I inherited this gun and I was wondering if anyone can give me any info about it.Iran the serialnumber and found out it was made in 1918.It has a Nickel steel barrel with a smooth bore.That is all I know about it.Would shooting the new smokeless powder shellsbe to hot for this barrel?

congrats on a great pump gun. I shoot one every week on the trap range. I used to hunt
with it untill I put custom wood and a rib on it. I actually have a 12 and a 20 ga., they are twins.
You can shoot every thing thru it thats 2 3/4". I'm not sure on steel tho. Never done that. These
guns keep workin. Been shootin"em since 1965. Good luck.

Thanks for the input Mtnhomeboy.I was on another forum and one guy on there said he was shooting slugs out of the exact same gun.I found that odd when this gun looks like a bird gun to me.And besides the barrel is not rifledso Ithink the slug would fly all over.

Fine gun. Check the sharpness of the stamping. If the edges are sharp, it probably has not been reblued. Most nickel steel Model 12's have been reblued, since the nickel steel would not hold bluing very well. If it has not been reblued, it was very lightly used, and is a real find. It is safe with any 2 3/4 inch shells (I don't think I would use steel or heavy shot). In the old days, whichever shotgun onehad was used with slugs. I have seen several Model 12's shoot slugs quite wellusing just the original bead sight.I haveownedseveral Model 12's in the past, and IMO it is the finest pump shotgun ever made.

I haveownedseveral Model 12's in the past, and IMO it is the finest pump shotgun ever made.

Me too .

I would avoid heavy steel loads of large shot . I have a BPS w/ a steel special bbl that has a 4" score at the choke from BB at 1350 and 1 1/4 oz, with that saidupto 3's would be ok in 1oz loads . I have a Boito o/u with thin bbls that has up wards of 5-600 rounds thru each bbl of 1's and 3's up to an ounce and 1450 and had no problems(read $200 1978-82 Brazilian cheapo).

My Dad shot some slugs in his 30" full choked50's vintage Mod.12 with 50ydgroups of 4" 4" low with the bead on the reciever "groove"

Thanks for the info guys.I new the gun was well made when I picked it up.For a gun that was made in 1918 theaction and feel is beautiful.It is the kind of gun you want to shoot all day.I was considering deer hunting with it this seasonbut not sure if I want to put it through the elements.