doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com OT: Model 12 with Poly Choke

Sorry about the OT subject, but you guys would know about this. There's a 16 gauge M12 for not much money at a local gunshop with a Poly Choke installed along with a ventilated rib with Poly Choke inscribed on it. I did not know Poly Choke did ribs, anyway, how were these ribs attached to the barrel? I assume they were soldered or epoxied in place but it's very hard to tell. I'm thinking about removing the rib and Poly Choke and having choke tubes put in since the barrel does not seem to have been been cut back. The gun is in very good shape. I probably should just buy and use it as is, but the rib and Poly Choke are so fugly on this otherwise handsome gun it hurts my eyes.

"I probably should just buy and use it as is,.."

You've just hit the nail squarely on the head(!)

.. with a couple of provisos; one, that the Poly Choke is on straight; two, that the gun is marked for 2&3/4" ammunition. Early 16ga. model 12's were 2 & 9/16" chambered and had short ejection ports making reliable ejection of a 2& 3/4" hull problematic. Many got the ejection ports opened up by milling and had their receivers reblued. Nothing wrong with unmodified original early guns at all, if you use a hull length that is suitable. They are perfectly capable of handling modern US spec ammunition.

FWIW, you are not likely to get any better patterns from a screw in or fixed choke than you can from a Polly Choke and the cost to pursue the asthetic you desire exceeds any probable ROI. If you are looking at the intended target, you will never notice the PC. They are kinda fun actually, especially on a sporting Clays course where you can just 'dial' to your heart's content and watch others develop what only could be called a type of 'choke envy' as they fumble about with wrenches and tubes and such. Most PC equipt'd guns get discounted accordingly and that should work even further to your advantage. Set the angst aside and just go buy it!

When a Poly choke is installed, the original barrel length is reduced to accommodate the threading. If you remove the Poly choke and try to install a thin-wall choke, the barrel will be at least a couple of inches shorter than original. Also not sure the Mod. 12 barrel at that point has a wall thickness suitable for a thin-wall installation...perhaps someone here knows for certain. Buy it if you like it, and leave the Poly in place...it was all the rage "back in the day".

I agree with the advice given. Don't screw with the gun, for a couple of reasons. First, it's not worth the trouble and expense (you'll still end up with a non-original Model 12, but now have a few hundred more in it); and second, you'll have messed up another piece of history that you happen to find unappealing but others will love as-is. My two cents. Happy hunting. TT

Listen to what these guys are saying. Clean and restore as needed, but don't do any more altering than what's already been done. I will suggest that it will pattern very well.

Yes, Poly Choke installs alumnum ribs. You might contact them and ask how they attach them.

Leave it at the gunshop and buy a M12 configured the way you like it. It is not as if they are hard to find.

Beautiful 12 gauge model 12 for sale right here for not long money-over on the "guns for sale" section.
Best,
Ted

Poly Choke ribs are attached with an elastomeric adhesive. The rib blank is contour milled to match the barrel before it is glued in place. It can be removed without damaging the barrel blue according to an article in Gunsmith Kinks III. Remove all sight beads. Pry up one end of the rib and insert a piece of plastic package strapping in the gap. Work the strapping back and forth in a sawing motion and move down the rib.

OB

I bought a Mod 12 16ga with a PolyChoke and it shoots great. I think I paid a whole $250 for it and it looks over 90%. It is a great quail gun. Sixteens are not as cheap as they were 15 years ago but they are still a bargan most of the time.