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**44 AMP** · March 12, 2011, 12:36 PM

Low production numbers during the WW II years is easy to understand, after all, Winchester was rather busy with other things.

As to the rest, I think supply and demand probably covers it. If you build 40,000 guns one year, but only sell 19,000, next year you aren't going to build as many. And the year after that when you sell 37,517, you are going to ramp up a bit, to cover anticipated future demand.

Lots of factors involved, including the general economic climate, interest in shooting sports, and especially the competition. Remington's 870 was hitting its stride in the late 50s, and basically steamrollered the Model 12 a decade later. A better gun in a few ways, and a cheaper and easier gun to make in most ways, the 870's popularlity turned the last few years Model 12 production into high end trap guns, before it ended all together.

Winchester came out with new models to better compete, but never regained the dominance they once had.

March 12, 2011, 12:36 PM	#3
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,833	Low production numbers during the WW II years is easy to understand, after all, Winchester was rather busy with other things. As to the rest, I think supply and demand probably covers it. If you build 40,000 guns one year, but only sell 19,000, next year you aren't going to build as many. And the year after that when you sell 37,517, you are going to ramp up a bit, to cover anticipated future demand. Lots of factors involved, including the general economic climate, interest in shooting sports, and especially the competition. Remington's 870 was hitting its stride in the late 50s, and basically steamrollered the Model 12 a decade later. A better gun in a few ways, and a cheaper and easier gun to make in most ways, the 870's popularlity turned the last few years Model 12 production into high end trap guns, before it ended all together. Winchester came out with new models to better compete, but never regained the dominance they once had. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.