Model 12 issues?

iron cat

iron cat

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Well, I have replaced three model 12 firing pins in the last 20 years or so, just did another . Never ever had any other problems with them except the firing pins.
Anybody else have problems with them over the years? All the ones I replaced have been 12 gauge .
Cat
 
Did a firing pin on my 1935 solid rib 20 gauge a year ago. Broken one still fired reliably, but was broken in two and would protrude out of the bolt face firing hole when you tipped the gun down.

Just had my 1947 16 gauge start misfiring...light firing pin strikes with factory ammo. Figured it was another broken firing pin.....nope, took it all apart including removing the firing pin and found the firing pin and bolt were gummed up. Probably hadn't been taken down and cleaned in it's 75 year life. Had to steel wool the crud off the pin and use a bronze brush and bore cleaner to clean the inside of the bolt up. Works like a champ now. I think why it got gummy was my application of Breakfree CLP to the bolt and trigger group that softened the hard old dried oil a bit and "gummed up the works" done a week or two ahead of the misfires.

I did have to replace an ejector on a 1961 M12 WS1 skeet gun.

And a pump release lever on the 1947 16 gauge.

I find it is more economical to own a cheap "parts" gun to rob components from than buy individual parts from a supply house. Parts guns typically have a Poly (or Herter's) choke on them and a fair bit of blueing wear from being hunted.
 
I guess the first 3/16" or so of the pin normally breaks, but yup mine would fire even with the broken pins.i actually found our how to check them after reading it in a book!
This last one was on an old C.I.L. field testing gun, no idea the number of rounds through that rig!
It has a Cutts on it and a Simmons rib, but the receiver is not a trap or skeet receiver, there is no ramp on it for the rib. Serial numbers are non matching , of course.
My 3" Heavy Duck is in perfect shape however .

I read somewhere that there is an outfit making titanium pins for them.
I also discovered over the years I much prefer Wingmasters to the model 12's when it comes to tearing them down!:p
Cat[SUB][/SUB]
 
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Had a firing pin break on a 1932 12ga. many years ago and about a decade later it would not cycle a second round if held about 60 degree or higher angle above. After much figuring and fenagling a gunsmith friend figured out it needed a new lifter spring. The shell lifter wouldn't lift the next shell from the mag high enough to cycle into the chamber. Lord knows how many rounds that gun had seen at that point from the previous owners?
It started life as a plain barreled field gun with corn cob handle and at some point someone had a Simmons rib installed. Once I got hold of it from a buddy who gave me a couple sets of wood to go with it I put a real nice highly figured Monte Carlo trap stock and forend on it, had the com lowered and reshaped to to fit me, sent the barrels to Briley and had series 2 chokes installed. I shot that gun for trap, skeet and my primary duck gun for 19 years before selling it to a fellow CGN'r here about 13 years ago...they are good guns. My favorite pump guns of all.
 

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Guns get used, parts break. I've not noticed the Model 12 being more prone to breakage than other makes or models.

Action Spring Lock Springs I've replaced numerous times due to breakage. The Firing Pin Retractor needs attention sometimes. Adjusting Sleeve needs adjusting at times. Carrier Plunger needs some TLC occasionally. Weak spring issues. FP's as mentioned above. As with most firearms they just need service and maintenance.
 
Hmm I've noticed just the opposite ,my 12 trap is 1955 and has had more shells than I care to count down its pipe and have never exp. a failure in any of my others or previous ones including the 1913 20 g that is as far as I can determine is still original. Not saying things don't break but have had more problems with Berettas and Benelli's than any 12 I have owned. And I put single and o/u in that not just pumps and semi's .
VtowhM2l.jpg
check the wear under the loading port
 
reddog said:
Hmm I've noticed just the opposite ,my 12 trap is 1955 and has had more shells than I care to count down its pipe and have never exp. a failure in any of my others or previous ones including the 1913 20 g that is as far as I can determine is still original. Not saying things don't break but have had more problems with Berettas and Benelli's than any 12 I have owned. And I put single and o/u in that not just pumps and semi's .
VtowhM2l.jpg
check the wear under the loading port
Click to expand...

What is the butt stock you have on that M12, reddog, looks sort of like a skeletonized Hydracoil but I am sure it isn't.Yup, there is some wear on that for sure !
Cat
 
Just for yucks, I checked the serial number on my model 12's
My heavy duck was made in 1958
My "Franken12" has the vent rib barrel assembly from 1959 and the receiver from 1958.
My arts gun was made in 1928:cool:
I think I will resurrect the parts guns as the barrel and receiver are matching....
Cat
 
That's a precision fit stock that was at the time custom fit. They now have one from the Factory for model 12.I too restored a "parts" gun back to working shape and was very happy I did. Good Luck :)
 
I bought a Model 12 at an auction out of Ontario last year. 1927 production, never cleaned since birth. It arrived at the house non-functional. The action release wouldn't do the job.

I tore it down and gave the receiver a ride in the ultrasonic with some positively satanic carb cleaner. Got most of an ounce of carbony crap out of it. Reassembled her with a heart full of optimism. No joy, so off to the 'smith.

He did his magic, trimmed the barrel to 18 1/2", and now she's working reliably. I use her as a course gun for the CFSC. People like it. She's a classy old unit.

I dropped by WGP here in town for a firing pin, thinking I'd grind off the tip and have one in the gun to perform whatever necessary function a firing pin does for the operation of the gun while meeting the requirement for "no firing pins in course guns". I did exactly that, and fewer than ten cycles of ####-and-click later, had a broken firing pin drop out of the gun. For the record, she seems to cycle fine without it. I just feel stupid I spent $50 for something I almost immediately broke and never needed anyhow...
 
Heat a new firing pin with a propane torch slowly until it turns a purple colour and let it cool before installing. It should reduce breakage.
 
If it is just the firing pin tip that has broken off I always drilled a short hole and silver soldered a piece of pin stock in place. That repair seemed to last forever.
 
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