Model 12 winchester 16 ga.

[Mills]

That is a good idea. My wife bought me a Parker Trojan 20 for a wedding present and there was a 16 gauge Trojan available at the same time from the same seller who we sort of knew. I am certainly not complaining and feel very fortunate to have the one . . . but it would have been nice to somehow have bought the other one. The good news is I discovered a friend bought the 16 gauge and have right of first refusal. It is always the ones you don't get that you regret

[Stepmac]

Originally Posted by Mills Morrison

That is a good idea. My wife bought me a Parker Trojan 20 for a wedding present and there was a 16 gauge Trojan available at the same time from the same seller who we sort of knew. I am certainly not complaining and feel very fortunate to have the one . . . but it would have been nice to somehow have bought the other one. The good news is I discovered a friend bought the 16 gauge and have right of first refusal. It is always the ones you don't get that you regret

And you know what? That pain of regret lingers. Years after you pass one up you will be at a gunshow and see one like it for three times as much and you will say to yourself, "Damn I had one like that in my hands ten years ago and passed it up!" I will hurt. The hurt that keeps on giving...or am I being crazy?

[Mills]

You are right about that

[Big Friend Ten (BFT)]

Dave M. schooled me on buying Parkers...

"You never pay too much for a Parker, you only buy it (at that price) a little too soon." So far he was correct in this logic.

[Setter Man]

My bags are packed for the weekend and I'm taking two guns: 16 ga VH and a 16 ga M12. 16 ga M12's are classic guns by any standard and I am looking forward to shucking more than a few shells.

[Stepmac]

Originally Posted by Jay Gardner

My bags are packed for the weekend and I'm taking two guns: 16 ga VH and a 16 ga M12. 16 ga M12's are classic guns by any standard and I am looking forward to shucking more than a few shells.

Have a great hunt! It is hard to find a place to hunt upland birds here, most of the stuff I shoot explode in the air.

Here is my very plain jane Model 12, 16 gauge gun. She's a 1937 issue and has seen hard use. Another pawn shop find and she cost just over $200 and that is about what she is worth, but she works just fine and I don't have to fret about getting scratches on her.

[Mills]

Nice one. A dead ringer for my 16 gauge Model 12, except mine is more worn

[Stepmac]

When I get a new/old gun such as this Model 12 I taken them down and clean and oil the guts. Model 12s don't come apart or go back together easily, but this one was a real mess inside and I'm glad I took the effort to give her a good bath. They are made like a swiss watch and unlock thru recoil just before you pump. Lots of machining and interesting to work on. The Winchester Model 12 shotgun really is "a piece of work".

[Stepmac]

Someone installed a new magazine in my 16 gauge model 12. When they put the gun back together they installed the wrong follower, which meant it was impossible to load the magazine. I looked up what one of those replacement magazines cost and it was $200! It has kind of a flat black frosted blue/black finish and doesn't fit all that well, which makes the gun a hassle to take down. So I had some gunsmithing expenses.

The 16 is much lighter than the 12 and a bit smaller. It feels more like a 20 than a 12 and since I shoot 1 oz loads at skeet/clays/trap when using a 12, and the same in the 16, it is very nice. Shoots like a 12 and feels like a 20.

I hope the 16 doesn't die.

[Stepmac]

For the interest of the board here are some comparisons between a 12 and 16 gauge Model 12. Neither deserve to be in the "fine doubles" section, but since we are talking Model 12s here goes.

The 16 is a 1937 gun and the 12 a Nickle Steel 1923 gun. It is easy to see how much smaller the 16 is and it feels about two pounds lighter.