What should I do? modify? leave it alone?

[Axel Larson]

So i have a model 12 which I love I think it is the slimmest pump action I have ever handled. Now the thing is it is fun for clays but it has 26 inch barrel and full choke. The problem with that is I would like to use it for hunting and a full choke would destroy grouse or pheasant when I get a chance to hunt pheasant that is. So since it only takes 2 and 3/4 I am not sure what loads I could use in it for turkey. So would you modify it or just keep as a fun gun and find another for grouse? (the superposed does work great for grouse hunting) thoughts?

PS yes the clays are informal before anyone says anything, just for fun.

 

[Fred Fuller]

If you really want to use it for hunting upland birds, it'll need less choke IMHO - unless you want to start experimenting with spreader loads. See http://www.firearmservice.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/page7.html for just one example.

You can have a few points of choke removed if you want to have a fixed choke gun, or perhaps have thin-wall choke tubes installed if there's enough metal in the barrel to allow it and you want to go that route. I'd consult Simmons for opening up the fixed choke (http://www.simmonsguns.com/site/services/barrel-work-blueing/) or Briley (http://www.briley.com/) about choke tubes...

 

[ball3006]

I have my grandpa's Model 12. It has a 28 inch barrel, full choke. The gun was made in 1919 so it does not have the disconnector. I bought another barrel and cut it down to 20 inches and added a night sight to it. Nice quick firing HD shotgun. For your shotgun, just buy another barrel for it in a more usable choke......chris3

 

[303tom]

I would suggest you just buy another barrel................
http://www.gunpartscorp.com/Products/279210.htm
Cut six inches off it & you will basically have a 24 in. Imp. Cyl.

 

[rcmodel]

Mmmmm?

You can't just 'buy another barrel' for a Model 12 Winchester.
A Model 12 'barrel' is half the whole gun.

They come off as a sub-assembly with the whole front end of the gun when taken down.

You need a gunsmith who knows Model 12's to change barrels, install a new headspace ring, ream it to match the chamber, and also a whole new magazine and slide assembly fitted to the gun.

So since it only takes 2 and 3/4 I am not sure what loads I could use in it for turkey

If it will pulverize a clay target at 40 yards with #8 trap loads with the full choke barrel you have?

It will pulverize a turkeys head and neck at the same distance with #8 trap loads.

Turkeys are not armor plated, bullet proof, or in any way harder to kill then any other bird if their head and neck vertebra are turned into jello by a tight pattern of #8 shot.

3" Magnum 'Turkey' loads, and special 'Turkey' guns & chokes to kill turkeys are a modern advertising thing to sell you stuff they didn't need for the first 200 years or so of killing turkeys with cylinder bore muzzle-loading shotguns.

rc

 

[cota]

Buying another barrel would be the most practical thing to do, it will cost money and time though if you had planned spending that much money then another barrel is your best option definitely.
Removing some choke on the other hand is perhaps quicker and less involved and can be carried out local to you most probably and cheaply.
You should take in to account older ammunition was often felt wads and needed a little more choke to get acceptable patterns than much modern ammo, and as you are most probably using modern shells it may be time to think about altering the gun to fit your present and future requirements.

 

[Axel Larson]

To RC. should I see how some number 4 shot patterns out of it or do you think that 6 or even 7 would be fine for turkey? Just wondering since out of the 3 inch copper plated number 6 shot, I don't know much about turkey loads and the formerly mentioned is what was suggested to me.

 

[1KPerDay]

Get the turkey close enough for a head/neck shot and it won't know the difference between 6 and 8 shot. 6 should be fine... full choke is fine, medium choke is fine.

I agree with Mr. Fuller's suggestions; have someone open up the choke to IC or Mod.

Or let the pheasants get out there a ways before you shoot them. They're not that difficult to hit.

 

[rcmodel]

I would recommend 2 3/4" #5 or #6.

Your old Model 12 isn't chambered for 3" shells unless it says so on the barrel.

Here is a link to a turkey patterning target you can use to test loads.
http://targets.s3.amazonaws.com/PDF/TurkeyTarget.pdf

rc

 

[Sheepdog1968]

For the amount of money you will end up spending to modify this shotgun, you can probably buy another shotgun such as a Mossberg 500.

 

[Axel Larson]

no it is not chambered for 3 inch shells. okay cool number 5 it is have to pattern it before May turkey season.

to the last poster I realize it would be cheaper to just buy a new gun than modify but the model 12 is SO much nicer handling than any 870 or 500.

 

[btg3]

...a modern advertising thing to sell you stuff they didn't need for the first 200 years or so...

So true of so much. Indeed, the shooting sports are an excellent example. In our affluent society, the science of marketing has become highly effective in transferring surplus dollars from consumers to providers of goods and services.