Heavy Duck gun on a clays course

[OH Osthaus]

its not perfect

but after a long search and getting burned multiple times on "full choke" "unaltered" guns that have had the chokes reamed -or in one case the bore having been honed out 10 thousands -

finally an honest, even if well worn, HD 32" solid rib with .035 chokes, it tips the scales at 8lbs 12 oz

bluing is decent, although worn where you would expect - and for some reason the varnish is flaking off the comb- easy to touch up - the pad is surprising soft for its age

depending on which chart you use it was made at the end of 1938 or the beginning of 1939,

all in all- for what I paid, i am pretty happy with it - Like I said earlier - my first duck hunting mentor was a dedicated M12 guy - I'll hunt it occasionally and think of him each time -

[James L. Martin]

Very nice, I have a 30" plain barrel one but that's the one on my want list. Hard to beat model 12's.

[Steve Hodges]

Rick, congratulations, that is a keeper I love the solid rib. In fact, i have a solid rib gun coming next week, my 2nd HD.

[StubTwist]

Well done Rick! Solid rib 32" pre-war HD M12's are not easy to find.

I love mine. Enjoy!!

[StubTwist]

Originally Posted by Stephen Hodges

Rick, congratulations, that is a keeper I love the solid rib. In fact, i have a solid rib gun coming next week, my 2nd HD.

Now you have two? How did you get this addiction to pumps all of the sudden?? Model 12's, Remington Model 17's......

[Cold Spring]

Pre-spring fever, after some bad weather my gang got out yesterday to shoot sporting clays. I had the M-12 Heavy Duck, 32-inch solid rib gun that's shown in the first post. We had 6 in the squad, all competition clays guns except for the HD. She's not quite a sporting clays gun at about 8-3/4 pounds and with Full choke but she finished in second place, only 3 ex 100 birds behind the top shooter Allen with his Browning over/under. Here's a couple of pics while on the course. Lots of fun shooting these vintage pump guns! This one was made pre-war and she cranked out 100 shots without a hiccup. Actually one of our guys broke a hammer on his Beretta gas gun and had to put in his spare trigger group. No need to carry spare parts with the Winny M-12. Ha.

[Andrew G Thompson]

Originally Posted by Daryl Corona

Nice shooting Frank. I also dug my 1940 solid rib, 30" M12 out of the safe and took it out yesterday and shot a few geese with it. The guys I hunt with never know what gun I will show up with so it makes for some interesting conversation until the birds start moving. They all shoot camo auto's.
As a sidebar- I'm really impressed with the new Rio bismuth loads 1 1/8-4's. Last bird of our limit was an honest 50 yard, 1 shot kill. It's been a great season for geese with a few ducks thrown in.

Same thing in my blinds. they
call me smoke pole when I bring my doubles

[BS]

How rare is a 1954 Winchester model 12 Heavy Duck, 30", checkered stock and forearm, with a round post vent rib? I looked at one today and its in great original condition, except for a replacement pad. Please let me know your thoughts, Thanks

[OH Osthaus]

Originally Posted by Brett Souder

How rare is a 1954 Winchester model 12 Heavy Duck, 30", checkered stock and forearm, with a round post vent rib? I looked at one today and its in great original condition, except for a replacement pad. Please let me know your thoughts, Thanks

not a lot of vent ribs from the factory as i understand it

to tell if it is a factory vent rib- look for the proof marks on the top where the barrel and receiver join- if the rib is factory - there will be a proof mark on the left side of the barrel near the rib- it the barrel left the factory plain - the proof would have been on the center top of the barrel and would have been covered by the add on rib


i did see one on GB a while back - checkered wood and correct marks - they do exist

[BS]

Thanks for the reply Rick,
It does have the proof mark on the side and choke is still full according to a Brass drop in gauge. The rib is the Special Winchester vent rib with the donut post. Could you place a high low estimate based on the description i have provided with gun in 85%-90% condition.
Thanks, Brett