Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Winchester Model 12's -why so inexpensive

Battue, I like how you think!
And I always enjoy the photos of your dogs and that good ol' Model 12. Keep them coming!

Thanks!!!!

(Although a new SxS should show up by Thursday. 🤣)

I can attest to the lack of interest and low prices for M12s. Been trying to sell one locally, and FTF here for a while without much luck, and I’m not willing to take the bath on it that would be needed to move it just yet. It’ll remain for sale locally, but will probably get some time afield in the meantime.

Overall, I definitely prefer the 37. The 12’s anti-inertia lock takes some getting used to, and its barrel retention system is decidedly inferior to the 37 IMO. Still, it’s very slick and handy, and shares with the 37 the wonderful machined steel parts that exude old-time quality. 870s and Mossbergs are great, reliable guns, but definitely built with price in mind with, depending on model and grade, plastic and aluminum in places I prefer to have steel, and double action bars don’t make them any slicker IME. I’ve yet to rack one of either that compares to a 37 for smoothness.

Funny I have been shooting a m12 16 ga
In the dove field and have been struggling with it
I let my nephew shoot it last night and chose to use my old rem 870
My shooting improver to over 50 %
He didn’t hit squat

Most of us grew hunting with our grand daddy's and daddy's swinging a model 12, those hand me downs are still with us. The Model 12 is a generational shotgun that has been dying the last 10 ++ years while the Remington 870 has taken its place. The 870's price points have replaced once was current trends for model 12's. The high condition "graded" model 12's that collectors seek are the exceptions. So many Model 12's that have been hunted hard, truck guns and messed with are plentiful and gather dust.

Some hunters and clay target shooters using steel base shot shells having head space issues with model 12's not extracting hulls without force on the forearm that's not a issue with 870's. The model 12 trap gun still has a following but that's now cooling off too as those who have model 12 mechanical issues finding a gunsmith who work on them now.

I have had 2 different m12 "Ducks" 3 " chambered guns where the previous owner cleaned the barrel chamber when the gun was in takedown from the breech end. They polished it enough to give it a larger diameter than the chamber ring extension in the receiver. At this point in time you are screwed for the use of high brass shells , they will still function with low brass because it does not expand out in the enlarged barrel chamber. If one needs to clean a dirty chamber on a m12 do it from the muzzle with the gun in 1 piece. I still have a m12 field gun that was screwed up this way because I can't in good conscious pass it on. A bunch of people on here will tell me I'm full of it but it is the damned truth. You don't have that problem with any other shotgun but m12's..mb

Magnum Bob,

I also hunted ducks with a 3" model 12 Heavy Duck; the 3" lead shot shells before steel shot mandated in 1995 were never a problem ejecting. When using 3" steel was not the same as prior 3" lead shells so used 2 3/4" shells while some manufactures were not always reliable. The Model 12 HD was not always the best pumper for 3" shells, in 1935 all shells were paper so was able to extract. Winchester removed 1/4" more chamber port toward the front of receiver for 3" shells so over the years labeled the model 12 heavy duck 3" the best 2 3/4" shotgun pump shotgun for duck hunting.

Just an FYI, I reloaded old style 2 3/4" Winchester AA for both target and hunting, all brass base never an issue with extracting in a variety of model 12's.

Gotta love 37's , like its on ball bearings.

WTB Winchester Model 12 in good condition. Tell me what you have.

The vast majority never came close to wearing out a Model 12. They may look rough, but being worn out to the point of mechanical issues would be the exception. In addition, Model 12 parts are not hard to find. Nor does it take a genius Smith to replace them.

Bingo! They are a cinch to work on.

You want an old azz wore out gun get you a typical 1897. Gawd I do not like them. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, I could always tell when there was a gunshow in town because some CAS shooter would allways come in with some beat to schidt, wore out ‘97 in three ziplock bags wanting us to put it back together for him. Question????? Why did you take it apart? Answer,,, I saw screwdriver slots!!

Same reasoning some old ‘94’s had barrels unscrewed with a damn stilson wrench. “I wanted to see if I could take it off!!!”

Geez

I responded on shotgunworld in a similar manner,

…but as we are lamenting the low popularity of Model 12s in todays world, why doesn’t most everybody have a brace of setters and a Ford Country Squire station wagon to haul them in on the way to Uncle Versie’s back pasture for an afternoon of bird hunting?

My 12 year of boy won’t even know what bird hunting is compared to me 30 years ago, and I was on the tail end of the good stuff. My safe is full of enough guns for him to choose for dove, pheasants, and ducks without needing to add (another) Model 12.

Like this one.







This is One of 480 Pigeon Grade Model 12's produced in 1985 in the Winchester Model 21 Custom Shop.
The last of the Y series.

My High School buddy, the guy that sold the above M-12 to me has quite a collection of M-12's.

He has a set of unfired Browning M-12's in 410 (42), 28 and 20. The 20 and 28 have the same serial numbers. When he ordered them, he tried to get all three with same numbers but couldn't.

His dad was a Model 12 guy and the one I posted above was his. When he passed, he had notes on all of his guns on who was going to inherit them, this Pigeon Grade had my name on it, It said "I want Steve to have this" I paid his widow $1200.

I never could understand the insane prices on Winchester Model 42s

That's because there are people involved. People bring insanity to places where you would never think it would exist.

Supply and Demand, yes it is actually a thing.

I remember when nobody wanted anything to do with an 1895 Winchester. They were always a bit pricey. But nothing like what ‘86’s and other rifles were bringing. That’s about the time when I could finally afford investing in them in my life. Ultimately, they have taken off again. I doubt the 1912 will do that again. But it presents an opportunity for old curmudgeons like myself ( dare I say boomer?🤣) to invest a couple more safe queens!😉

Steve4102


Nice Model 12 but produced by U.S. Repeating Arms not Winchester, still a "Y" model 12, cast receiver and few other parts. You should check with Pauline on Shotgun World if engraved in house or outside engravers as remember those were not engraved by custom shop. Pauline will know for sure ......................

Rocket science.