Goin' Old School Model 12

[Spring Creek Calls]

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I've been thinking about this for years and finally made the decision and acted on it. I  have a 1938 vintage Model 12 Winchester with a 32" full choke barrel. I have owned this gun for 50 years, bought from my brother in 1970. This gun has killed a ton of game including my first several turkeys and deer but has been in the safe for at least 10 years, mainly because of the barrel length and HTL ammo. It is on it's way to Briley to shorten the barrel to 26" and install HTL friendly choke tubes. Some will question my sanity, but the only way this gun will come out of that safe is make it comfortable to hunt, both turkey and ducks. I started out my turkey hunting life with this gun and plan on finishing up with it, God willing. The flush choke tubes will be modified, light full and extra full. Praying for POA/POI to be good.

[Cowboy]

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Sounds great. Love those old school guns. Be sure to post updates when you get it back.

[LaLongbeard]

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Guns were made to be hunted. I don’t own any safe queens myself if I own it it gets used. My 870 Wingmaster is a 1950 model I bought from my uncle when I was about 11 years old. Been my Turkey gun all these years. The gun was over  40 years old when I bought it and has worked flawlessly every season. Never used Briley but I know Sumtoy can cut/thread a fixed choke barrel and it will be dead on poa/poi.

[Spring Creek Calls]

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Sounds great. Love those old school guns. Be sure to post updates when you get it back.

I will definitely post some pictures when it returns. Got lots of 2 3/4" turkey loads in both HTL and lead to pattern.

[Tom007]

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Love to see the pics

[Spring Creek Calls]

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Got my barrel back from Briley this afternoon and got the gun assembled. Taking 6" off the barrel sure made it easier to point and handle. The XFull choke tube has the same exit diameter as the gun had before barrel work. Now comes the work of seeing what patterns. These are what I have on hand, all 2-3/4".
Federal Heavyweight 7's
Winchester Rooster XR 6's
Federal Mag Shok 6's
Federal Heavyweight 6's

Pictures to follow.

[crow]

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should be a fun project

the fed HVWT 6's patterned better for me out of xfull chokes than they did in the tighter turkey chokes,
those 6's hit a turkey like a hammer and they have the juice to break a turkey down if you need a going away 2nd shot

[BrowningGuy88]

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I have a 1950’s M12 with a 30” full and man will it shoot, but like yours it never comes out of the safe. I have actually been contemplating sending it to SumToy and having William cut it to 24” and thread it. At least it would then see some use as a bird or small game gun.

It probably won’t see the turkey woods again with me unless I feel nostalgic one morning. I’m on the TSS wagon and shooting 20 and 28 now.

[DaMitch]

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I think is awesome that your taking a classic shotgun out for Turkeys once again.  Hope it patterns real well.

[Spring Creek Calls]

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Here's a couple pictures of the gun. Pattern pictures will have to wait a couple days. Today is the turkey opener and the shooting range is shut down.

Sent from my SM-N910P using Tapatalk

[Spring Creek Calls]

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I also wanted to mention that I had a long  conversation with Andrew at Apex about coming up with a 2-3/4" TSS #9 load that wasn't quite as "hot" as the 2oz load they now offer. He understands that there is a growing group of turkey hunters that want to use the vintage/classic guns but are somewhat afraid of the internal pressure these loads create. The load he mentioned he will test as soon as the busy season ends is 2-3/4", 1-5/8oz of #9 TSS running about 1100 fps, basically their 3" 20 gauge load. 590 pellets should get the job done at ethical ranges.

[BrowningGuy88]

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I shoot 1.75 ounce in my 12’s with T8.5’s and yes they’ll kill on handily.

I’d shoot two or three a year through a vintage gun. I wouldn’t feed it a steady diet but it would t hurt a couple times.

[bobk]

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Great gun. Enjoy it in the field.

[crow]

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If you reload, Hal has some very low pressure loads, I have shot them in some very old guns without issues

[Spring Creek Calls]

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If you reload, Hal has some very low pressure loads, I have shot them in some very old guns without issues

I don't reload but wish I did. I'd gladly trade turkey calls for a few low pressure TSS loads.