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I recently purchased a winchester model 12 20ga serial number 310813. It has straight grip stock with inlaid black diamonds. Came with two barrels both nickel steel with solid ribs the one with the same serial number measures 27.75″ from end of barrel to the end that goes into the receiver marked full choke. Best I can tell measuring with my micrometer is .593″ id. The other barrel has serial number 243858 measures 24.75″ from the end of the barrel to the end that goes into the receiver marked cyl. choke measures .615″ id. I have never owned a model 12 not familiar with them at all and from the little bit of research of done just gets me more confused with the different types of model 12s that there are. I have a few questions. First, from everything that I have read is that winchester never offered a barrel shorter than 26″ so has the barrel that measures 24.75″ been cut down? Second what kind of model 12 is this? Third, I know that older 20ga guns were chambered for 2 1/2″ shells is it ok to shoot light target loads in 2 3/4″. Also any idea of value.
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Jared,
According to the Riffle book on the Model 12, the 20 gauge barrels came in 25″, 26″, and 28″ barrels; 25″ full choke barrels were standard. Your serial number dates the gun to having been produced in 1923. The 20 gauge was still chambered for the 2-1/2″ shell until 1926 when the chamber was changed to 2-3/4″. Most barrels are marked “2 3/4 CHAMBER” after the change. The best way to measure the barrel length, for me, is to close the bolt and run a tape measure down the bore. This has always given better results than trying to use an outside measurement. Hope this helps. RDB
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