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I have two a heavy duck solid rib, and a std solid rib. When I was a kid my dream gun was a model 12 16ga. mod choke 28 in. barrel. Never got it. dozens of shotguns have passed through my owner ship, but never a model 12 16 ga.

That's what this one is. One of my favorites, it does 90% of what I need a shotgun for.

Many moons ago, when I was a boy I hung around the local "rod and gun club". I listened as the old guys talked about how great the Model 12 was. It always stuck in my mind how they said, "you cant wear a Model 12 out...the more you shoot one the tighter it gets".
Fast forward to about 20 years ago and I finally got my hands on one. It was a pile of junk, but I restored it to look like new. It would blow itself open when you fired it. I posted on the shotgun forum and asked if it was supposed to do that or not. I got 26 replies...13 said "no" and 13 said "yep, they all do that". Well I didn't know, but after I learned that no they are not "supposed to do that, I contacted AGI. They have a DVD on the Model 12, and I asked if they addressed that issue. The lady said "briefly", so I bought the DVD. Turned out that Roy Dunlap does address this issue in the DVD and I was able to quickly fix mine.
I fell in love with Model 12's and now have 10 of them. From a WWII trench gun to a 28 gauge jewel and everything in between. Hunt with them??? Absolutely!!! My pride and joy is a 20 gauge super pigeon from 1961. It has the three pin vent rib, number 5 engraving and B carved wood. All that said, I have an 1897 in 20 gauge with gold inlays, black diamond, solid rib and unfired from 1945 that is worth twice what all my Model 12's would bring.........

I've owned a dozen of them but mostly to flip for something else as I was able to pick them up relatively cheap. My Holy Grail gun is the true Browning A-5 of which I owned all the major variations at one time or another. ,

I'm another who can't hit with the M-12. For me the pitch is all wrong and the gun tends to slide off the shoulder when firing. This could be altered by cutting the butt though that tends to require other changes to the stock which I am not inclined to waste my time on when other guns fit much closer as they are. I'd much rather use a Remington 31.

battue I really enjoy your pictures.

Thanks👍🏻

Does a Browning repro count? I bought this one (20ga) about 5 years ago. Have only dove hunted with it a couple times but intend to get it out some this season.

Definitely counts....

I have to politely disagree. The repros are nice, well made shotguns but to me, if they aren’t made in New Haven they aren’t Winchesters.

Well then, I guess I'm out of the club...

I'll be sure to apologize to any doves I kill this season for not sending them to the big corn field in the sky with a genuine Winchester...

Parker Reproductions are recognized by the Parker Gun Collectors Assiciation…. A.H Foxes by CSMC are recognized by the Fox Collectors Association….i have a Model 12 20 gauge….made in Japan….before Browning… that came in a Winchester branded box and says Winchester on the barrel. Winchester roll stamps, but made in Japan and not New Haven

Your choice, but from here it is a legit Model 12….

I’m not surprised that you feel that way. Certainly, we all have our own opinions and enjoy expressing them. You have a Model 12 made in Japan and I don’t. We have both made our choices.

And I have both, and find all of them worthy of the name Model 12.

None questioned if that was a “real” Model 12. It is stamped both Winchester along with Made in Japan..

However, I understand your purist view.

I hunt with a 1935 M12 20 ga. 26" solid rib mod choke...that measures .009" constriction. Has a straight grip stock on it. 6#5oz and a great grouse (ruffs, sharptails and blues) gun.

My late season grouse, chukar, Hun and pheasant M12 is a 1947 16 ga with an aftermarket rib on a 28" barrel opened from full to .015" (Light mod) constriction. It also has a straight grip stock on it and weights 6#7oz.

I hunt with an AYA #2 SxS in either 20 ga or 16 ga a bit more than the the two Model 12s, but either style are great bird guns to use behind our Vizsla.

I don't hunt with my 1962 WS1 3-pin vent rib 12 ga skeet gun. Weights 8# on the head and is a great gun down skeet gun.

Nor have I hunted the 1938 12 ga solid rib 30" barrel full choke Standard Trap, but as another poster mentioned, it makes a fine sporting clays, trap and 5-stand shotgun. Even have shot a couple of 22/25 at skeet with it but you better be on your game with the full choke.

Duplicate

For discussion… the one with the aftermarket rib is no longer original… while the duplicate is closer to an original.

Soon we start picking fine points that mean little….

Many have screwed on an after market chanker polychoke, yet still consider it to be a Model 12….

Had a 12 ga m12 with a solid rib for awhile that someone had cut the barrel and installed a compensated adj choke. As tight as you could get it ony gave a skeet restriction. It had some additional reeming done to it. None the less it was good on skeet with 7/8 & 1 oz loads. A really nice condition m12 16ga with a solid rib and full choke which was good on 16 yd trap. Last december i picked up a nicely restored 20ga m12 with a solid rib and full choke. It is a 1927-28 vintage with a 2 3/4" marked chamber 561,xxx range. I've had others and reproductions as Woods said they are fine if they fit you if not find something that does.i too find the A-5 a better fit. Mb

I don't collect Model 12's, I buy them to shoot clay birds and/or hunt with. And I have a Browning Miroku 28 ga Model 12 grade 1 that is the finest built of all...except for the damn +7# trigger pull. Trigger group is not the same as a US built Winchester and is the major flaw along with being very heavy (7#2oz) for a 28 ga. It never sees the field.