No love for the 12ga
 

I routinely see nice 12ga PR's available, at good price-points no less.

For example: http://www.gunsinternational.com/gun...n_id=100908351

and: http://www.gunsinternational.com/gun...n_id=100888022

What gives? Has the 12ga always taken a back seat to the small bores? It doesn't seem that way considering the vast number of 12ga's available from years gone by. Conventional wisdom would say that the lower price point for 12 bores of the past would have much to do with the abundance of them as compared to sub-gauges.

12 ga Parker Reproduction figures show a different story altogether :confused:

*I've been a 20ga guy since I first began shooting as a teen.

I am a big fan of the 12 gauge.

In my opionion, $4,200 and $4,100 are not really good price points for a 12g. Closer to $3k is.

I agree with Brian. I paid much more for my 12 gauge from Scot, but it was a scarce variation that I had searched for, long and hard.

I also agree with Brian.

If a 12ga PR is listed under $3,300 it will move quite quickly. A decent one under 3k and its gone in 5 minutes. Rare configurations, 3" chamber guns and DTs will bring a few hundred more and still move quickly. I have seen a couple straight stock DT 20ga guns move for higher prices pretty quickly..

A couple years ago there were quite a few listed in and around 3k and a hair higher, some here on the PGCA site, and you wouldn't have to jump on right on it to make the sale. So I would argue that prices have been moving upwards and I certaintly regret passing on a few 12ga PRs

I had been looking around for quite a while and recently purchased a 12ga PR for what I consider to be a good market price and I literally had to dive on the listing to make the sale the instant i saw it. At $3800-4500 you can literally have your pick of woods, configurations, etc........

Thanks guys - I think I underestimate the saturation of 12ga's in the market and the yawns that appears to inspire.

Looking strictly at it, for what it is (the gun itself) - I'd say it's not an awful time to be in the market for a 12ga PR.

The second link has a whole lot going for it as an upland gun IMO.

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Bill you have a wonderful 12ga and I'm glad you were able to cross one off the list.

Have a lot of love for my 12 ga! Enjoy shooting the 20 and 28 but I guess I'm really a 12 or 16 guy at heart. Bought it this January for just under 4K. 2 barrel set 26" Q1/Q2 and 28" IC/M 3" chamber. It is one of those guns that just fits me and is a joy to shoot.

That's a great choke / barrel combination Tim and it's not one that seems to show up very often.

I ended up with a 12 because of how good of a deal I got.. If not for that I would of probably bought a 20, but I'm more than happy with my 12. Hunted all of last season with it, ES/SF/28" M/F barrels with RST 7 1/2 Spreaders.. Carries light for a 12 IMO, but that's after years of carrying a 8+ LB Ruger Red Label.

I paid more than 6 thou for each of my 12 Gauge Repros ...

Both were N.I.C, one a SCC and the other a 2 barrel set.

And ... both with gorgeous wood.

IMHO, the selling prices of the everyday run-of-the-mill 12-ga. DHE Repros have been suppressed from the get go (c. late eighties/early nineties) when the retail list price was ~$3370. Compare that $3370 to the then market price of about $2000 for a 12-ga. Parker Bros. DHE in very nice condition, one could foresee the plight of the 12-ga. Repro. Couple this with the market trending toward longer barrels than what was available with the Repros, one can understand why 12-ga. Repros were going to be a tough sell then and continuing on through this day.

Having said the above, the Sporting Clays Classic and Steel Shot Special Parker Reproductions have been more immune to the price malady by getting a little more respect because of their rarity and the desirable features that they possess.

I have to admit that as a general rule, I've spent yrs dismissing 12ga's as I've walked up and down aisles at gun shows while scanning for 20/16/28

As most know, the shows have become 80% carnival and 20% enthusiast. I make my rounds quickly and don't stop unless something captures my attention or, to shoot the breeze with friendly fellows that seem to have similar interests or interesting collections. I seek out the items tucked underneath the table and try to avoid the shysters. Lever guns stop me, Winchester 63's stop me (still haven't found one), Colts stop me, double guns stop me and a particular fella and his gal with a table full of gun sights stops me. Books too. (Bill - I avoid the jewelry girl) I think I really need to make it to one of the sxs shoots some time.

I'm no fan of the 12 either but do shoot a couple on the clays course. With light loads 7/8oz of #8 they are comfortable even in a fairly light English hammer gun that I have.

This fall will be my first time hunting with a 12 in probably 40 years. I was smitten by an 6lb "Light Game Gun" from a British firm. I bought a case of RST 2 inch paper 3/4oz loads for grouse and woodcock. We will see how it shapes up but I'll still be using the small bores for most of my hunting.

The rarity of 12 gauge Repros, especially double trigger 28" guns, will insure their importance in future collector interest. Double trigger 28" open choke guns will be the cream of the crop. The best of the best were the BHE two barrel sets or 28" one barrel guns. How many were there?

The biggest reason I purchased the SSS was that I was told at the time it was the only way to get a 28" open choked 12 gauge-----soooo glad I did.
It is straight stock, splinter forend, and double triggers.

Terry, we know you had one of the only 30" Repro barrel sets in existence added to your SSS. What is that set choked and do you use them much?

WS: The 30" set are M/F. Have hardly ever used them, maybe 50 rounds. I did shoot a dozen or so pheasants in South Dakota a couple Decembers ago with them.

I do shoot skeet with the SSS often and have been meaning to try trap with the 30" tubes. I have never shot more than 2 or 3 rounds of trap in my lifetime but I keep walking past the trap line at the gun club and telling myself I should bring the 30's and give it a try.

How about posting some pics of your SSS set in the "Let's see some wood!" thread Terry? Please include pics of not only the wood, but also of the complete gun in its case -- which is as unique as the gun itself.

After much struggling with my IPAD, Mac Book Air, and resizing photos. Here is my first attempt at attaching photos.

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That's a 28/30" barrel set, with matching case!? ..that's got to be rare - good find Terry.

(btw - on Mac, just open any photo using Preview - through the tools dialogue, select Adjust Size.., it will show you the new file size as you make adjustments)