ACP230
Member
I took Dad's old full-choke Winchester Model 12 to the range the other day.
Before going I printed out seven turkey head targets and rounded up a couple different 12 gauge loads.
The Model 12 shot well at the range, beating another more modern shotgun easily again. I think I could kill a turkey with it at 50 yards, but plan on calling one closer, of course.
The only problem I had was that the old 12 was stiff. Dad bought it in the 1930s so it's older than I am. And I groan and complain most mornings as I stagger toward the tea cup and the aspirin bottle. I've been storing it for him, and neither of us has paid it a lot of attention lately.
I haven't hunted turkeys for several years, and don't use Dad's Model 12 for grouse or rabbits. (I have an Italian over and under 20 for that.)
Today I sat down with the Model 12, a bottle of Break Free and some swabs. After spreading some Break Free around, I worked the action 15 or 20 times. It still isn't as slick as when it was new, but it is much better.
The old 12 took geese and ducks for Dad when he was a young man. It got me interested in shotguns when I watched Dad shoot fruit bats (flying foxes) on an island off of New Guinea when I was five.
It's ready for turkeys now, and I'm glad I'm getting to use it again.
The turkeys may not cooperate, but it will be fun to hunt with the Model 12 anyway.
Before going I printed out seven turkey head targets and rounded up a couple different 12 gauge loads.
The Model 12 shot well at the range, beating another more modern shotgun easily again. I think I could kill a turkey with it at 50 yards, but plan on calling one closer, of course.
The only problem I had was that the old 12 was stiff. Dad bought it in the 1930s so it's older than I am. And I groan and complain most mornings as I stagger toward the tea cup and the aspirin bottle. I've been storing it for him, and neither of us has paid it a lot of attention lately.
I haven't hunted turkeys for several years, and don't use Dad's Model 12 for grouse or rabbits. (I have an Italian over and under 20 for that.)
Today I sat down with the Model 12, a bottle of Break Free and some swabs. After spreading some Break Free around, I worked the action 15 or 20 times. It still isn't as slick as when it was new, but it is much better.
The old 12 took geese and ducks for Dad when he was a young man. It got me interested in shotguns when I watched Dad shoot fruit bats (flying foxes) on an island off of New Guinea when I was five.
It's ready for turkeys now, and I'm glad I'm getting to use it again.
The turkeys may not cooperate, but it will be fun to hunt with the Model 12 anyway.