New Winchester 101

[Maritime Storm]

Anyone shooting one of these? Considering a new 101 Sporting for shooting Skeet and Sporting Clays. Reviews look good, but not much on long term ownership info to be found.

 

[rembolt]

I only no of 1 FN 101 the guy has had it a couple years with no issues . But I don't think has put a lot of rounds through it .

 

[FLYBYU44]

Essentially a Citori, so I don't think you will have many issue with one.

 

[Maritime Storm]

Essentially a Citori, so I don't think you will have many issue with one.

The design is vastly different, more Beretta 686 made by FN Herstal in Belgium. FN made Brownings for years and rarely produced a dud, but like Rembolt, I know of only one in use and the owner has put many rounds through it, so it's hard to judge long-term reputation. I may have to be a guinea pig on this one.

 

[Falconflyer]

I only know 1 guy shooting one and he has had it several years but doesn't put many rounds though it each year. I'm not aware that he has had any trouble with it. As already stated, it's hard to say anything about dependability or quality with only one example but they are definitely not a Citori copy.

 

[FLYBYU44]

Ha, for some reason I thought the 101 was made by the same factory as the Citori. Clearly that was not correct, sorry for spreading fake news guys

 

[Maritime Storm]

No, even the old 101 was made in a different factory by a different company in Japan. Winchester contracted with Miroku to create Olin-Kodensha, Brownings are made by Miroku but they are different designs.

 

[the spank]

http://www.petersenshunting.com/uncategorized/forty-six-hunting-seasons-with-the-winchester-101/

There is some interesting points about the manufacture/construction differences between the original 101 and todays 101 in this article.

 

[planemaker]

No, even the old 101 was made in a different factory by a different company in Japan. Winchester contracted with Miroku to create Olin-Kodensha, Brownings are made by Miroku but they are different designs.

Nope, Miroku had nothing whatsoever to do with making the Winchester 101, the correct answer on the the 101 is in your statement though. Olin(Winchester) partnered with Kondensha(Nikko) to produce the 101, model 96, 23 etc

 

[mrgoat]

Interesting and informative thread on the making of the 101. I shot a 101 12 ga, with 26' barrels skeet version for many years. Also had one in 410 with 28' barrels. Put thousands of rounds through each without a single issue. Never new much about their manufacturing process, I just shot them. When the Classic Doubles came out I bought a skeet version in 12 ga. In my eyes the CD is essentially a 101 with all the bells and whistles. I would buy one of the newer ones if they made it in 20 ga.

 

[cartwheel]

New 101 is a totally different animal to the old 101. I shoot a new one (the original new version called the Select Energy) for a few years. Originally it pierced Cheddite primers in the lower barrel but since have fixed that. Other than this no worries- it has been my go-to. It is well made- the gun is a bargain in my books.

 

[Maritime Storm]

How many rounds would have through it?

 

[Maritime Storm]

Nope, Miroku had nothing whatsoever to do with making the Winchester 101, the correct answer on the the 101 is in your statement though. Olin(Winchester) partnered with Kondensha(Nikko) to produce the 101, model 96, 23 etc

Winchester Repeating Arms Company -- Its History & Development from 1865 to 1981, by Herbert G. Houze. 511 Pages. Copyright 1994 and 2004 by Herbert G. Houze. Krause Publications. ISBN: 0-87349-786-4.

"After reviewing all possible locations (Austria, Belgium, Germany, Great Britain, Japan, the Philippines and Spain), it was decided that Japan offered the best possible venue. Olin-Mathieson then commissioned a survey of all the arms manufacturers operating there to determine which one would be most compatible with the Winchester company. Furthermore, as many of those firms were already producing superimposed shotguns, Olin-Mathieson authorized a second study to ascertain which one might be best suited to the American market.

Ultimately, this research was to result in the selection of Miroku Limited in the Tochigi Prefecture as the best possible candidate. Shortly thereafter, Miroku and Olin-Mathieson agreed on a working relationship, and a new company called Olin-Kodensha Limited was established in 1961 to manufacture shotguns bearing the name Winchester. "

Miroku didn't have anything to do with production, they part-owned and helped set-up the line in the plant, the company also produced the Nikko line of guns. When Olin pulled out in 1988 the plant became a parking lot.

 

[brutforc]

I have a 101 XTR Lightweight (Nitride receiver...27" barrels...made in Japan) with standard Invector tubes I bought in 1986. For years it has been my go to upland gun. I absolutely love it and it is a beautiful gun to hunt with. To shoot trap or skeet though it will beat you up (right cheek bone gets a little sore!).

Now the 101 has been redesigned and I believe made by FN in Belgium. It a totally different gun as the barrels are more "inline" than earlier models (reduced felt recoil). They are also chrome lined and backbored with Invector Plus chokes.

Bass Pro Shops has two versions of this new 101 made for them...Ultimate Sporting (30" ported) and Ultimate Field (28"). The difference is the Bass Pro version has no metal grip cap, maybe lesser quality finish wood, but does come with a Decelerator pad installed. The rest of the gun features are the same. They sell for substantially less money.

So when they were on sale I bought both. They do handle and shoot differently than the earlier 101 gun (noticeably so). I heard a rumour that Browning did not want the new 101 released as they were concerned they would be too competitive with the Citori (That'll start a ruckus). I have not shot them enough to say how they will hold up, but I really don't thnik that would /will be a problem. The new 101 also has a stronger lock up than previous models and I haven't heard of guns shooting loose for all these years. Also the earlier gun had mechanical triggers and the new gun has inertial triggers (first shot sets the second trigger).

I'm a happy 101 guy.

 

[the spank]

I shoot a DU 50th Anniversary 101 XTR, basically a 3” field model pigeon grade. I must have 50,000 rds through it at least and have never had an issue. Not even a single ftf or fte. I think the quality of the Olin-Kodensha made guns has been considerably underrated. I know guys whose diamond combos and pigeon traps are still going strong on the trap fields going on 40 years and tens of thousands of rounds. Mine has pulled double duty as both my primary hunting gun and primary skeet gun since 1987.

 

[Maritime Storm]

Thanks guys, I'll keep them on my short list when I upgrade my toys in a little bit.

One other stupid question, Winchester's site doesn't say, do these O/U's have manual or automatic safeties on them?

 

[Falconflyer]

It's not written on stone but generally speaking only field guns will have an automatic safety.

 

[coltir]

I bought one of the new Winchester Select 101 Sporting back in 2012 and have been using it for trap shooting since. Works like a charm, never had any issue.

 

[Maritime Storm]

Any idea how many rounds you've put through it?

 

[coltir]

I would say approximately 2000 rounds.