Winchester used sintered metal parts in these guns. That doesn't mean they are bad, it's just not how the originals were made.
They're still pretty nice.
The Miroku made M-12's sold by Browning are really nice.
DF
I agree with you completely DF! I have the Browning Model 12 in 28 gauge.
Don't think you'll find MIM parts in a Miroku gun...
DF
Burnt Powder wrote:
The Y series was manufactured in Japan by B. C. Miroku. The original pre Y Model 12s were manufactured at the Winchester plant in New Haven.
DF,
I borrowed the text below from shotgun world forum. Miroku never made a 12 gauge reproduction:
BP
Not true.
The Y-series M12s were produced in New Haven, CT by Winchester between 1972-80. They were offered in field, skeet, and trap grades initially, although only the trap grades were made throughout the entire run. Therefore, most Y-series guns are trap grade guns.
I own a 1980 Y-series M12 trap and am quite pleased with it. It compares well to the 1960 M12 trap I also own. The Y-series guns did have cast receivers (as did the last of the pre-64 guns), and a rather unfortunate way to attached the rib to the barrel at the muzzle (a screw that can shear with enough use). The value of Y-series M12s is a bit lower than the classic pre-64 guns, and therefore make a good choice for someone looking for an affordable "shooter". Be aware that NIB Y-series guns are still out there, if you so choose.
"Burnt Powder" has confused the American-made Y-series M12s with small gauge guns (20, 28, .410) produced much later by Miroku in Japan during the late 80s-early 90s. Those small guage M12/M42 clones were labeled as either Brownings or Winchesters. Some of these small guage guns were available in high grade versions that command high prices today.