Heavy Duck gun on a clays course

[StubTwist]

Joe,

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

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

[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".

[Jeff Christie]

I ran steel BBs in mine as well as hevishot BB before I moved over to the dark side and opened it up a bit. It just produced unacceptable patterns except with 2s. I primarily hunt big heavy Canadas. Opening up works super for me. Might not for everyone. I think my choke measured .693 as well. It is a used but not abused 1953 gun. Now I try to use my EH most of the time. It is just too much fun to leave it at home.

[James L. Martin]

I have 3 model 12 full choke guns, a 30" trap & a 28" field both have .730 bore and .035 choke ,a 30" 3" duck's bore is .731& a choke of .031.

[StubTwist]

Joe,

Get yourself some 3" Winchester Longbeards XL for this spring. I did testing last year with these with the HD and the patterns are unbelievable.

https://youtu.be/hLwRYMV0K7E

[James L. Martin]

I have been using Winchester longbeard shells for the last 2 Turkey seasons, they pattern better than any load I have ever used. I took a Turkey each year with them.

[charlie cleveland]

i have a model 12 12 ga with 2 3/4inch chamber with a cutts choke on it really shoots good just don t like the looks of the cutts choke even though it does the job...charlie

[davidboyles]

I owned a solid rib 1955 HD all original I bought 7-8 years ago. Really powdered two big gobblers with it one time who both decided they need to commit to sacrificing themselves one after the other. Also banged a few ducks it was a great long range bomber but due to shoulder problems I readily delt it in a trade last year for a pristine DHE 20 ga original 3" 30" bbls 1925 gun that is a joy to look at and shoot. Was made for a guy that belonged to a San Antonio gun club started in 1910 Blue Wing Hunt Club and is still in existence!!!! Frank thanks for comments on Model 12's I love my other 3 -20, 16 12 skt and 410 all solid ribs.

[Researcher]

I would presume that the pre-WWII Model 12 Heavy Ducks through the early 1950s were bored for the 12-gauge 3-inch Magnum 1 5/8 ounce Super-X and Super-Speed loads that were brought out along with the Heavy Duck in 1935. I bought a very late Model 12 HD, in 1974, for duck hunting in Alaska, 1,9xx,xxx serial number range. The shells I had were Western compression formed Super-X, Mark 5, 1 5/8 ounce loads with #4 and #6 shot. I had plenty of time and shot five patterns with each shell and with the #6 my gun averaged 63% and with the #4 just shy of 70%. I've often wondered if these later Model 12 Heavy Ducks were bored for the 1 7/8 ounce 12-gauge 3-inch Magnums brought out in 1954? Since I came back to the lower 48 the next year the Model 12 HD has languished in the back corner of the safe and my old Super-Fox was usually gotten the nod when longer range work might be in order.

[Cold Spring]

I've been a sucker for good Model 12 HD guns ever since I hunted with my first one, many moons ago near Moosonee at the southern tip of Hudson Bay. Some good stories came out of that trip.

I probably have too many HDs right now but it's so hard to part with one, especially a solid ribber.

Dave commented on the 3-inch/1-7/8 ounce lead shot load. They work OK in HDs and I've shot a lot of them in years past but IME their recoil is a bit too much in these ~ 8-3/4 pound HD guns. They were designed for H.V. 1-5/8 ounce loads and nowadays that's the max lead or non-tox shot load I'll use in a HD for long range work.

Here's another M-12 Heavy Duck, a 30-inch solid rib, straight grip/wood upgrade with somewhat higher and longer stock dimensions than standard. 1947 gun with .729" bore and 34 points of choke. Too nice to hunt with? Naaaah.