I had two 16 gauges and one 20 gauge Model 12 and while slicker than butter on a hot July day the 16 gauges gave me some trouble. They seemed to dislike the newer 16 gauge shells and jammed in the port on occasion. I don't know if the port was originally cut for the older 18 gauge shells and those shells were shorter in overall length, but the 20 gauge was flawless.
I liked to freak younger shooters out at the gun club by bringing it in a take down case. They never saw a takedown pump before and always gathered around while I pulled her out and put her together saying I must be some sort of covert government assassin. They always wanted me to 'slam' fire her but I would always say that doing that was just way too hard on the gun. Another guy with a Model 12 would 'slam' fire his keeping up with or just plain beating a bunch of Jam-O-Matics.
I never could get use to where they put that safety so I sold them.
