doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Other Fine Firearms-- Model 12 Winnies??

They don't call 'em the Finest repeating shotgun ever made in USA for nothing-I own 7, all pre-1952, most pre-1940 and 80% are 12 gauges (including the 3" Magnums)--I grew up with them, as a MOS 2112 in the USMC, worked on many, plus the M25 and a few assorted M1897's--BUT- there is always something new to learn-- here's my experience, hope it might help someone--

My "oldest" is now a M12 12 gauge field grade 28" full sn 264437-- Nickel steel, but not a M 1912-- made aprox 1921--I bought it last Nov. from a "Mom and Pop" shop near to the farm where I deer hunt (and where I also bought the BSA .22LR Martini 12/15 heavy Target rifle)-- Lotsa wear, shortened butt (cured with a slip-over pad) but clean, swet shucking-- Shot it at our Club for some Winter Tower pheasants, killed many crows and barn pigeons too- BUT--

About 2 months ago, I noticed that the shell carrier was "sticking" when in the lowered position, when I went to reload the magazine- did a complete strip and clean (again- did that right after I bought it too) and ordered a new piano wire pivot spring from Brownell's- still had the occasional problem--

I "lived with it" by pushing the carrier with the tip of a knife blade- and it would feed and cycle the shells from the magazine A-OK- after I repositioned the carrier to the "Lock and Load" position--

The culprit- went to my Madis book page 173-- item 10- carrier does not rise- binding plunger- remover pivot machine screw NOTE- this is a LH thread- counter-rotational, like the threads on the shaft of a circular saw, etc)-- removed spring (again) and checker carrier and milled sides of trigger housing for burrs, crud- clean as a whistle- BUT- the head of the through pin- actually the hammer axle pin-- was protruding about 1/32" (eyeball guess) above the surface of the milled flat- I tapped it flush with a punch, and-- PROBLEM SOLVED--

Brilliant !! Just brilliant...

Doublegunshop.com is the perfect venue to jabber on about a made-by-the-zillions example of American pump gun shooting machinery!

What waz you all thinking? ... hand me the 'nother ah dem Millier Lite's befur I sober up!

Sorry Bob-- but Dave allows us to post on pumps here-- ask HoJo from TN--maybe not in the For Sale section, but none of my M12's (or other guns for that matter) are for sale, except the parts project Baker-- Winchester did Not turn out gazillions of the almost hand-fitted Model 12, and if my 1948 era old milled rib Pigeon Grade M12 Trap gun with factory select wood and std engraving is not a 'fine gun", then I'll resign my membership in the ATA- to each his own, my "Gunsmith Kinks- to borrow a phrase from Leonard Brownell was offered in the spirit of a shared experience--nothing more--

bumper jacks....nothing more nothing less

Very interesting RWTF. I have a mint Model 97 Win. I'll never give up. Go away Ed.

And I have a Model 1893 with the serial number 8 on it. Early pump guns are just part of the evolution of firearms and are interesting in their own right. It does have a habit of emptying the last round in the magazine when it recoils on firing. Any ideas on solving this problem? Lagopus.....

Opinions are one thing, facts are another. In their day, those hand fitted Models 12s dominated everything from Pacific and European battlefields to South Dakota cornfields to the Olympic trap fields like no other firearm before or since because they were the perfect combination of strength, reliability, balance and handling. Anyone need to see my sources and or web-sites to back up my facts? Or, if you think I'm wrong, please provide your facts.

No opinions need apply.

I didn't say they weren't effective bumper jacks...

Good point Joe!!

My only bumper jack is only big enough for a go-kart.