doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Winchester Model 12 question

Thanks for all of the replys. I think I have it figured out now. Heavy Duck is not marked on the gun itself. See also
http://www.winchestercollector.org/guns/model12.shtml

If the guns themselves weren't marked "Heavy Duck", possibly the term comes from advertising of the day or simply colloquial combining of the words "Duck" and "Heavy" on that label where the left side says "12 Gauge Duck Gun 32 Inch Full Choke" and the center of the label where it says "Model 12 Heavy ..."????

Exactly ! Much confussion but it is not a "Heavy Duck". Same as a pre 64 Pigeon gun that was sent back to the factory for engraveing . It may be thought of as a Super Pigeon but it is not .

This kaput outfit had a thing for ducks. I have also seen Jap-made 'Light Duck' gun. Now, what idot would want 20br duck gun? They should have called it 'Pheasant' gun.

There is no confussion! True, the guns weren't marked "Heavy Duck", but they were cataloged as such. In the 1960,1961,1962,& 1963 catalogs they are listed as "Magnum Duck Gun".
They looked like a field grade but they were set up different. The stock was shorter and had a factory Solid recoil pad(the late models had a vented recoil pad). They have a lead weight in the stock. They had plane or soild rib, 30 or 32 inch barrels. The barrel steel was thicker, and were marked with the "FOR SUPER X AND SUPER SPEED" 3" chamber. The Full choke was specially bored.

To add to Mr. Moody's point, Winchester recognized the Heavy Duck as being a distinct version of the Model 12 and it was marketed as such. It was authorized for production on 2/15/1935 and discontinued in 1963. To further illustrate the differences between the HD and a standard field grade, a 12-gauge field grade with 30" barrels is listed at 7lbs - 5ozs. The HD with 30" barrels is listed at 8lbs - 2 ozs. My uncle has a 32" HD that he used to carry all day for pheasants. He's a big guy. The 2004 Gun Digest has an article devoted to the Heavy Duck Model 12.

I've heard a number of people who concur that the 3" guns had an ejection problem, particularly when being shot at overhead birds. Anyone else heard this?

Tudurgs, yup. I had a HD that constantly dropped loaded shells from the port when held at a certain overhead angle. Also much problems with ejection which I learned (after selling the gun) could have been cured by installation of the proper ejector. Was told that a standard ejector would fit in the frame but the HD used a special one mfd for it alone. Regret selling that nice, original HD to this day. Chops