The Winchester Model 12 Pump Action Shotgun

Model 12 is a disassembled gun. It can be taken apart for service. A small pin located on the end of the magazine tube moved from the left side to the lower right and used to rotate the tube for one-third of a turn and disconnect it from the receiver.

Winchester Model 12 parts were forged, machined and complexly designed. “Perfect Repeater “Perfect Repeater” was expensive to manufacture but it also lost ground in the wake of the brand new Remington Model 1200 pump shotgun.

Features

Winchester Model 12 was a pump-action shotgun that was manufactured between 1912 and 1964. The gun was utilized by the United States armed forces in WWI, WWII, and the Korean War. Designed by Thomas Crossley Johnson, the gun took advantage of sliding forearm designs from John Browning’s previous designs, including the Model 1893 and the Model 1897. Johnson added an internal gun jammer that eliminated the need for a cocked-hammer.

The Model 12 was a huge hit, and quickly became popular with hunters and trap shooters alike. In Winchester’s advertisements, it was called “The perfect repeater.” Johnson’s trick was in the way he concealed the hammer inside the receiver, that resulted in a stylish and modern gun with an easier action.

It was also light and simpler to operate since it didn’t require a locking mechanism. A nice benefit was that it could be fired slam-fired. This gave its gun the image as an excellent shotgun that could be used close to police stations or express messengers. It also serves sheriff’s officers.

The Model 12 was available in The Field, Trap and Skeet, and Super Pigeon grades. Different grades were distinguished in the high-end of the walnut used and engraving. Deluxe varieties such as Super Pigeon, Field and Field could be purchased with extravagant checked forearms, and hand-checkered stocks. Some of the Buywinchester deluxe guns including the Tournament and the Heavy Duck Gun, were even decorated.

Alongside the different variations of the gun you can also find 11 Model Configurations that distinguish guns based on their barrel length. The barrel length is determined by the tip of the barrel and the beginning of the bolt within the receiver. The standard model features 20 inches of barrel, and is one of the most sought-after.

It is an excellent example of American craftsmanship and is a fun gun to use. While it’s more expensive than some other pump guns and other guns, Model 12 Model 12 is well worth the money. It’s extremely accurate, reliable, and is a wonderful relic from American time and culture. Ammo To Go is the place to go if you would like to buy a piece. Ammo To Go are the main retail ammunition sponsor of TTAG. They sell the highest quality and large quantities of ammunition with a lower cost!

The Building’s Construction

The Winchester Model 12 or M12 or M12 as it’s called today, came out in 1912, and quickly was popular with hunters as well as trap shooters and skeet-shooters. Winchester sales reps referred to it as the Perfect Repeater and for 46 years, it was the weapon to have.

Thomas Crosley Johnson designed this gun that had it’s receiver, which was made of solid steel, with a smoothed edge. It was enclosed by the bolt through the entire firing phase. This resulted in the internal hammer was lowered upon pulling the trigger as an inertia motion bar cam was used to cock the bolt before removing and ejected the empty shell.

The tubular magazine found in older shotguns, which could accommodate six cartridges. Barrels and actions inside are made by hand and then proofed. They’re also precisely choke bore. The hammer was situated on the left side of the cross bolt safety at the front of the receiver. This was an ergonomically better design than the old thumb busting model that been a problem for previous models.

M12s came of Field, Skeet, Trap, Tournament and Deluxe versions and featured fancy walnut stocks and checkered forearms. Certain models had solid ribs, vent ribs and even polychokes. The Featherweight model with a lightweight fluted barrel was available.

The M12’s internal hammer, tube magazine and easy-to use controls make it much easier to operate than earlier models. In addition, the “slam firing” technique consists to fire the gun each when it shuts off the action as long as the trigger is still depressed. This option allowed the user to fire one shot after another in the same amount of time as they could pump the action open to close it, making it well suited to military usage.

The M12 was manufactured until 1964 when high volume production ended. In that time, nearly two million M12s were made. Some were manufactured through the US Repeating Arms Company through specialist collector purchase programs however, the M12 was not mass-produced following 1964. In the year 1970, USRA was purchased from FN which then Miroku was established in New Haven Connecticut began production. Some purists insist, despite the fact that it’s produced in Japan. The authentically American-made Model 12 remains to be genuine.

Design

In 1912, the Model 12 was developed by Thomas Crossley Johnson, one of Winchester’s greatest engineers and designers, the Model 12 was a major change from the Model 1897, that of the Model 1897. Model 97 was a great shotgun. Model 97 was an excellent shotgun, however it was plagued by some design issues that the Model 12 fixed. The hammer’s exposed as an example, was ugly and could cut the thumb if you pulled it out. Johnson was able to conceal the hammer in the sleek, enclosed receiver.

The internal parts of the action were manufactured from forge steel. The parts were then fitted by hand. The barrel was proofed with a precise choke bore. The tubular magazine held six 3/4-inch shotshells. It was fixed to it at the front. Safety was located at the top of the of the trigger guard. The ergonomics were better than cross bolt safeties. Model 12 came in 16gauge and 20-gauge as well as a.410 versions. Also, it was offered as Field as well as Pigeon Grade competition grades, Super Field and Duck Gun grades, as well as Skeet and Trap grades.

There were many sportsmen who flocked towards the Model 12, which dominated the gun market over the course of 52 years before it was withdrawn in 1964. Danny Michael, Curator at Cody Firearms Museum calls the Model 12 “one of America’s most iconic firearms” and claims that it’s a great item for collectors as well as shooters.

Model 12 Model 12 was the first manufacturing shotgun to have an internal hammer, making it much easier to load and shoot in comparison to other shotguns. Tubular magazines were also a game changer because it was easy to load, speedy to cycle, and also offered more capacity than other shotguns that operated with a pump.

Winchester manufactured Model 12 from the Model 12 until 2006, though special models were made for collectors through 2014. The Model 12 is the most sought-after and well-performing pump-action shotgun manufactured. But, it also had issues. It’s actually not unusual for a Model 12 to require major overhauls or the replacement of a component after decades of service. In the end, however, the Model 12 was rugged and dependable, and it remains an excellent choice for the skilled shooter.

Reloading

For the last 52 years, Winchester Model 12 was the top-selling pump gun in the world. The Winchester Model 12 was popular among sportsmen, as well as serving in four world wars. In the present, it’s among popular shotguns on the second-hand gun market. It can sell for up to $1500 if it is in good shape.

Thomas Crosley, the legendary Winchester engineer and designer was accountable for designing the Model 12. The design of his gun was based on three fundamental concepts: accuracy, reliability and power. Also, an internal hammer was incorporated as well as an ad hoc machined receiver that was enclosed by the bolt.

The model was designed by the inventor Model 12 to be easy to load and to hold so that it is easier for an inexperienced shooter to master in comparison to more sophisticated models. The Model 12 was equipped with a tube magazine, and an action bar cam that cocked the it’s hammer while the forearm drawn back. It also fired the cartridge and then ejected the spent cartridges. It was made available with Field Buywinchester, Skeet and Trap versions with either a solid or vent the rib barrel as well as several choke sizes.

Some of these were equipped with an Cutts compensater and then a Polychoke. This Model 12 was different from other shotguns with pumps at the time due to its fact that it was not equipped with an escape mechanism for the trigger and could be fired with a simple slamming on the handle.

My grandpa’s Model 12 shotgun has remained constantly in use for more than nearly 90 years with no major maintenance. The slick action has the ability to go through several rounds with just a couple of pumps. In the event that the action bars or bolt release is difficult to move, they may require some gunsmithing in order to get them functioning properly.

Model 12 became a big success with sportsmen. It was produced from 1964 until the time it was stopped. The Model 12 was replaced with the cheaper Remington Model 870. It was not a top shotgun model, the cost of production combined with market share loss finally made this Model 12 on the chopping block. It is the Winchester Repeating Arms Company, which was revived by the government in the year 1994, continues to make high-quality guns including a Model 12 Pump Shotgun with concealed hammer.