Model 12 Gurus needed (Success! and Pictures added)

[Duster340]

Hey Folks,

As some of you may know, my brother gave me an old model 12, 20 gauge for Christmas. Needless to say I'm happy as pigs in poop!

Got home today and field stripped the gun to give it a cleaning, and man was it dirty! Anyway, came apart w/o issue, cleaned everything up and proceeded to put everything together. Try as I may, I can not get the bolt retainer bar into the locked position, i.e. can't get the front most tab to slide into the locked position (see the picture). I'm guessing there's a trick to it and am hoping one of you fine members can pass along some pointers.



Thanks in advance!

 

[PowerG]

 

[Duster340]

Thanks PowerG, I watched it (along with several others) repeatedly, both before disassembly and again when reassembling it. It's an excellent clip, and I followed it step by step. But for some reason I just can't get the retainer bar to slipped to the locked position. Spent 2 hours messing around with it. Get everything in place, slide the carrier into position but that frigging bar just doesn't want to lock. Guessing something stupid I'm missing...Doh!

 

[Panzerschwein]

Finagle it a bit, rock it betwixt and forth. One of the reasons I ditched my M12 was due to the rather complicated disassembly process. I got an 870 instead and literally could not be any happier with it.

 

[Duster340]

Well, took another poke at it after work. Got her squared away, Used a tiny screwdriver to get behind the rear of the bar and it snapped right in place! Right tool for the job kind a thing apparently!

It was pretty dirty inside, but it cleaned up very nicely, no excessive wear, rust or corrosion. The barrel is bright without any pitting and the Poly-choke moves freely and clicks positively into each position. Stock shows wear and the checkering on the foregrip is worn but overall a very nice shooter grade little 20 ga. It was also cool to see and handle the milled receiver and internal components. Those folks really knew how to build them back then!. I'm really loving this little shotgun. Handles well, slick action and just plain neat! Can't wait to put it through it's paces.

 

[Milkmaster]

Is that a Polychoke or just some dort of generic "dial-a-duck" ?

 

[Duster340]

Is that a Polychoke or just some dort of generic "dial-a-duck" ?

Yep, sure is Milkmaster. While some folks frown at them, I've seen too many birds drop over the years to the ole Poly-choke to call it a gimmick.

Be well

 

[kudu]

Looks like it will prove to be a really nice gun, cleaned up good.

 

[Milkmaster]

I can't say anything bad about the polychoke system myself. I never saw one that didn't do what is was designed to do. The model 12 is a great shotgun. Mine is a 12 ga. Wish I had a 20 ga to go with it.

 

[Ole Joe Clark]

Beautiful gun, I have a 20 and 16 gauge. Wish I had a 12, but "if wishes were horses, beggars would ride".

Have a blessed day,

Leon

 

[sappyg]

That's a nice looking Winchester. I looked at a few model 12s at Cabellas today that weren't near the condition this one is. The prices made me wince just a bit too. You did good duster.

Looking forward to the range report.

 

[Duster340]

Beautiful gun, I have a 20 and 16 gauge. Wish I had a 12, but "if wishes were horses, beggars would ride".

Have a blessed day,

Leon

You got that right Leon!

 

[Crawdad1]

You just like it cause you can carry it around in a takedown case and make everyone think you're a government assassin.