Mills- you will have a great time with your HDG. I wouldn't sweat the condition thing. The gun probably acquired the scars and mars while hunting. Use it and it will gain even more. One thing- don't hesitate to open up the choke a bit. Mine is about .707 and it patterns steel beautifully. Others more purists than I will differ but life is very short so enjoy it. And using a HDG is a lot of fun. Jeff

Welcome to the club

Not a heavy duck but Just curious how desirable is a model 12 16 gauge made 1955 Skeet gun marked WS1. Plain barrel. Very noce gun. Seems like it would make a great gun for quail.

Congrats Mills on your Heavy Duck; they are fantastic guns. As Jeff has written, life is short and to each his own on the chokes. JMO but the cost of hunting shells is relatively insignificant and hence I won't open a HD choke for steel shot ….. for me it's bismuth and better yet Kent TM for waterfowl, lead 4's (or 2's where legal) for turkeys and deuces for foxes.

Phil, the early 1950's SKEET guns were catalogued only with matted (solid rib) and with vent rib barrels. If your gun has a plain barrel with factory stamped WS-1 choke, it's likely a special ordered Field gun. Yup. would probably make a good quail or heavy cover woodcock and grouse gun depending on the barrel length.

Anyone interested in a good M12 solid rib Heavy Duck who will be at the Northeast SxS might refer to my Northeast Preview post in the Members' FS section. Reducing the collection.

I agree the cost of ammunition is always the cheapest part of any hunting equation. I just kill more geese with a little more open barrel and it does pattern a lot better.

Thanks guys. I will keep the choke as it is. I will get some photos this weekend, or at least try to. I also snagged a LC Smith Long Range and a Parker 12 on a 3 frame, so my waterfowl gun collection is doing well

mills i have a long range lc smith that has 30 inch modified steel barrels i have shot heavy steel duck loads in it for several years no harm to the barrels and will get them ducks..i too have a model 12 with the cutts choke its like new but i do not shoot it much but really like the looks of the model 12 but just aint a pump man....charlie

My first shotgun was an 870 20 gauge. Ever since really getting into doubles, I have not shot pumps much at all. Still, looking forward to shooting this one this weekend, assuming it does not rain all weekend

Decision. Decisions

Here's a first year nickel steel Model 1912 in 20 bore, 2 barrel set with a low 4 digit serial number. The early production barrels were made 25", this one with Mod choke. The second barrel has matching s/n and is 28" Full choke. Weights: 5^15 and 6^2 respectively. The finish is worn and bright but she's still tight as a tick and ready to hunt, 106 years and counting. You can see her at the Northeast SxS.