Pheasant hunting with a 16ga. M12

[Red Label]

I went pheasant hunting last weekend for the first time with a friend who has been bugging me to go for quite awhile. Not that I didn't want to, just finding the time to fit it in. I had a choice of guns, a 20ga. 870 that is my basic do it all gun. A 16ga M12, a 12ga M12 or my 12ga Red Label which is my target gun. My buddy wanted me to bring the RL, I think just because he likes to see it. I decided to bring my old 16ga. My goodness what a time I had and that gun performed like it was meant for the purpose. The 26" barrel was just right for some of the brush we were in and that thing just pointed like it had a laser beam in it. Brought down the pheasants too! I had never used this gun for hunting as it has the short 2 9/16 chamber and getting shells for it is not easy. I had a box of #6s though so I used it. What a lovely gun. I think I will stock up on shells and use this gun a little more often

 

[TrapperReady]

Model 12s and pheasants. It's all good!

Here's my 16ga (short chambers and all) Model 12 with a very nice ruffed grouse.

 

[Red Label]

Thats a lovely gun Trapper. It appears to be about the same age and condition as mine. Is that the early stock also? Kind of a semi-pistol grip?

 

[TrapperReady]

Red Label - It's a 1926 model. I found it for around $200 at a local store a few months back. It may have been reblued at some point, and there's a small chunk of wood missing from the toe of the stock, but mechanically it's in great shape. It came as a full-choke and I ended up cutting a couple inches off the barrel to get open up the patterns and make it handle a bit better in the grouse woods. It works extremely well for that, and I've gotten a couple pheasants with it as well this year.

Here's a picture of the whole gun.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Good thread, great guns.

Something of note that may not be very obvious. These two 16s are octogenarians at least. Still working and will do so for decades if cared for.

Good shotguns, those made here and elsewhere, have incredibly long working lives.

Enjoy your Model 12s and when the time comes, pass them on....

 

[Red Label]

No worries Dave about passing my guns on. I've got two kids who are both shooters and like to argue about who gets which guns! I say, hey I'm not dead yet. .
By the way my 16 was made in 1914. Another 10 years and it will reach 100. Amazing isn't it. It happened to be given to me by an older neighbor lady who said that it was her uncles gun

 

[Dave McCracken]

I've two kids also, and the important guns here(Practical 870s, 38 snubbies) are in pairs for that reason.

90 years old? Just getting broken in good....