough to fulfill my 12 year old dream of having one of each of those and even though today the de-rigor upland gun of choice has 2 barrels, pulling one of those two beautiful repeaters out of the case still trumps them all for me.

I have a '58 model, and prefer these over the earlier guns. It feeds wonderfully, has a straighter stock (less drop), and I like the somewhat larger fore end.

Mine has a 28" plain barrel, choked modified, weighs 6 1/2#.

Are the Ithaca 37 16 Gauge built on a smaller frame like the Win model 12 16 Gauge?

Yes.

I picked up a model 12 in 16 ga not long ago. It really seems to be a natural pointer for me. The rear and front have different S/Ns, as it turns out I have a short-chambered firearm (chamber part is a 1923 model). I bought a case of 2.5 inch #5s from RST shells, ready to tee it up for squirrels in the fall. I might try a little June hunting too, as VA has a short season early June.

There is no reason with your gun to just assume that it's a short chamber gun based on the serial number of the front end. Your gun has been pieced together. Why would you assume that the barrel extension wasn't replaced? That's a much simpler change than fitting a front end to the receiver. I have a couple M-12s made up of multiple different vintage parts.

OK well, I hadn't thought of that. I will get it measured and then know for sure.

If the barrel is marked proof steel it's 2 3/4 and the barrel extension is from an older gun. If the barrel is marked nickle steel it might be 2 9/16. A surprising number were bored out to 2 3/4. That used to be a fairly common and cheap gunsmith job.

I have a Model 12 16 ga which was made in the 1920's. It has a Nickel Steel barrel and is stamped 2 3/4 in.

Only way to explain this ... the shotgun started out as a 2 9/16 but was returned to Winchester and they bored it out & stamped it.

My Model 12 16 ga made in 1924 has the short chamber and i just use the B&P Shorter 16 GA shells. I have the 2-3/4 inch reamer, but not worth the effort as well as it shoots with the B&P ammo

Its been my experance that its not the chamber but the ejection port that is the issue. Even with a 2 3/4 chabmer the spent round is too long to clear the ejection port, this too needs attention.

bea175 - I think we talked about this a year or two ago. Your Winny M12 16 ga looks a lot like mine.

Full choke and short barrel ?

yes it has a 25 inch full choke barrel

I just love 16ga shotguns.