Winchester Model 12 operations

[jrr]

Hey all, I just picked up a Model 12 in 12ga. Abolutely the dirtiest gun I've ever seen. But thats another story...

SO, after cleaning and function checking it I have a question about how it is supposed to operate, since I've never had a m12.

When I rack the slide and fire on a snap cap, the slide will not come back and the bolt stays locked until I push the forend slightly forward. Then I hear a click, and the bolt unlocks and I can rack the slide.

Is it supposed to be that way? Every other shotgun I own unlocks when the hammer falls.

Any knowledgable input is appreciated!

[BigDogatPlay]

Model 1897 and Model 12, to a lesser degree, are known for that. When you fire it with live ammo it will be a lot less noticeable.

[Dead*Reckoned]

When you are shooting the gun the recoil is enough so that it will unlock the slide by itself because you will be holding on the forend. I love my Model 12, I wish they had reproductions, I would pick one up so quickly.

[five.five-six]

yea, model 12 is one of those guns that either you love them or you love them


and by slam fire, if you hold the trigger down, it will fire the next round as soon as it is in battery, "the rifleman" style

[RayPDA]

What BigDogAtPlay said - the Browning Model 12 reproductions do that too...although those have trigger disconnects...so no 'slam-fire' for these ones.

[TheExpertish]

What BigDogAtPlay said - the Browning Model 12 reproductions do that too...although those have trigger disconnects...so no 'slam-fire' for these ones.

Why don't manufacturers make shotguns with the slam-fire capability anymore? Liability? Regulations?

[jrr]

Thanks for the info guys. On further research I did discover its a feature, not a bug. winchester called it the inertia lock.

I have a feeling I'm going to really love this gun. I think the prior owners were unaware of how to use a screwdriver, cus the bore is bright but action was literally caked in carbon and grease crud. There was oil so old on the bolt, that it had turned into varnish! It took four hours of scrubbing and soaking in kerosene to get it clean, and I discovered the firing pin tip had broken off in the firing pin hole!

And ya know what? I bet it would still have fired! This thing is built like a tank! I'm extremely impressed with how strong the receiver is and how well everything is machined. This would be a $2000 dollar gun if it was made today, and I got it for 245! And since the prior owners added a poly choke and cut the stock for a recoil pad, I don't feel bad about finishing and modifying a collectors piece.