Heavy Duck gun on a clays course

[Mills]

The one I was looking at got away. Will keep looking . . . I had pledged not to get any more guns this year, but that resolution is broken

[Steve Hodges]

Mills, buy one and you will not regret it. i bought one last summer off the forum and had a lot of fun duck hunting with it this fall. I also shot a few clays with it and you would be amazed at how far out you can cursh one

[Joe D.]

With all of this talk of opening chokes on HD guns I got out my 1940 30" solid rib gun this morning and measured it. Bore is .730. Choke starts 3" from muzzle and ends with a 3/4" long parallel .693 at the muzzle (.037 constriction). Is that about correct for that era Heavy Duck?
Thanks, Joe

[Double Lab]

Mine is not a heavy duck Joe but my dimensions are exactly like yours.

[StubTwist]

Joe,

I have a pre-war M12 HD 32" solid rib. Weighs 8.92 lbs.

.728 bore; .695 at the muzzle .033 choke

[Joe D.]

Thanks, everybody, for the replies. It is interesting that there is some variance in constriction but a few of ours are quite similar. Frank, that is one beautiful shotgun. I just love the way the early models were configured and finished. I got mine with spring gobbler and Super X lead #4s in mind. Have to get to a pattern board soon.... Joe

[Steve Hodges]

Here is mine.

[Cold Spring]

Originally Posted by Joe Dreisch

With all of this talk of opening chokes on HD guns I got out my 1940 30" solid rib gun this morning and measured it. Bore is .730. Choke starts 3" from muzzle and ends with a 3/4" long parallel .693 at the muzzle (.037 constriction). Is that about correct for that era Heavy Duck?
Thanks, Joe

Joe, those parameters are typical for Model 12 Heavy Duck guns. Winchester put a lot of research effort into boring and chokes and was cautious (as compared with at least two other makers) in advertising 70 to 75% patterns for the Heavy Duck. That was with the 12 ga/3-inch 1-5/8 ounce load that essentially duplicated the heavy progressive 1-5/8 ounce loading in the "Short Ten".