Always check the chambers on a new shotgun

ChiliDawg

ChiliDawg

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A buddy bought a Winchester model 12 and brought it to shoot tonight. I had just made a simple gauge to check shotgun chambers so I tried it on his gun. It turned out to have 2 1/2 inch chambers. Lucky for him I checked it.
 
That model 12 may be very valuable to collectors as the model 12 was originally produced with a 2 9/16 chamber and quite safe to fire 2 3/4 shells........or you need to re-evaluate the gun and/or chamber guage you made.
 
planemaker said:
That model 12 may be very valuable to collectors as the model 12 was originally produced with a 2 9/16 chamber and quite safe to fire 2 3/4 shells........or you need to re-evaluate the gun and/or chamber guage you made.
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Agree. Have seen many fire 2 3/4" out of the 2 9/16 chamber with no problems.
Not that it was safe but we had a guy in our group that shot 3" 410 out his SXS for years and one day complained about the junk shells being made that would not allow him to reload since the crimps were being blown off. We checked the gun and it was for 2 1/2" only.

Yep the ones I was referring to were 16ga should have noted that.
 
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Yep, it should be a longer chamber than 2 1/2". Yes, there are a number of people shooting 2 3/4" out of a 2 9/16" chamber. There is a study somewhere on the net that looked into this. The study found that there was ample room for the shell to open and pressures were raised very little.
 
Model 12 notes: early 16 gauge guns had 2 9/16" chambers. Early 20 gauge models had 2 1/2" chamber . 12 gauge models always had 2 3/4" chambers (except duck guns) Remember if you measure the chamber with the gun taken down you are omitting to measure the chamber ring. This will cause inaccurate measurements.

Darryl
 
Thanks Darryl,

If enough people post the whole picture comes to light eventually !
I stand corrected, thanks !

Hmmm, a quick Wiki check states early 12 gauges produced w/ 2 5/8 chambers ????
 
Or book authored by Dennis Adler regarding the history of Winchester shotguns.

Chambers for the Model 12 are as follows:
12 gauge, 2-3/4-inch shell regardless of date of mfg.
12 gauge Heavy Duck Gun, 3-inch shell. Barrel inscribed. 3" Super-X.
16 gauge, 2-9/16-inch shell. Chambering changed to 2-3/4 inch shell in 1927.
20 gauge, 2-1/2-inch shell. Chambering changed to 2-3/4 inch shell jin 1925.
28 gauge, 2-7/8 inch shell, with 2-1/2 inch available on special order.

Tim
 
planemaker said:
Or book authored by Dennis Adler regarding the history of Winchester shotguns.

Chambers for the Model 12 are as follows:
12 gauge, 2-3/4-inch shell regardless of date of mfg.
12 gauge Heavy Duck Gun, 3-inch shell. Barrel inscribed. 3" Super-X.
16 gauge, 2-9/16-inch shell. Chambering changed to 2-3/4 inch shell in 1927.
20 gauge, 2-1/2-inch shell. Chambering changed to 2-3/4 inch shell jin 1925.
28 gauge, 2-7/8 inch shell, with 2-1/2 inch available on special order.

Tim
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Interesting my model 12 28ga is stamped 2 3/4" but I have seen some with 2 7/8"

Some google data
MODEL 12 SLIDE ACTION
- 12 (introduced 1914), 16 (introduced 1914), 20 (initial ga., mfg. 1912, 2 1/2 in. chamber mfg. until 1927), or 28 (introduced 1937) ga., Barrels 25 (20 ga. only, mfg. 1912-14), 26, 28, 30, or 32 in. standard, nickel, or stainless steel (scarce) barrel with or without rib (matted, solid, or VR), 2 9/16 (early 16 or 20 ga., until 1927, at ser. no. 464,565), 2 3/4 (became standard 1927) or 3 in. chamber, 6 shot, blue metal, various chokes, hammerless, plain pistol grip or straight walnut stock and forearm, marked Model 1912 from 1912-1919, approx. ser. no. 172,000. 14 in. LOP was original standard, then changed to 14 1/2 in. circa 1930. Mfg. 1912-1976.
 
3macs1 said:
Interesting my model 12 28ga is stamped 2 3/4" but I have seen some with 2 7/8"

Some google data
MODEL 12 SLIDE ACTION
- 12 (introduced 1914), 16 (introduced 1914), 20 (initial ga., mfg. 1912, 2 1/2 in. chamber mfg. until 1927), or 28 (introduced 1937) ga., Barrels 25 (20 ga. only, mfg. 1912-14), 26, 28, 30, or 32 in. standard, nickel, or stainless steel (scarce) barrel with or without rib (matted, solid, or VR), 2 9/16 (early 16 or 20 ga., until 1927, at ser. no. 464,565), 2 3/4 (became standard 1927) or 3 in. chamber, 6 shot, blue metal, various chokes, hammerless, plain pistol grip or straight walnut stock and forearm, marked Model 1912 from 1912-1919, approx. ser. no. 172,000. 14 in. LOP was original standard, then changed to 14 1/2 in. circa 1930. Mfg. 1912-1976.
Click to expand...


3macs1 and planemaker,

Would you know how many 28 gauges were chambered for 2 7/8 versus 2 3/4?

I am a Model 12 fan too.
 
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