Winchester 101 is the winner !

deckerhead

deckerhead

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So I'm after a new O/U all purpose shotgun.
Really wanted the new Browning crossover target ,but cant find one and not to mention they are now made in Japan !! Love the new Ruger Red Label....but again good luck finding one in central Ontario. Then I found the new Winchester 101....did some search's and reviews....and I think we have a winner !!! Great gun and now made by FN in Belgium. All three of these are around the same price ($2000) but the Win 101 is by far more superior .
Any thoughts or input ?.......
 
deckerhead said:
So I'm after a new O/U all purpose shotgun.
All three of these are around the same price ($2000) but the Win 101 is by far more superior. Any thoughts or input ?.......
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Are you asking or telling us?
If it fits your hand, comes to your shoulder with ease and points where you are aiming then any of the three afore mentioned will fit the bill, yes?
BTW, just yanking your chain on the question, but serious about fit and feel.
Rob
 
deckerhead said:
So I'm after a new O/U all purpose shotgun.
Really wanted the new Browning crossover target ,but cant find one and not to mention they are now made in Japan !!


Since their inception,Browning Citori shotguns have been made by Miroku of Japan. There have been very few complaints about the quality of these guns.

You are indeed fortunate that you could not locate a Ruger Red Label. The members on the Shotgun World forum are reporting many issues with this gun.
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I got a crossover target earlier this year and am really enjoying it...I did have to replace the trigger with a smooth one though cause the textured one was rough on my finger.
 
sidexeach said:
I would take a old 70's 101 over anything new in a heartbeat, just my 2cents(by the way I'm a Browning fan). Cheers
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I have a 101 and a beautiful European leather case since the 70s.

The 101 is in mint condition and since I am not going hunting anymore I would sell it.
 
FLHTCUI said:
Are you asking or telling us?
If it fits your hand, comes to your shoulder with ease and points where you are aiming then any of the three afore mentioned will fit the bill, yes?
BTW, just yanking your chain on the question, but serious about fit and feel.
Rob
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I am telling.....my fellow rider! I own several O/U's ranging from a piece of crap Stoeger to a few Brownings (Belgian Superposed and Citori) to a high end Gamba. Its not just the fit that I like its the quality of the build compared to the new entry level Brownings of the same price range. Mind you I have not seen the new Ruger yet.
 
today I shot the browning citori as well as a beretta and a franchi instinct .and for me it was a tossup between the beretta and the franchi .love them both .it would be a tough choice .Dutch
 
Well I don't think you will find that anything in that price range is "vastly superior" to anything else IMO- it is more a matter of what is best for you vs someone else's needs.

I have a FN Winchester 101 (mine is labeled "select energy" but is the same thing). They are rare in Canada- I haven't actually seen another one before. There are 2 "generations" of 101- the Japanese ones and the FN Belgium ones. The FN guns have all the latest and greatest bits and pieces- extended forcing cones, overbored barrels, removable choke tubes... The japanese ones are the "classic" 101, but a very different animal. The FN 101's initially were called the "Energy" line- Select Energy and a bunch of variants of that. After a few years they just went back to the "101" name, but the gun remained the same. The stocks on the various years of FN 101s did evolve a bit- so make sure whatever you are buying fits you properly. I have an adjustable comb version and it is pretty awesome. FYI the Browning Superposed O/U was made by FN in Belgium in the same plant.

I looked at over-unders for about 6 months before I found this one and I couldn't be happier. I have had it apart for cleaning and servicing and in my opinion the internals are of very high quality- no comparison to a cheap O/U. Nice bits inside don't guarantee good function- but mine has been perfectly trouble free and I expect it will stay that way after seeing how it is put together and how nicely made the parts are inside.

The only challenge I have had is that the lower barrel tends to pierce cheddite primers (found in Challenger shells for one) so I stopped using those. From what I have read on the web this sounds like a common problem for O/U's because of the angle of the firing pins. I don't have an issue with anything else so far- currently shooting Winchester white box.

I give the guns a big thumbs up- and thankfully since they are rare and somewhat unknown you can occasionally find a good deal on one. The "Select Energy" line has some funky ovalized checkering and the later guns have a more traditional approach. I'll never let mine go.
 
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" FYI the current Citori guns are made by FN in Belgium in the same plant."

Absolutely incorrect. All Citori shotguns are made in Japan by Miroku.
 
S'all right, Miroku was copying the general design of the Superposed very well and Charles Daley was importing them until Browning inked a deal with Miroku to produce the Citori. I like and own a lot of Browning firearms but in O/U's I prefere the Supers.

FYI, many people mistakenly state that the original 101's as being made in Japan by Miroku. They were made by Olin-Kondesha, a company formed by Winchester owner Olin corporation and Kondesha, makers of Nikko, Golden Eagle etc. The original 101 is very similar in design to the Superposed.

You of course know that your FN produced 101 has only the 101 designation and Winchester name in common. The actions are of completely different design, the FN is closer to a Beretta style lock-up low profile receiver. This is not a bad thing at all. While I have only handled one in the store, it felt good and the FN 101 has had great reviews since introduction. Enjoy your 101!
 
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Having handled and fired several 101 shotguns, and many Citori shotguns, of which I still own four, I do not see the new 101 being superior in any way to a Citori. The fit and finish on the Citori is every bit the equal of the new 101, regardless of where each gun is made. If it makes you feel better, go ahead and tell yourself that the new 101 is superior, but don't bother trying to con everyone else into believing it.
 
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planemaker said:
S'all right, Miroku was copying the general design of the Superposed very well and Charles Daley was importing them until Browning inked a deal with Miroku to produce the Citori. I like and own a lot of Browning firearms but in O/U's I prefere the Supers.

FYI, many people mistakenly state that the original 101's as being made in Japan by Miroku. They were made by Olin-Kondesha, a company formed by Winchester owner Olin corporation and Kondesha, makers of Nikko, Golden Eagle etc. The original 101 is very similar in design to the Superposed.

You of course know that your FN produced 101 has only the 101 designation and Winchester name in common. The actions are of completely different design, the FN is closer to a Beretta style lock-up low profile receiver. This is not a bad thing at all. While I have only handled one in the store, it felt good and the FN 101 has had great reviews since introduction. Enjoy your 101!
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Yeah- the lockup is a bit unique. It has the Beretta style pins but also has an extra recoil lug underneath. It has the Browning style safety/barrel selector. It is most like the Berettas at the club, but they have nicer wood and are worth a lot more money!

BTW Stubblejumper- I never said that the FN101 was superior to anything (that was the OP), just that it was very well made for what you can get one for. I briefly owned a Citori trap and have shot many different generations/flavours of Citori and I'd never say a negative thing about them- it is what most o/u guys at the club have. I never felt good with any Beretta I've tried- but obviously they work for a lot of people. It is all about what works for the individual and taking the time to find the right gun.
 
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