Thought I'd get some opinions...M-12

[Clipper]

The only shotgun I'm really interested in owning is the model 12, and I have a smooth (1952) 2 3/4" 12ga with a 28" modified choke barrel. Trouble is, I don't hunt birds any more, and the only use the gun sees is deer hunting in Michigan's southern lower peninsula shotgun zone. The bead sight is no good for slugs in my opinion, and buckshot is so short range. So here's my thinking. The gun is a nicely refinished piece, so there's no collector value, and the receiver has some pre-refinish pitting that doesn't affect shootability, but another collector turn-off. I am thinking of cutting the barrel to 20-22" and mounting rifle sights for slug shooting. I'm just concerned about accuracy of foster slugs from a smooth bore, never having used them. I'll be shooting 100 yards max, and more likely 50-75. So, what do you think?

And please don't bother suggesting purchasing some other shotgun...If it don't say 'Winchester Model 12", I'm not interested.

 

[1KPerDay]

It's your gun, do what you like.

 

[highorder]

I'm torn.

I hate to see Model 12's modified, but if it's refinished already, another quality modification isn't a hell-worthy trespass. If it were mine, I'd mount some of the great tru-glow rifle sights to the rib and NOT cut the barrel.

 

[Clipper]

...I'm not seeking approval...I pretty much do what I want with my guns (You should see what I do with my milsurps), but I don't do much with shotguns, and am just seeking insight as to the utility of such a plan.

 

[Clipper]

...It doesn't have a rib.

 

[highorder]

The only question then is which will give better accuracy with rifle sights; 28" or 20" barrel.

I don't have that answer. I do have a Model 12 with a 20" cylinder barrel. I will fire some slugs and see what happens. I have approximately 50 yards to play with...

 

[Dave McCracken]

A buddy bought a Model 12 that had the barrel pruned after some idiot shot it with the muzzle plugged.

Barrel was cut to 22" and open sights installed.

With some Winchester rifled slugs, we dialed it in over a picnic table rest and it shot nicely.

Best of my recollection, it kept them all inside 4" at 60 yards.

Alternately, you could keep your eyes open for a spare barrel and keep yours intact.

HTH....

 

[SmokeyVol]

Find a spare barrel to use. They do not make Model 12s anymore and I hate to see a legend die even if it does not have collector value now. It will one day.

 

[WVMountainBoy]

I voted sacred because they're getting rare. I understand you're not seeking approval. I've always heard that the longer the bbl length the better, though it hasn't really held true in my experiance. If you're going to have it threaded for a choke (rifled chokes help a little) then go with the 22 inch. if you're going to keep it smooth all the way through, I wouldn't bother cutting and just install your sights.

 

[Clipper]

As it is, the gun's pretty useless...You ever try to use a 28" barrel in a portable deer blind?

 

[chas08]

I voted make it useful to you. I have two Model 12's a 12 & 16 ga. I would never consider modifying either, but that's just me. As another poster suggested you could look for another barrel. There are a lot of Full choke 12 ga barrels to be found, Modifieds, not so much. Then you could keep it original and still have what you want.

 

[snooperman]

I am with Chas08

Do not modify your model 12 gun.

 

[rcmodel]

All those suggesting a spare barrel should consider you can't just change barrels on a Model 12 like you can on an 870 or something.

A spare barrel set for a model 12 consists of the whole foreword half of the gun including the take-down iron, magazine tube, and forearm wood.

Model 12 barrel assembly's must be fitted to the receiver, a new headspace ring installed and reamed to match the chamber, and so on and so forth.

It's not a kitchen table barrel swap unless you have the whole front half of another gun fitted to match your receiver.

rc

 

[kirbythegunsmith]

Details

The typical standard 2-3/4" Winchester Model-12 has a barrel with a slimmer profile for easier field carry and consequently has little leftover material for a choke tube installation. Some slight possibility of an extra-thinwall aftermarket installation exists, but the bore diameter limitations for those types of tubes are likely to leave a Model-12 barrel outside of spec. for anything but custom work.

Previous situations like these (in my shop) have been custom threaded and then had a rifled choke fitted to the barrel bore and threads. There is some possibility of wall thickness variance and consequently an off-center profile at the cut point that could make a choke installation problematic, even for custom work. The bore diameter might be larger than normal, and that would make an extra-thinwall aftermarket choke installation unsafe to fit, even if the wall thickness were compatible with the threads. My work would be more likely to have a successful fit that almost any other choke choice, but no guarantees before any examination.

The barrel is going to need to have any iron sights sweat-soldered or silver-brazed for installation. Then you need another re-blue to eliminate the flux etc. markings.
You can also consider having a scope base installed (drill/tap) to the frame and use a low-magnification telescopic sight or red-dot etc. that is sturdy enough for shotgun recoil abuse. I have seen many cheap scopes go loose inside and no way would I want a hunt to go south just because of a few bucks saved at a big-box store. I prefer Burris and their superb warranty replacement stories as one good example.


Consider a trigger job to round out the shooting precision enhancement, plus a premium recoil pad should be considered to reduce the flinching possibilities during practice.

[email protected]

 

[Clipper]

I'm a retired Journeyman Toolmaker, and have a lathe, mill and surface grinder in my garage, so most of my gunsmith work I can handle myself. However, I weld, but don't solder well enough to risk it, and I have a smith fit my recoil pads when I want one...Fortunately, I'm 10 minutes from Williams Gunsite, and their smiths are used to my oddball projects (I have had them install a hooded Firesight and peep rear on my 10" bull MKII, among other things).