Winchester Model 12 Barrels

[MacAR]

So a few years ago, I bought an old mismatched Model 12 that had been chopped off. (Thread here: https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/mis-matched-model-12.900120/) Long story short, I didn't do anything with it after a local 'smith told me it was too thin to have threaded for chokes other than shorten it up to 22" and install a bead. It's been sitting by my bed loaded with buckshot ever since. As luck would have it, I found another barrel on GunBroker for a good price. It's a 28" polychoke barrel with the extension already on it.

My thought is I should be able to install my magazine tube, pump assembly and then fit the entire assembly to the receiver. I'm sure that I'll have to tighten up or even change my locking ring and I'll certainly have the headspace checked before I fire it, but is there anything I'm missing? I would think that if I could cycle a snap cap or fired hull through the gun without issues I should be good to go pending the headspace check. I realize that Model 12's aren't the easiest guns to work on, but there is a pretty good shotgun smith just down the road that could more than likely take care of most issues I'd have providing I can't fix them myself. If I'm missing something, please tell me. I'd rather not ruin a good old gun, even if it is a mix-master!

Mac

 

[MacAR]

Well, for those that are curious (not that anyone seems to be) I did a little test. I have 2 model 12s, in 12 gauge. I simply switched the barrels on them. So yes, they will interchange. However, I did have to make changes to the adjusting ring in order to make them fit together. I didn't fire either of them, but did cycle a snap cap through without binding up. I'm pretty sure that the barrel I've bought ought to fit, especially if I swap the adjusting rings.

Mac

 

[Thomasss]

Why don't you contact Briley and ask them for an opinion on tapping a barrel for choke tubes. I had no problem for them to do my Model 12 and it turned out extremely well done.

 

[MacAR]

I had that thought, but after pricing the choke job and chokes vs. the barrel and it's attached extension, I decided to go that route. I have an 1897 that's threaded for Win-chokes and wanted to do this M12 that way also but as I said the local shop told me the barrel was too thin and so I just let the project go for a while. When I saw this barrel come up for sale cheap, I decided to go for it. Worse case scenario, I have to send Simmons a box of parts and ask them to put a gun together from them. I'm fairly confident it won't come to that, though. Another thought was to send the short barrel to Mike Orlen and have him solder a fixed modified choke to it for the low price of $110 and shipping. But I ultimately decided against that too, since I wanted the option of different chokes. I should have the new barrel by the end of the week, and will know whether or not it'll work this weekend and will update this thread with the results.

Mac

 

[MacAR]

For those following along, the barrel arrived today! I assembled the mag tube and pump to it, and swapped my adjusting ring over to it and tried to put it together. Close, but no cigar! After a bit of considering I found that the barrel shank was just a touch too long. So, I took the two pieces to a friend of mine here in town who owns a parts store/ machine shop. He faced a few thousandths off the end of the shank, and after a bit of trial and error we have a good, tight fit! I've cycled it with some snap caps, but had to go back to work so will have to test fire tonight when I get home. I'm confident however that it'll work just fine since it cycled the dummy rounds so well. Will update this post with the test firing results later this evening.

Mac

 

[MacAR]

Just to add, the test firing went very well. I only fired 3 rounds, but they fed and fired correctly. The action is a bit stiff, but I figure a good cleaning will help that more than anything. I went ahead and cold blued the receiver to match the barrel, and wiped everything down. Didn't have time to clean the entire gun today, will save that for Sunday afternoon while its raining.

Mac

 

[MacAR]

Thought I'd update this thread with a "family photo" as it were, to showcase the finished product. I apologize for the poor quality; I'm a better shotgunner than a photographer!


From the top:
Model 1897, 12 gauge, built 1913. Cut to 24" and threaded for choke tubes.

Model 12, 12 gauge, built 1916/28 (subject of this post) with Poly Choke

Model 12, 12 gauge, built 1940. My "poor man's skeet gun." Lyman Cutts compensator and Lyman adjustable Choke.

Model 12, 16 gauge, built 1941. The one that started it all!

@Armored farmer , it's been a couple years since I started this project but I'd promised you photos of the finished product. Better late than never I suppose!

Mac

 

[Armored farmer]

I'd promised you photos of the finished product. Better late than never I suppose!

Better late than never, lol!
I have a long history with model 12s.
(And 97s)