Winchester Model 50

About the Winchester Model 50

The Winchester Model 50 is an American semi-automatic shotgun chambered in 12 gauge (and later 20 gauge), produced by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company from 1954 to 1962. Designed by David Marshall Williams from patents originated by Jonathan E. Browning, it employs an unusual short-recoil action built around a floating chamber: the barrel remains completely static while a separate chamber and forcing cone move rearward about 0.25 cm on firing, cycling the bolt. This non-recoiling-barrel design gave the gun smooth, low-felt-recoil operation. Built almost entirely of milled steel with an American black walnut stock, it was offered in Field, Featherweight, Skeet, and Trap grades with 26, 28, and 30 inch barrels.

The Model 50's floating-chamber action descended from a principle David Marshall 'Carbine' Williams also applied to .22 rimfire trainers, allowing a heavy 12-gauge load to cycle a fixed barrel with notably soft recoil.

Winchester Model 50 specifications

Unusual among recoil-operated shotguns in that the barrel does not move; a floating chamber patented by David Marshall Williams provides the recoil energy to cycle the action. Replaced by the gas-operated Winchester Model 59.