Winchester Model 21 Duck

About the Winchester Model 21 Duck

The Winchester Model 21 Duck is the heavy-duck waterfowling variant of Winchester's premium Model 21 side-by-side double-barrel shotgun, built from 1940. Chambered exclusively for the 12 gauge 3-inch magnum shell and with its trigger plate stamped 'DUCK,' it pairs the Model 21's forged chrome-molybdenum steel frame and dovetailed chopper-lump barrels with long barrels bored full-and-full choke for maximum reach on high-flying waterfowl. It retains the hammerless boxlock action, single selective trigger and automatic ejectors, and its stock was cut to a shorter length of pull to suit the heavy clothing worn by duck hunters.

The Duck grade was Winchester's answer to the arrival of the 3-inch 12 gauge magnum waterfowl load, marrying the Model 21's legendary strength - a base Model 21 famously survived 2,000 proof loads in John Olin's torture tests - to a purpose-built long-range duck gun bored tight full-and-full.

Winchester Model 21 Duck specifications

The 'Duck' grade ran roughly 1940-1952 in 12 gauge only with 3-inch chambers; it was effectively succeeded by the Model 21 Magnum grade (1953-1959) offered in both 12 and 20 gauge 3-inch. Barrels were most often 30" or 32" bored full & full. Two-shell capacity, one per break-action barrel.