The external fiberglass surface of the barrel made it virtually impossible to install one of the then-popular aftermarket external collet type external chokes. Remember the PolyChoke? To compensate for this, in 1961 Winchester introduced a removable/interchangeable choke, threaded into the muzzle end of the steel liner of the barrel. An inch or so of the removable choke extended beyond the muzzle. The external portion had a series of transverse slots serving as a muzzle brake, as was common with many of those external collet chokes. While Modified chokes were fitted as standard, extra Versalite (as Winchester called them) choke tubes were available in improved cylinder and full constrictions, for an extra $4.95 each. They were supplied with a flat stamped sheet metal wrench for easy removal. In actual practice they could be easily changed by hand. Yes, the model 59 introduced the now ubiquitous choke tubes! And after the passing of the Model 59, that idea lay dormant for decades.
In addition to its lightweight barrel, the Model 59 also had a lightweight aluminum receiver. These advances resulted in a 12 gauge autoloader that weighed only a little over 6 pounds! The gun’s predecessor, the Model 50, weighed about 7-3/4 pounds. Incidentally, there was also a lightweight version of the Model 50 with an aluminum receiver, which weighed a little less.
The 59’s receiver was not only streamlined in size and shape but was also devoid of external screws and pins. The sides of the receivers featured a roller-impressed hunting scene: perhaps a bit crude by today’s standards, but in all fairness it was Winchester’s first use of the technique. As with other aluminum receivers of the time, those receivers were prone to developing cracks at points of stress. On the Model 59 this was most likely to occur on the right side just behind the slot for the operating handle. If buying a used Model 59, be sure to inspect this area very carefully! Fortunately the engineers at Winchester learned to solve this vexing problem by peening (stress relieving) the receiver in this area. Reportedly, the receivers could turn white after hard use. While I have observed at least one cracked receiver, I can’t remember ever having seen a receiver that turned white.
Not only were the receiver and trigger assembly made out of aluminum to save weight, but even this small stock reinforcement was made of aluminum. All this resulted in a gun that weighed less than the trigger pull on many other guns!
The remainder of the Model 59 was a carry-over from its predecessor, the standard-barreled Model 50. However the Model 50 was also a very innovative gun. It was probably the only shotgun to use the floating chamber system of operation. Back then, gas operated shotguns were available, the first successful one having been the High Standard Supermatic, released under the J. C. Higgins brand name. Unfortunately those guns were unreliable, especially if their gas pistons weren’t cleaned regularly. This problem was exacerbated by the fact that their gas pistons were difficult to dissemble and clean.
The Model 59 introduced the now ubiquitous concept of interchangeable choke tubes.
The quick detachable trigger mechanism featured several design features that resulted in one of the best trigger pulls ever offered on an autoloader. Unfortunately the complex shapes of the components meant that they could not be economically stamped from sheet metal but rather had to be investment cast. This significantly increased the cost of production. Why did Winchester color the assembly gold? Perhaps they just wanted to flaunt some of the many innovations in the mechanism.
The more successful autoloading shotguns of the time were recoil operated, generally utilizing the long recoil system of operation. The old “hump back” Browning A-5 is a good example of that system of operation. The barrel would telescope approximately 5/8 of an inch into the receiver. This relatively long motion of the barrel would result in an undesirable “double-shuffle” pattern of recoil. The barrel travel also complicated the fitting of a top rib. Worse yet the gun had to be adjusted when switching to or from magnum loads by removing the barrel and reversing the friction ring.
On the Models 50/59, however, the floating chamber, which included the forcing cone, telescoped into the chamber end of the barrel. The bolt locked directly to an extension at the back of the floating chamber. Thus immediately after firing, the floating chamber and bolt would recoil backward while still locked together. After .09 of an inch of rearward travel, an abutment within the receiver prevented further rearward travel of the floating chamber. By that time, the cam of the bolt carrier would have unlocked the bolt from the floating chamber. The unlocked bolt was then free to continue traveling rearward. A small coiled spring and plunger within the receiver would return the floating chamber to its full forward position. Compared to the previously described long recoil system, the short travel of the lightweight floating chamber didn’t have enough inertia to cause the undesirable “double shuffle.” It didn’t even have enough inertia to operate the gun! To increase the bolt’s momentum, it was connected via a rod to a weight contained within the buttstock. The rearward motion of these components was resisted initially and subsequently reversed by the recoil spring, which was also contained within the buttstock. The combination of the light weight barrel in conjunction with the extra weight in the buttstock resulted in a uniquely muzzle light balance. This resulted in a very responsive swing that some hunters, especially quail and grouse hunters, preferred.
The system would work with all standard American 2-3/4-inch shells, including 2-3/4-inch magnums, without external adjustment. Malfunctions could occur with light loads or shells with a slow pressure buildup. This was more common with European loads, and Model 50s sold in Europe ultimately had to be Modified for reliable operation. According to the physicists, you don’t get something for nothing. It took a fair amount of energy to operate the mechanism and compress the recoil spring. Fortunately this energy came from the recoil generated from firing the gun. According to Winchester, the gun had 20% less recoil! In addition, the recoil was more comfortably distributed over a long (relatively speaking) push as opposed to a sudden jolt. Extending the recoil pulse has the effect of decreasing the shooter’s perception of recoil.
So, while lighter guns generally kick more, the Model 59 actually kicked less. The effect was further enhanced by the muzzle brake configured into the Versa Lite choke tubes. As such it was an ideal beginner’s gun, light to carry and shoot with the effectiveness of a 12 gauge! And of course the same features endeared it to experienced hunters. Supposedly, the gun would jam if debris accumulated between the exterior surface of the floating chamber and the corresponding surface of the barrel.
Certainly any gun can jam if enough debris accumulates in the wrong place. However, one of the 59s that I examined for this piece had quite a bit of crud lying within the bottom of the receiver. When questioned, the owner stated that he couldn’t remember the gun ever jamming. The U. S. Treasury Department, however, found a definite problem with the floating chamber. Shortly after the Model 50 was introduced, they discovered that the gun could be fired without the barrel attached. As such the gun could be used as a sawed off shotgun. To prevent this, Winchester was required to recall their initial production and modify them so that they couldn’t shoot without the barrel attached.
The right side of the gun. It seems ordinary enough until you pick it up.
The floating chamber system was also used in some other firearms. It was used in the Colt Ace, a .22 rimfire adaption of the Colt 1911. In that gun, the floating chamber was utilized to