Winchester mod. 1300 "defender" problem

Clint S

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I bought this gun in 91 or so and used it a bit but had problems and just shelved it for several years. Recently I need it as a backup on my young son's bear hunts.
From all my googles this is supposedly a pretty bombproof gun and I can find no record of other folks having this issue which is when I shoot heavy shells or slugs it bends the tab on the bolt plate that holds the firing pin in. The pin pops and the gun jams after 3 or 4 shots. It is chambered for 2 3/4" and 3" shells but really can't handle them.
Any ideas for a fix would be great or leads on where to get another bolt plate to try. Is this something I should try to take to Winchester and if so how would I go about that.
 
Think I'd like to go new and Heavy duty if there is such an animal.

Found this on a search by elvis56
I had a 1300 defender and I fired major shells out of it. Lots of 3" and even more 2 3/4. Eventually the firing pin used to fall into the back of the receiver when I fired it. I had to pop the pin out of the receiver and drop the trigger assembly to retrieve the firing pin and spring and reinstall to shoot. The gun had lots of shells fird through it so a lightly fired gun would last a long time IMO. I had the full stock version.

Exactly my problem and wonder if it's very common?
 
some of the older ones had a bolt plate that is secured with a screw,that might be what you need,I have had a few 1300's never had this problem, never used 3" shells though:)
 
Does anyone know anything about heat treating this bolt plate. If I could strengthen it a bit the tab that holds the pin in wouldn't bend and release the firing pin?????
Mine doesn't and never had a screw, it is held in place by the trigger mech and action rails.
 
I had a 1200 or 1300 pump can't remember? But the damned thing after it was a year old when you fired the shell in the barrel the hook that holds the other two in the mag would let both go causing a jam.the only way it was reliable was as a two shot.Sent back twice for repair, same crap next box of shells. Got rid if it as my buddies did the same thing.They should have quit when they made the model 12 IMO..............Harold
 
I had the same problem, it's very common. The solution is to get an 870.

Mine spent the better part of two years out being fixed, I spoke to every gunsmith in Alberta about a different proble I had first and every one of them asked me if it jammed when I fired 3 inch shells.

It's a terribly unreliable design.
 
Win 1300 Defender Problem

Check the foreward bearing surface of the bolt, where the bolt plate butts in. There were a number that were defective in the 1200 that were slightly ramped (due to a bad milling cutter ) and would cause the bolt plate to "Jump" and in the case of the screw, would actually shear off the screw in the process. If your bolt is ramped in this matter, you may need to undercut the bolt to allow a better grab on the plate. I know this from experience in fixing a number of winchester pumps which had this problem. Feel free to message me or contact me with any further questions.
 
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