Winchester Model 12 Skeet ammo question

[sigarms228]

I have a Winchester Model 12 Skeet 28 guage and have a question about ammo. I got this about 15 years ago from my Uncle Tom who inherited it from his brother. I think this Model 12 was made in the mid to late 1940s or maybe early 1950s.

Anyhow going to an outdoor range soon for the first time in several years and was wondering if Federal game load modern lead 7 1/2 shot ammo would be fine to shoot in it. BTW 28 guage ammo is almost double the price of 12 guage, at least this was at Walmart for $18, supply and demand I guess.

Some pics of ammo and shotgun. Thanks for any help!

 

[jar]

Pretty 12. Here's my 20 gauge Model 12 over a mover 20 gauge SXP.



My 12 is a little older than yours, made in 1926. The 7½ Federal should be fine.

 

[kudu]

Congrats on a fine shotgun, probably worth about $6000+. Take good care of it, kinda rare.
The 7-1/2's are fine, 8's or 9's would be better for skeet. I saw some AA 28 gauge at Walmart about a month ago for $17 a box. Considering the 12 gauge ammo is running about $14 for AA's not too horrible.

 

[cfullgraf]

Legal 28 gauge loads for registered targets for skeet are 3/4 ounce of shot. Just an FYI.

When I was shooting competitive skeet in the 1990's, my 28 gauge averages were not far behind my 20 gauge averages. You just need to be a bit more precise with the smaller gauge. My first class win at a skeet tournament was in 28 gauge. (Does it sound like I like 28 gauge?)

For fun rounds, about anything goes within the limits of the range your are shooting at.. The 1 ounce 28 gauge Federal loads will be fine in your Model 12. The extra pellet count of a one ounce load of #7-1/2 shot will probably make more impressive breaks of the targets than 3/4 ounce with #8 or #9 shot.

I have a late 1940's Model 12 in 20 gauge that was my mother's shotgun. I shoot 7/8 oz loads in it all the time without issue. It has a much nicer action than my current production Mossberg 500 (.410) and Remington 870 (12 ga).

In the 1930's into the 1950's, pump guns were the gun of choice for skeet competition. This eventually moved to over/unders and semi-auto guns.

As kudu said, take care of your 28 ga skeet grade Winchester Model 12.

 

[Bill M.]

3/4 oz for competition skeet. A very few ranges limit shot size to 9. Those 1 oz shells will kick. Those 1 oz shells would be great for hunting. 28 gauge have always been double other gauges in price. You will probably have to shoot what you can find right now.

Wonderful gun.

 

[sigarms228]

Congrats on a fine shotgun, probably worth about $6000+. Take good care of it, kinda rare.
The 7-1/2's are fine, 8's or 9's would be better for skeet. I saw some AA 28 gauge at Walmart about a month ago for $17 a box. Considering the 12 gauge ammo is running about $14 for AA's not too horrible.

Thanks, I had so idea it might be that valuable, to the right buyer of course. Anyhow not planning on putting it up for sale. I am 70 now and assuming I go first it will be up to the wife if she wants to negotiate with the son over it but my plan is to hand it down to him if he wants it to keep, appreciate, and shoot itas he is also a firearm enthusiast.

As far as the ammo it was all the 28 GA one of the local Walmarts had with the other two being out.

 

[sigarms228]

Legal 28 gauge loads for registered targets for skeet are 3/4 ounce of shot. Just an FYI.

When I was shooting competitive skeet in the 1990's, my 28 gauge averages were not far behind my 20 gauge averages. You just need to be a bit more precise with the smaller gauge. My first class win at a skeet tournament was in 28 gauge. (Does it sound like I like 28 gauge?)

For fun rounds, about anything goes within the limits of the range your are shooting at.. The 1 ounce 28 gauge Federal loads will be fine in your Model 12. The extra pellet count of a one ounce load of #7-1/2 shot will probably make more impressive breaks of the targets than 3/4 ounce with #8 or #9 shot.

I have a late 1940's Model 12 in 20 gauge that was my mother's shotgun. I shoot 7/8 oz loads in it all the time without issue. It has a much nicer action than my current production Mossberg 500 (.410) and Remington 870 (12 ga).

In the 1930's into the 1950's, pump guns were the gun of choice for skeet competition. This eventually moved to over/unders and semi-auto guns.

As kudu said, take care of your 28 ga skeet grade Winchester Model 12.

Thanks for the info! Just to clarify, I am not going skeet shooting. The title of my post was related to the Winchester shotgun model name. My son and I are heading to outdoor range that is a bit of a drive as there are no local ones. Bringing some shotguns, rifles, and pistols. They have clay throwers for those that want to shoot clay pigeons. Last time I did that was many years ago in my Uncle's rural back yard.

I hope we don't get pulled over and the car searched for any reason. My son and I both have valid FOID and CCW licenses for Illinois, but some would consider what we bring to the outdoor range to be an "arsenal". I am sure many here can relate to that.

 

[sigarms228]

3/4 oz for competition skeet. A very few ranges limit shot size to 9. Those 1 oz shells will kick. Those 1 oz shells would be great for hunting. 28 gauge have always been double other gauges in price. You will probably have to shoot what you can find right now.

Wonderful gun.

Thanks! As I posted above not going to do actual skeet shooting. Not a lot of 28 GA ammo available locally, Would have preferred a little bit lighter load but we will manage with this, It will interesting to compare shooting experiences between my Winchester Model 12 and my Browning Light 12 Auto 5 as we will be shooting "like loads" in both as far as shot weight and velocity.

 

[Remington1911]

I think you will be OK, with those cartridges, however you might want to check with the club to make sure. Ours has a limit of 7 1/2. as it is an old holdout and has houses not that far away. They don't want anything even having the slightest chance of leaving the range....so small shot only.....or I guess you could say big numbered shot. Always thought that was backwards, you would think the bigger the number the bigger the shot. 00 should be smaller and something like 7 1/2 should be larger.....bigger number bigger shot, but just the reverse. I guess bigger number the bigger number of pellets inside.....no idea how the numbering system came to be.