TexasCHLforum.com

I really like my pump action Mossberg Maverick 88 (the budget version of a Mossberg 500). But I like even more my two Winchester Model 12s (a 1930 16 gauge and a mid-50’s 12 gauge) I got used in the past year or so. The Winchesters are built like tanks, have buttery-smooth actions and can be taken down easily for storage.

16 gauge shells are a bit more expensive and have much less selection than 12 or 20 gauge. But the 16 gauge Model 12 is as light as the Model 12 20-gauge. Despite being very well built, though, the Model 12 hasn’t been made since the mid-60’s, so parts may be harder to find and there is very little aftermarket support for them, especially when compared to the Remington 870 and Mossberg 500. A similarly well-built pump, though, can be found in the Ithaca Model 37, which is still being made today, but they’re more expensive.