109 Years of Winchester Pump Shotguns in 3 basic examples

[Dontkillbill]

I present to you the fun you could have from 1897 to 2006 with a Winchester.

I love these three shotguns and I need to get out and shoot them a bit more. In Vietnam I believe a few 97 were still in use likely guarding things with some 12's and a small amount of 1200's after 64 so all three fought together albeit not shoulder to shoulder but they were there.

Check out my video if you a few minutes to spare.

https://youtu.be/BdRBtDeUlOw



[video]https://youtu.be/BdRBtDeUlOw[/video]

Snapshot 1 (15-06-2015 10-26 PM) by Don'tkillbill,

 

[Virginian]

Not sure I would mention the 1200 in the same breath as the other two.

 

[Dontkillbill]

Yeah 1964 was a bad year for gun owners well Winchester owners. LThe 1200 was ugly, mass produced but it worked and it was cheap. Some say it was greed and but I counter it was the democracy of the dollar bill. More people voted for the 870 than the 12 with their cheque books. Too bad but you see it today in the 870 expresses a shadow of ones built decades ago because they move them off the line and hope problems are settled by warrenties. We got ourselves to blame. The 1300 is a nice looking gun and it runs nicely but its no 12 in that I agree.

 

[dak0ta]

The 1200/1300 have those plastic pieces that attach the mag tube that can break.

 

[Dontkillbill]

They can but I've seen 1200 and 2200 (Canadian discount version) hold up to thousands and thousands of shells at the skeet club so I think these hold up well.

 

[Dontkillbill]

oops duplicate post edit. Sorry my bad

 

[gpb]

I always found it ironic that while Winchester was producing the iconic Model 1912 pump shotgun, they were also producing the strange Model 1911 SL (Self Loading) shotgun. The 1912 is widely acclaimed as one of the best pump shotguns of all times and the 1911 is often described as one of the more bizarre designed semi-automatic shotguns of all times and often cursed as the “widow maker”.

Same company, two shotgun designs, same time frame, one praised, one cursed.

 

[eastbank]

my favorite run and gun turkey shotgun is a older 1300 12ga mag, tho i have not fired 1000,s of shells threw it, i have fired 100,s of 3" mag turkey loads with out any problems at all and it sure is a super turkey gun with a .640 choke and the new long beard win shells. eastbank.

 

[Panzerschwein]

I have a 1950s dated Winchester Model 12 that someone professionally cut down to have a 20" bbl effectively making a riot gun. Very awesome and solid pump shotgun, great for jungle combat or blowing up sodee cans.

 

[Ironicaintit]

I love my 1300, but if the model 12 were made again, id buy one. The one i have is from 1942, and i gotta say that IMO, it really is the "perfect repeater".

 

[eastbank]

they will never be made again,win tried with the Y series in the mid 60,s and also they were made in japan for browning. your best bet if you want one is to buy a good used one, a standard 12ga field model 12 goes from 350-600 depending on condition around here. eastbank.

 

[loose noose]

I've got a model 12 from 1931, and model 97 from 1909 I believe, both were basket cases until I gave them a lot of TLC, and I wouldn't trade them for all the money in the world. Both are great shooters, with smooth as silk actions.

 

[3212]

When I was discharged from the Navy in August 1964 I bought a 1956 Model 12 at my local gunshop.It was a 12 guage 26 inch modified choke.I believe I paid $85 for it.I bought a duck stamp along with my hunting license.I patroled local creeks and jump shot several mallards.I used that gun to take squirrel,rabbit,woodcock,pheasant,grouse,doves, ducks,geese,and turkeys.It was not the ideal for some of them but it fit me so well.It has been a safe queen for 20 years.

 

[bannockburn]

Still kick myself for not picking up a well used Model 12 years ago. Even though the bluing had worn off most of the gun it it still ran fine mechanicaly and was priced really low. The only thing that kept me from buying it was that it was a 16 gauge and shells were hard to find even back then.

 

[kBob]

So when JM Browning offered his A5 to Winchester they announced no one would be interested in a semi auto shotgun. Also JMB had in the past always sold his designs to Winchester for a flat fee and a set number of production guns. He finally figured out he could make more with a smaller up front fee and a per gun cut of the action. Winchester was not interested.

FN was.

Remington was.

The guns sold very well.

Winchester noted that the main patented bit was the cocking handle. Without consideration to JMB they basically built an A5 without a cocking handle taking advantage of the long recoil action system the A5 used to allow that weird barrel cocking.

Other than the trifling fact that using the Winchester encouraged one to blow out his heart or off his head it was about the same gun as the FN Browning A5, Remington, and later savage models of the design.

The gun was intended to be cocked by bracing the butt against one's thigh allowing the muzzle to be pointed in a safe direction......you know like folks always open the action and empty a shotgun and lay it flat on the far side of a fence before crossing and just like folks NEVER pull a gun from a vehicle towards them by the muzzle...

Seemed like a good idea at the time.......

-kBob

 

[Virginian]

And as a result of not making that deal with Browning Winchester has NEVER had a real winner of a semi auto in all the years since. Jury is still out on the SX3, but it might do it.

 

[Ironicaintit]

Still kick myself for not picking up a well used Model 12 years ago. Even though the bluing had worn off most of the gun it it still ran fine mechanicaly and was priced really low. The only thing that kept me from buying it was that it was a 16 gauge and shells were hard to find even back then.

Mine's a 16. One of the reasons i dont shoot it a whole lot. I still have quite a bit of ammo, but my newest lots are waxed paper!
I do love the way it handles and shoots.

Edit: im lying i think i do have some plastic hulled rounds.

 

[Dontkillbill]

I have a 1950s dated Winchester Model 12 that someone professionally cut down to have a 20" bbl effectively making a riot gun. Very awesome and solid pump shotgun, great for jungle combat or blowing up sodee cans.

That is my 12 exactly. We call them pop cans north of the 49th but they are still fun to flatten with a 12 gauge.

 

[RonSC]

Great Video, my friend.
I too have had a love affair with the Win M12 since 1963 when my
Browning A5 Light-Twenty needed repair during dove season and the gunshop owner offered me a circa '49 M12 20 ga. as a loner.
I really gave that shotgun a workout and got to use it into quail season as well. When he notified me that my own was ready I pleaded with him to keep the Winchester till the end of bird season. That shotgun fit me to a tea, and I shot it better than any ever used. I hated the thought of returning it and vowed that I'd own one eventually. Fast forward 24 years later to a Texas pawnshop where I bought 12 ga. that I still own today. Just a fantastic shotgun that despite the fact that virtually no blueing remains the action still runs silky-smooth and locks up like a safe! Still my favorite shotgun....