Steel through a Winchester Model 12

[oneshotkill]

A friend of mine bought a 1937 Winchester Model 12 and is set on using it to duck hunt.  It is in very good condition but has a full choke and the fact that it is an older gun worries me.  Do you think that it would be safe to use if he uses smaller size shot?  If so what size do you recomend?  Thanks

[Gutpile]

Do not use steel in that gun. You can cause some problems. Bulging or splitting the barrel comes to mind. They do have some "softer" non tox. But since I got out of waterfowling I forget the names. Bismuth was one I think. Or just go buy a Remmy 870 express off of the used rack somewhere. Or.... sell the winny.

[C-Money]

Your friend needs to keep that Model 12 in good shape! No steel threw that gun. It should be stamped saying ''Nickel Steel'' on the barrel and it should not be used with steel shot. Good idea to get a 870 express, they are great waterfowl/upland guns!

[halflife65]

Yeah, I agree.  I have a Model 12 that my grandfather gave me.  It's pretty cool, but I wouldn't hunt with it.  He should just keep that thing safe.   It probably doesn't have a rib on the barrel and the stock configurations have come a long way since then.  He should spend a few hundred dollars on a 870.  It's cheap, it'll probably work better for him, has interchangeable chokes and your buddy won't need to cry about it when he drops it in the mud and scratches the stock.  Just clean it and go back to work.

Or just buy a Benelli.   

[wannahunt]

I

[boneaddict]

NO STEEL

[wannahunt]

i did have more to say then that. Guess my fingers are getting twitchy with the seanon opener getting so close. Anyway i hunt with a guy that has been using his model 12 with steel shot for a lot of seasons. He switched to a 870 for one season i think and then right back to the model 12. He hasn't had any barrel problems yet and he just can't stand to not use it. I think he shoots mostly 6 shot and sometimes 4 shot. I would have hard time shooting such a nice gun with steel but maybe I'll change my mind when I'm 73 or 74 years old like he is.