1929 Winchester model 12 [16 gauge] HELP

[rgoudy1975]

Hey all, I recently shot my late grandfather's 1929 Winchester model 12 and it worked beautifully, except that it failed to eject when I would cycle the pump. Granted that it sat it the milkhouse in the barn for 40 years and still shot period is a testament to its craftsmanship. I disassmbled it as far as I dared, being a novice to shotguns, and removed and cleaned the hammer/guts assembly as well as the breech bolt assembly. I have yet to fire it again, but have this feeling like it's gonna malfunction again. For the record, I was shooting 2 3/4 Winchester buckshot.

Do any of you long-timers have any experience with this or just have any suggestions period?

Thank you,
Roy

 

[TrapperReady]

Chances are good that you're using 2 3/4" (modern-sized) shells in a gun designed with 2 9/16" chambers. I use a similar (1926-vintage) Model 12 for grouse hunting. The best thing to do would be to lay in a supply of 2 1/2" 16ga shells. I got a couple cases from Westley Richards a few years ago. They're definitely a special-order item, as you won't find them at the local Wal-Mart (or even the local gun store... most likely), however the Internet makes them relatively easy to track down.

BTW, shooting the longer shells can create a dangerous overpressure situation, so I'd hold off until I got my hands on the proper ammo.

 

[gunut]

If your gun was made in 29 it should be 2 3/4in and marked as such on the barrel and by the serial numbers....when you cleaned your model 12 did you check the ejector, set in a machined recess in the left side of the receiver along side the bolt. These can weeken over time and not have enough strength to push out the fired shells....

 

[pauli]

just to make sure... the ammo wasn't stored with the shotgun for 40 years, was it?

 

[TrapperReady]

gunut - It looks like you are right about the 1929 models. I had thought the cut-off was 1930(ish), but a little more checking showed it to be 1927. If it is a 1929, it should have the 2 3/4" chambers.

 

[rgoudy1975]

WOW, thank you guys for your quick responses. Well, I know it is chambered for 2 3/4 and the ammo is new. Also, I did remove and clean the ejector, but I suppose there's no wayto tell if that's the problem until I fire it again.

Thanks again, I'm so glad I found this site !

 

[roo_ster]

I am not a pump-gun man...but I would make an exception for a Model 12, My dad has a 16ga & have never held a bird gun so nicely balanced and quick to mount.

 

[rick_reno]

In 1927 Winchester changed to 2 3/4 inch chambers. If your gun is a '29, the serial number should be between 556047 and 599030. I'm not too clear on what's happening with your ejection. Does the extractor grab the shell and hold it? Or does it stick in the chamber? The problems with your gun are one of these - worn, burred extractors; weak or broken extractor spring; weak or broken ejector or excessive headspace allowing base of shell to expand. It's likely the ejector - replace it and see what happens.

 

[rgoudy1975]

Hey all, thanks for your help. I cleaned the dickens out of the thing and went and shot it and had the same malfunction. I was shooting Winchesters in it and a buddy gave me some Remingtons. The Remingtons worked just fine. I compared 2 spent shells and the Winchester looked to be about a 1/1000 of an inch longer. Anyway, it's functioning. Thanks.

 

[gunut]

BTW....rgoudy...the era of 1927-1930 is one of the most collectable for the small gauge [20/16] model 12s...the guns still had the original nickel steel barrels but had just been upgraded from the shorter chambers to 2 3/4in chambers....so the way a collector looks at it is...before 27 the small gauge guns had short chambers and after 1930 they had proof steel barrels instead of the nickel steel..thats a short 4 period that they made model 12 20/16ga guns with both 2 3/4in markings and the nickel steel barrel markings ...from a performace standpoint 2 3/4in change was an important improvement... the nickel steel to proof steel made no real noticable difference in function/performance but to collectors the change was a milestone for model 12s....a couple years later [34/35] they went from the perch belly small grip stock to the fuller grip stock...

 

[rgoudy1975]

I am loving all of this information about the gun. My grandfather purchased it new in '29. He passed away in '84 and I inherited it sometime thereafter. My father, born in 1934, told me recently that he remembers being a small boy looking down the barrel after grandpa cleaned the model 12. He told me, 'that nickel steel was so bright it almost put my eye out.' Unfortunately, the gun was neglected and the bore is pitted now.

 

[gunut]

a lot of times the pitting looks bad but can be cleaned up with just 2 or 3 thousanths being honed out of the bore...If you decide to do this make sure you have a gunsmith that knows what he is doing....and has regularly worked on model 12s before