FWIW- Drewbie- I have been shooting steel shot in the 2 older M12's I have been shooting for over 40 years, to wit: (1) M12 12 gauge Tournament grade 30" solid rib barrel, full choke, WPS- mfg. 1937- (2) M12 Heavy Duck 12 3" Mag ( I usually shoot 2&3/4" Federal or Kent steel in this M12 heavy-weight-30" full solid rib mfg. 1949-- No signs of any bulging at the muzzles of either of these "Perfect Repeaters" plus thousands of light 1&1/8 oz. AA Trap loads in these M12's in the off seasons for crows, pigeons, etc. Given proper care, I seriously doubt you could ever "wear out" a M12-- The late Ernest Hemingway apparently thought otherwise, in his last years he sold his 1928 mfg. 30" full solid rib field grade M12--I'd love to have it just as it was when he decided to sell it- big mistake, IMO.. But at least he didn't kill himself with that shotgun, he used a 12 bore double gun..


"The field is the touchstone of the man"..