Light Model 12's
 

I didn't want to hijack the last model 12 thread, but having read it I remembered that I have a model 12 Featherweight that I need a forend for. Does anyone know where I can get one? The featherweight forend is different than the regular model 12 and I tried Gunparts and they don't have them. When I got the gun, it was a 2 barrel set that someone had tried making into a trap gun. The forend was fattened considerably with green bondo and the butt stock had been squared off then had an extension of 2 pieces of 3/4" plywood followed by a Morgan adjustable pad.
Thanks,

Jack Kuzepski

Boy, Jack, someone went after your gun with a hack saw! Keep looking for your fore-end. I've seen complete sets of stocks for a model 12. Might try looking at the ads in "American Riflemen".

Thankfully the metal is really good. The butt stock will be OK when I put a recoil pad on. It's just the forend that has me stumped.

Jack

What some people will do to fine old guns...

At a gun show three years ago was an old high grade Model 12 two barrel set with loads of fine factory engraving and engraved wedges on the barrels. Someone had cut the best of the two barrels to about 19" and mounted some weird sights on it for deer hunting. It just destroyed the value of the gun.

Stupid is .....
 

Hi Dean, From 1971 to 1974 I was stationed at Ft. Wainwright at Fairbanks, Alaska. On a Saturday I think in 1972 or 3 a friend and I happened to go to the helicopter maintenace hangar for some forgotten reason. We walked into one of the shops and two sergeants were there getting ready to cut the barrel of a 20 gauge Model 12 with a hack saw. I asked to see the gun and it was handed to me. The gun was serial number 23. The barrel was probably 30 inches and the owner wanted it shorter for some reason. I did everything but get on my knees and beg him not to cut it. I offered to buy it but he wouldn't sell. We left the shop as he started to cut the barrel. I could not stay and watch. Tom

What Fools.

Those two stories are a crying shame. The first model 12's were 20 gauge guns. Number 23 in nice condition would have been a great gun to have and it should have been protected! What a shame.

Here is an array of Model 12s from 12 to 20 gauge. Just thought some of you might want to compare the different sizes.

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...A211/002-2.jpg

The 20 has this Power PAC. I have the three screw in chokes that they offered for this device. They are labeled, Close Range, Mid-Range and Long Range. It was a Packmeyer device offered to compete with the CUTTS Compensator and I guess they worked about the same.

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...A211/003-1.jpg

Can only imagine how loud that thing must be. Wouldn't want to be in the same trap squad with it.

Hope all moves through it true, looks scary to me !! wonder what a busted twig would do to shot path ?

I have only shot the model 12 20 gauge with this thing at hand thrown skeet. I did not notice the noise, but like you, I was concerned about it. For some reason the gun did not always unlock so that I could smoothly cycle that action. I had to shuck forward until it unlocked and then back.....not good.

The unlocking mechanise, if I understand it correctly, is assisted by recoil. This Power PAC must have restricted the recoil to the point that the gun did not unlock reliably....frankly for that reason I don't shoot it anymore, but the gun looks and feels neat.

I have considered removing the trigger group and lubricating it, which might fix the issue. The gun is in excellent condition, which makes me think the original owner (I bought it used.) had issues with it too and he didn't shoot it either.

Whether or not it works, the quality of the Power PAC is nice.

I shot a box through it and it worked fine, but I read somewhere they a plastic wad can get caught inside the basket behind the screw in choke tube. So, yeah, I'm leary too.

OTOH if I remove the device and attach a new bead I'll have a 23" barrel on my 20 and that's just too short for me.

I could shoot Polywad fabric wad shells, but those things cost twice as much as regular storebought shells. Or I could reload and roll my own which so far I have been hesitant to do.

I've got an early M12 in 20 gauge. It's a neat little gun with a 2 1/2" chamber. The original barrel is 25", so 23" wouldn't be too far off.

I am of two minds. One is to save the Power PAC since it is old and at some level, classic. The other is to remove it. Since I have an 870 Wingmaster 20 gauge that works like a charm, the conflict is nothing that I'm losing sleep over.

The Wingmaster is a great little shotgun! It has choke tubes...I bought it just this year, new. Something I rarely do.

Let's see; within the past two years I have bought a Parker GH, a Monkey Wards Stevens 520, a 20 gauge Wingmaster, a Remington Model 11, 16 ga, a Winchester model 12 in 12, and 16 gauge and a Model 37 in 16. I'm shooting a Parker SBC, GH and Remington Model 11 20 gauge weekly at trap/skeet.

I bought a flat of Fiocchi 1 1/8oz spreaders that I'd like to shoot in my GH at skeet, but they are not low psi shells, as far as I can tell, and I'm hesitant to shoot them through the damascus barrels. It is a F&F gun and heavy which makes me think it'd swing well and hit with spreaders. To date I have not shot any of those strange shells though. I may try them in my F&M Sterlingworth and/or Lefever; two re-done guns that look nearly new.

I have stopped shooting my Browning Gold Fusion at skeet or trap. It is a wonderful gun, but I find my swing tends to stop when I'm shooting a light gun.... yes, I need to shoot more.

Of course I should stick to one gun at skeet and one at trap, but darn it all, I love shooting different kinds of guns, the older the better. Nor am I seriously shooting for score, but I do hate missing and I work hard at trying to bust them all. I have yet to hit all 25.

The most difficult thing about shooting different guns is fit. The drop in old guns is often excessive which varies the "float" of the bird. Also my spot weld is different between guns which raises or lowers my line of sight. Some have cast and others do not. Since each gun shoots a little differently, it takes me a while to find the pattern. So, I miss some....is that excuse enough? LOL

I have to be honest here. While I enjoy the shooting, I look forward to the BSing with the other guys in the shooter's shack almost as much. Everyone is serious about shotgunning and it can get pretty deep in there. :rotf: