doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Winchester Model 12 question

What is a Heavy Duck Gun? I have three 12 gauge model 12s made in the late '40s-early '50s. Two have plain barrels and full chokes. The other one has a 3" chamber, full choke, and a factory solid rib. I always considered all three to be "field guns", as opposed to skeet or trap guns. Someone recently told me the 3" chambered gun was a Heavy Duck gun. Is there a standardized definition of a Heavy Duck gun? What is the difference, if any, between a 3" field gun and a Heavy Duck gun?

I'd be very surprised if "field guns" had 3" chambers.

Heavy Duck is common slang for a 3" chambered Md.12 . They weigh more than the 2 3/4" guns hence the "Heavy" , and they are chambered for 3" shells, which were used for duck hunting, hence the "Duck". While they could be ordered in any grade from field thru pigeon the majority were field grade guns .

So,Heavy Duck is just slang for a heavy duck gun, the gun isn't marked "Heavy Duck". Got it. Thanks.

I forgot to mention, the 3" gun is marked "for Super-X shells" or words to that effect on the barrel. The other two are not marked for shell type.

No! "Heavy Duck" is not slang! That is what Winchester called their 3" gun made "FOR SUPER-X AND SUPER SPEED" shells. They have heavier barrels, longer full chokes, shorter stocks amd a lead weight in the stock.
They do look like standard field guns, but they could also be had in Pigeon and Deluxe grades.

Most people I've run into simply call the Model 12, "The best there is"!!!
All the best

"No! "Heavy Duck" is not slang! That is what Winchester called their 3" gun made "FOR SUPER-X AND SUPER SPEED" shells."

Winchester called their guns many things at different times . If "Heavy Duck" is not slang ,but a true model,it should not be hard to find one that is factory marked "Heavy Duck" . Please post a picture of one so marked .
They also have a different bolt , trigger group , and ejector amoung other things .

Along about 1935 with their introduction of the heavy 3-inch chambered 12-gauge Model 12, the Olins brought out the 3-inch Super-X and Super-Speed 12-gauge "magnum" shell loaded with 1 5/8 ounces of shot. Prior to that the the 12-gauge 3-inch Super-X carried 1 3/8 ounces of shot from its introduction along about 1922.