opinions on Winchester 1300

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was at the local gun shop today looking at a few pump guns. Looking for a general purpose all around use type 12ga pump. They had an 870 Express, Mossberg 500, a used Browning BPS and several used Winchester 1300's. I have a limited budget, and would prefer to buy new, but I am willing to go used for a good deal. I have done a fair bit of reading on this forum the last few days, and have read alot of good comments on the 870 and 500. I have been leaning towards the 500, as several friends have also recommended them. Of the guns there, the 1300 felt best to me. I like the safety location the best, it seems to be located in the most natural position for a safety to be in. I could not see any defects on the gun, and it was in as good of shape the new 870 and 500 as far as i could tell. They wanted $329 for it, which is more that what I can get a new 500 for. I haven't see too many posts on the 1300, so I was hoping to get some opinions on the it before I decide. Thanks.
 
I've been beating the sh** outta my 18" 1300 for years...
Never had a failure or breakage.
 
Go 870 or Mossberg 500, new or used, both companies still in business selling same guns so new parts are available, all sorts of extras for these guns are available. Like you said they are asking more for a basically discontinued gun than a new present production gun, you make the choice.
 
You might want to check out the discussion on Shotgun World (I don't remember the exact web address but it's easy to find on google). Anyways, I heard that they discontinued making the 1300 last year (the company shut down or something) and there were a few folks who said the internal quality wasn't as good recently as in the past. It might be hard to find parts for it if something breaks in the next few years.

I was looking around as well and most people had good things to say about both the Remington 870 and the Mossberg 500s.

Good luck with your search.
 
I have two(deer bbl & 28" I/C bbl one) and just bought a Defender, I like the Winchester 1300's obviously. My deer bbl one was my 1st gun ever(1990) that I bought. I've gotten some good use outta this gun from birds to rabbits & deer to ducks. I've tried other shotguns and aside from my Ithaca 37, 16gauge I prefer the 1300's for their feel and fast pumping action.
Cheers
 
My first shotgun was a 1300, bought for me by my father for my 14th birthday. I traded it for a dirtbike when I was 16, then traded an old Mustang to get it back when I was 18, then I traded it back for a skidoo a few years later, all to the same guy! He's still got it, still banging away at ducks and grouse, which would now make it 20 years old. He loves it and shoots very well with it. As far as your comment that "the 1300 felt best to you", I think you just answered your own question: it if feels better then you'll probably shoot better :rockOn:
-DW
 
I hate to go against the group, I had one and it was the worst functioning gun I've ever owned a complete POS. I had it two and a half years, first the rib let go, started sliding down the barrel after about 200 rounds, called around Alberta to get a gunsmith to fix it and most wouldn't work onthem because they kept coming back. One finally agreed to fix it, 6 mths, $87 later he pinned it, appraently the ribs are held in place with exactly one pin, he put in 6.
Next the action got stiff, finally after shooting light trap loads it jammed. I get it home and the bolt has popped off the rails, phone around Ab for smiths and every one of them when i started to tell them what had happenned they finished my sentence, including the warranty depot guy. All of them including the Winchester Warranty guy told me to get rid of it and buy an 870 or 500, they all said it was a faulty design, the so called fastest bolt was really a problem. So I fixed it up and traded it at Wholesale sports on a Nova which functioned flawlessly.

The 1300 died for a reason, it's a POS.
 
martinbns said:
I hate to go against the group, I had one and it was the worst functioning gun I've ever owned a complete POS. I had it two and a half years, first the rib let go, started sliding down the barrel after about 200 rounds, called around Alberta to get a gunsmith to fix it and most wouldn't work onthem because they kept coming back. One finally agreed to fix it, 6 mths, $87 later he pinned it, appraently the ribs are held in place with exactly one pin, he put in 6.
Next the action got stiff, finally after shooting light trap loads it jammed. I get it home and the bolt has popped off the rails, phone around Ab for smiths and every one of them when i started to tell them what had happenned they finished my sentence, including the warranty depot guy. All of them including the Winchester Warranty guy told me to get rid of it and buy an 870 or 500, they all said it was a faulty design, the so called fastest bolt was really a problem. So I fixed it up and traded it at Wholesale sports on a Nova which functioned flawlessly.

The 1300 died for a reason, it's a POS.
Click to expand...

I've worked on exactly 4 of them, and they were all about what Martin discribed, his included!
I even had a guy try to GIVE me one and I said "no!"
I think I'd rather be given a Remington 710!:puke:
get an 870 and go shooting!
Cat
 
I own five twelve guage shotguns and the only one I like better than my 1300 defender is my Beretta that costs four times as much. I would not hesitate to grab up a 1300 if I could. My bear protection, I-stake-my-life-on-this-gun shotgun is my 1300 defender; so that says a lot right there. I've had it for nearly 20 years, never a single stoppage or problem. While they may be out of production there are still lots of spare parts or even parts guns out there, it the extremely unlikely case that you would need parts.
 
Thanks for all the input guys. I think I may pass on the 1300 for now. If it were new, or significantly cheaper, I think I would seriously consider it, but it is not. I do not want to risk inheriting someone else's trouble. Another local shop that also carries Mossberg has some Maverick 88's in. I want to check those out then I'll probably decide from there.

Thanks again
 
I have owned/used a 1300 Defender for the last 10 years and have never had any problems or complaints. I think, just like eveything else, you are bound to have the odd lemon.

...My humble opinion.
 
I have 1300 Defender, so far no problem with it, I bought it from my friend who used it hard and he had no problem with it too.
By the way Winny Defender is BACK!!! Lebaron 2008 catalog has NEW Defender Speed Pump in it!!! The prise about $350. I spoke with sales, they will get it soon..
The only thing the mag is not 8 anymore, it's only 6 :(
 
I have had a winnie shot gun sincethe 1300 was a 120.

The rotary lock up is one of the better ones.

I even bought a 1300 slug gun two years ago!!
I'd buy another if I had to
 
Last year I shot geese and ducks with four pump guns A remington express,a remington Magnum Express,A winchester 1300 and a Mossberg 535 ats ( waterfowl version). The remingtons refused to feed Federal BB's of two different types and both would jam after firing any 3" shell. The Winchester ran the whole season without a hitch and there are 15 geese and three ducks that can attest to that. I had one of the guys offer me his remington and 100$ for the winchester. I think if you like the 1300 buy it I liked mine alot.
 
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In the past I had a Winchester Model 2200 pump.The 2200 was an earlier version of the 1300 as were the Models 1200 and 120.It was a poor shotgun.The Remington 870 is a much better shotgun in my opinion.
 
I own a winchester 1300 defender. I bought it well used, and it's getting more hard use.

It's got no cachet, and some will look down on you, but it field strips easily, handles readily, has a much pleasanter slide release than the Remington 870 IMHO, and pumps as smooth as butter.

It's popular and if you want accessories for it, they're readily available.
 
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