Winchester 120 12GA question

[C-Money]

Is the barrel on the Win 120 Ranger new enough to shoot steel shot without damage? I'm sure it is, but just looking for input. It has a mod choke. Appears the 120 was built for a few years in the mid 80s. My father had a similar shotgun with glossy finish on the wood back in the 80s. He used for hunting, and one day he traded it away for a trap gun. I remember being very fond of that Winchester. I whacked my first game animal with that shotgun and have been looking for one in good shape for a while. I recently found a like new 120 Ranger, and it followed me home. I may use it from time to time for upland, or occasional duck/goose hunt. Looks exactly like may Dads gun, only the wood is not as nice without the glossy wood finish. Having this Winchester brings back some good memories of days as a kid in the woods with my Dad.

[metlhead]

Steel duck loads, #4 or smaller will be fine.

[fast60eddie]

I use a 120 Ranger with the winchoke and have run several hundred rounds of steel through it with no problem mostly #4&#2 but it has been feed 475 rounds of 3” T shot through the improved cylinder. I don’t recommend T shot unless it’s for home defense. At 65 pellets per shell it’s not the best pattern.

[C-Money]

Great to hear Fast60eddie...I am looking for the IC & full Win chokes for mine. I have sent a few links to my wife, so hopefully Santa brings me some chokes! I have read a few remarks on line about the 120 being cheaply made with plastic parts. That may be true, but the one I have sure seems to be well made. I really think Winchester made quality stuff in the 80s. Has to be better than the turkish stuff they are peddling now.

[marmotsafari]

I have a 120 that has run steel just fine. Only on my second season, but I've put 400+ rounds through it of BB, 2 and 3 shot combined, through the Carlson delta choke set. Had started with their "Medium range" (modified ?) choke but have had better luck with the most open "Close range" (improved?) choke over decoys, 20-35 yards-ish.

The gun runs flawless, as long as I don't short stroke- and I like that it's an "old" warhorse. I can see the appeal in a longer forward grip though for balance.

Enjoy your 120!

[C-Money]

So good to hear Marmotsafari!! I will look at grabbing a close range Carlson. I have had great luck under decoys running Imp Cyl in other guns.

[C-Money]

I was finally able to go shoot the Win 120. It smashes clay targets very nicely. Also, was able to get an original set of Win chokes IMP CYL/Full in the pouch, with J wrench coming my way. Very happy to have this shotgun. As I mentioned some reviews state plastic parts. I tore this one down and I didn't find any plastic parts on it. Spoke to my Dad, he says the gun I remember him having was a model 25 Winchester. I've looked on line and the model 25s I see do not look like the gun I remember. This 120 looks exactly like the gun I remember short of the glossy finish on the wood.