Gun Digest 2011. Dan Shideler

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      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.