Winchester Mannequin 12 Evaluation: Taking pictures Grandpa’s Outdated Shotgun

My grandfather’s Winchester Mannequin 12 is the one possession of his I’ve. It was handed all the way down to me after his firstborn son (my uncle) died a number of years in the past. Most hunters and shooters maintain on to weapons like these to be able to really feel a way of closeness to their family members. However I by no means knew my grandfather. He died when my father was only a boy. So, to me this Mannequin 12 represents a touch at who Obed Genzel might need been. On the very least I do know that he was the type of man who would stamp his identify on the underside of the fore-end.

However I’m removed from the one hunter who owns a hand-me-down Winchester Mannequin 12. Through the years, I’ve seen numerous used Mannequin 12s on gun retailer racks. Most are in a situation much like my grandfather’s gun, which is to say effectively used however nonetheless practical. The Winchester Mannequin 12 all the time was, and continues to be, a workhorse shotgun. I don’t doubt that Obed’s Mannequin 12 will sometime be handed down to a different Genzel and I’m assured it is going to maintain working simply as reliably for them.

Here’s a nearer have a look at why the Winchester Mannequin 12 was such a singular shotgun and why the platform has stood the check of time.

See It

• Gauge: 12 (examined), 16, 20, 28
• Motion: Pump
• Capability: 6+1
• Chamber: 2¾” (examined), 2 ½” (some 20 gauges), 3” (Heavy Duck)
• Barrel size: 26”, 28” (examined), 30”, 32”
• Choke: Mounted Full (examined), C, No. 1 skeet, No. 2 skeet, C, IC, M, IM
• Entrance sight: Crimson fiber-optic
• End: Blued metal, walnut
• Size: 48”
• Size of pull: 14½”
• Set off pull weight: 2.13 lbs. (measured over a 3 pull avgerage)
• Gun Weight: 7.5 lbs

Winchester Mannequin 12 Historical past 

Over 2 million Winchester Mannequin 12s had been offered from the gun’s debut in 1912 till it was discontinued in 1976. The primary Mannequin 12s had been 20 gauges, adopted by 12 and 16 gauges in 1914 and the 28-gauge in 1937. Winchester additionally made a Mannequin 42, which was a scaled-down .410 model of the Mannequin 12. 

T.C. Johnson designed the Mannequin 12, constructing off John Browning’s designs of the Mannequin 1893 and 1897. Essentially the most important distinction was Johnson’s Mannequin 12 had an inside hammer, so there was no must cock a hammer earlier than firing. As soon as a shotshell is chambered, it’s able to go. 

A number of variants of the Mannequin 12 had been engineered and produced, together with:

• Commonplace discipline 
• Match grade 
• Particular entice grade 
• Commonplace entice grade 
• M12 entice 
• Girls and junior entice (20-gauge) 
• Skeet 
• Heavy duck 
• Pigeon Grade 
• Tremendous Pigeon Grade 

Winchester additionally produced a featherweight mannequin from 1957 to 1962. A riot and trench gun had been made for the navy and police (extra on this later). Winchester manufactured few legit 28 gauges and as we speak they’re thought-about extra priceless than the opposite fashions. When you’re trying to find a 28-gauge Mannequin 12, it’s essential to know that there are some faux 28-gauge Mannequin 12s in circulation. You possibly can all the time search for the gun’s serial quantity to make certain it’s genuine. 

In 1928, some Mannequin 12s got here outfitted with a Cutts Compensator, initially used to mitigate recoil on navy weapons. It was additionally affixed to the legendary Tommy Gun. The Cutts Compensator turned widespread with clay shooters within the Nineteen Forties and ’50s as a result of it added a little bit of weight to the shotgun’s barrel for a smoother swing, dampened recoil, and put the deal with the goal (the dimensions of the Cutts saved shooters from aiming the gun). Some Mannequin 12s had been outfitted with a Polychoke, Cutts’ competitor. 

Manufacturing prices introduced concerning the demise of the Mannequin 12. Remington’s debut of the 870 in 1950, launched a cheaper pump shotgun that emulated the manufacturing high quality of the Mannequin 12. Then, in 1964, Winchester famously revised its firearms line for cheaper manufacturing. A number of customized Mannequin 12s had been constructed into the Eighties, and Miroku trickled out the Browning Mannequin 12, a reproduction of the Winchester platform, from 1993 to 2006. These variants are stamped “Made in Japan.”

Winchester Mannequin 12 Navy Historical past

The U.S. Navy ordered 777 Mannequin 12s for World Conflict I. Most of these firearms had been the riot variant of the gun, constructed with a shorter barrel. Mannequin 12s had been used broadly in WWII (round 60,000), and the pump shotgun noticed motion within the Korean and Vietnam Wars earlier than its retirement. Hollywood films present troopers utilizing the ditch gun Mannequin 12, which was suitable with a bayonet, to comb and clear enemy strongholds. It’s true Mannequin 12s had been used on this capability, however they had been extra generally carried by troopers on guard responsibility.

Working Winchester’s Mannequin 12

The Mannequin 12 is a smooth-running pump. The fore-end rides on a stable motion bar that received’t bend or twist. My grandfather’s gun typically has a little bit of bother biking shells when soiled, however a bit oil on the loading gate solves that downside. And since his Mannequin 12 has a 2 ¾” chamber, the journey of the fore-end is barely shorter, which helps with working the gun shortly. 

You possibly can load as much as six shotshells within the journal, however it’s essential to maintain the primary shell in place, or it is going to leap again into the loading gate. There’s a metal cross-bolt security on the entrance of the set off group, which, as a lefty, is extra favorable than a security on the rear of the set off. 

Merely push up on the loading gate to take away unfired shotshells from the journal tube.

Taking pictures Grandpa’s Gun

Obed was meticulous about caring for his Mannequin 12. His gun was manufactured in 1953 however has just a few scratches. Upon inspection of the chamber and barrel, I discovered them to be clear, with hardly any build-up from spent shotshells. It’s clear Obed shot the hell out of this gun on the entice vary, which was one among his few passions, together with looking and reloading ammunition. The end of the journal tube is worn from sliding the fore-end ahead and again to cycle the motion. There’s additionally a tiny gap within the journal tube, presumably from extreme use.

Some Mannequin 12s had Damascus barrels, however most—like my grandfather’s—have fluid metal barrels, which most gunsmiths I’ve talked to say have a thickness that’s protected to shoot smaller metal shot by. However to remain on the protected facet, I solely run lead and bismuth by the Mannequin 12. I patterned the gun with a 1⅛-ounce load of lead No. 6s and a 1¼-ounce providing of bismuth No. 4s. To examine the purpose of affect, I shot from 13 yards and located that the core sample of each hundreds constantly impacted 3 to 4 inches under my level of purpose. After taking pictures a number of rounds on paper at numerous distances, it was clear why so many hunters toted the fastened full choke variant of this gun into the turkey woods. It will be devastating on gobblers inside 25 yards with lead or bismuth. It additionally threw patterns that may fold geese and pheasants out to 40 yards.

T.C. Johnson constructed the Mannequin 12 in order that it could match most shooters. I’m 6-foot-4 and 275 kilos, and the Mannequin 12 looks like an extension of my arms once I swing it on clays or birds. The walnut of the fore-end has an oil end and is checkered for grip. The wood inventory has the identical oil end because the fore-end, however there isn’t any checkering across the pistol grip. I desire the sleek grip for taking pictures entice as a result of it doesn’t agitate my fingers like checkering does. Although when it rains, the grip will get slick. This Mannequin 12 has a ventilated rib with an aftermarket fiber-optic entrance sight, however different variants had flat ribs or none in any respect.

Because of the gun’s weight, the Mannequin 12’s recoil is tame. Taking pictures Hevi-Bismuth, which carries a payload of 1¼ ounces and a muzzle velocity of 1,450 fps, the felt recoil is a manageable 36.2 foot/kilos. Plus, a really worn-in Redhead Model recoil pad affixed to the buttstock of my grandfather’s shotgun helps to cushion the blow. 

Learn Subsequent: 10 Traditional Shotguns Each Wingshooter Ought to Personal

Discipline Stripping the Winchester Mannequin 12

The Mannequin 12 is a takedown, which suggests it may be shortly damaged down into two separate items. To take away the barrel and fore-end from the inventory and receiver, there’s a metal pin on the prime of the journal tube, which it’s essential to push ahead and switch. This can disengage the journal tube from the receiver. Then, you could rotate the barrel left or proper to take away it from the motion. Metal grooves interlock to attach the barrel and the receiver. To free the barrel, you twist and pull.

For reassembly, line up the metal barrel grooves with the sleek metal slots within the motion and rotate the barrel down. There may be an arrow on the journal tube and the inside of the receiver. Rotate the metal pin on the prime of the journal tube so that they line up. This can interact the journal tube with the receiver. Push the pin on the prime of the journal tube in the other way you probably did to disassemble the Mannequin 12, and the gun shall be able to shoot.

Ultimate Ideas on the Winchester Mannequin 12

Taking pictures a heavy, balanced, well-made pump shotgun just like the Mannequin 12 is all the time a pleasure. The Mannequin 12 is over a century outdated now, and you’ll nonetheless discover it on gun cabinets throughout the nation for as little as $450. If you could find one in respectable situation, the Mannequin 12 remains to be a viable selection as a workhorse pump shotgun as we speak. That’s very true contemplating the market of fashionable pump shotguns, that are principally low-cost, Turkish-made fashions with homely seems to be. 

Positive, you’ll must take excellent care of an outdated shotgun like this to forestall it from rusting in inclement climate, however in the event you do, there’s a great probability you’ll have the ability to go it all the way down to your grandkids.