In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.
Winchester Model 12 chamber Question
TurnsignalJ
Member Posts: 106 ✭✭
I hear so many different stories about the chamber length of the Winchester Model 12, 12 guage. Some say the early Model 12's had a short chamber, not long enough for a 2 3/4" shell. Some say only the 20 guage shotguns had the short chamber. Does anyone really know? What is the true facts?
Comments
All Model 1912 (and later Model 12) 12 gauge guns were made with a minumum 2-3/4" inch chamber (the later production Duck Guns were made with a factory 3" chamber).
All Model 1912 16 gauge and 20 gauge guns were made with a "short" chamber. The 16 gauge was 2-9/16" and the 20 gauge was 2-1/2". In April of 1919, Winchester redesignated the Model "1912" the Model "12". Then in 1927, the chamber length for the 16 & 20 gauge were changed to the now common 2-3/4" length. Prior to changing the chamber length, Winchester did not mark (or stamp) the chamber length on the 16 & 20 gauge guns. When they made the change to the 2-3/4" length, it was stamped on the bottom of the receiver just below the serial number. Within a short period of time, the chamber length stamp was moved to the left rear side of the barrel.