The early 20 gauge Model 12 guns had chambers that were 2½", and the 16 gauge Model 12s were chambered for a 2 9/16-inch shotgun shell. The majority of "modern" Model 12 shotguns manufactured after 1927 were chambered for 2¾-inch shotgun shells only, although some specialized models such as the Heavy Duck Gun Model 12 were chambered for 3" Super Speed and Super X shells (basically a 3" magnum). The primary competition at this time came from the much less expensive Remington Model 870, which had been introduced in 1950. With forged and machined steel parts, the ultimate reason for discontinuation in 1964 was that it was too expensive to produce at a competitive price. The magazine capacity could be restricted to two, three, or four shells by inserting an appropriately sized wooden plug. The magazine tube held six 2¾-inch 12 gauge shells, whereas modern shotguns can typically hold only four or five. Depending on the particular wooden plug installed in the magazine, two, three, or four shells could be loaded into the tubular magazine. Empty shotgun shells ejected to the right. Its tubular magazine was loaded through the bottom of the gun. The Model 12 was a very successful internal hammer pump-action shotgun. It was initially available in 20 gauge only (12 and 16 gauge guns were not sold until late 1913). Browning, in that it used a sliding forearm or "pump action" to cycle the mechanism.
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Johnson, and was based in part on the M1893/97 design by John M. The Model 12 was designed by Winchester engineer T.C. The Model 1912 (shortened to Model 12 in 1919) was the next step from the Winchester Model 1897 hammer-fired shotgun, which in turn had evolved from the earlier Winchester Model 1893 shotgun.
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410 version was never produced instead, a scaled-down version of the Model 12 known as the Model 42, directly derived from scaled drawings of the Model 12, was produced in. Initially chambered for 20 gauge only, the 12 and 16 gauge versions came out in 1913 (first listed in the 1914 catalogs), and the 28 gauge version came out in 1934. From August 1912 until first discontinued by Winchester in May 1964, nearly two million Model 12 shotguns were produced in various grades and barrel lengths. Popularly named the Perfect Repeater at its introduction, it largely set the standard for pump-action shotguns over its 51-year high-rate production life. The Winchester Model 1912 (also commonly known as the Model 12, or M12) is an internal-hammer pump-action shotgun with an external tube magazine.
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Winchester Model 12 12-gauge pump-action shotgun manufactured in 1948ġ912–1964, with special production runs until 2006Ħ-round tubular magazine (see text for more details)