Winchester 1300 Defender

[oneighteen]

I too love the Remington 870 and Mossbergs, but one of my main favorites s the Winchester 1300 defender. I know opinions vary, and Remington and Mossberg has long been the standard for law enforcement and home defense dramatically adding to it's popularity along with their quality and rugged reliability. What do you think of the Winchester 1300 defender. I plan to pick up one more shotgun to add to my collection. My next shotgun will the a Remington 870.

[iuindy2l]

I don't have a defender, but I have 2 black shadow's and LOVE them. like the controls better compared to the 870 or 500. If I could find a Defender (and get permission from my wife) I'd get one.

[MrMurphy]

Good gun but by the time it replaced the 12/1200, the 870 had the LE market locked up and the 870/500 had the military contracts.

[liliysdad]

The 1300 is a good pickup or bird gun, but a hard use working gun, its not.

[a1b2c3]

I had a Defender when I started in police work and used it for 10 years before selling to a friend who needed a good HD gun. I like them alot. Mine took just as much punishment as my 870 Police does and never missed a beat.

[liliysdad]

You had a good one, then. Any Winnie Ive seen used in LE work has been a dog, often failing. They simply arent built strong enough, IMO.

As a amtter of fact, they are actually prohibited from use in the Oklahoma Police Academy.

[tarpleyg]

The 1300 is a good pickup or bird gun, but a hard use working gun, its not.
You should qualify this with something because there a a BUNCH of people that would disagree...me being one of them. Just because it has an aluminum receiver doesn't make it any less durable.

Greg

[liliysdad]

I have seen many used Police 1200/1300s. Many smaller depts here were lured into them because of the low price. They dont hold up to the everyday use and abuse a police shotgun sees. I have seen many bent and dented Bbls, cracked receivers, and broken stocks. The 870s of the same vintage, and even the Mossbergs, seem to hold up much better.

This is not to mention that ive never seen one that would pattern nearly as well with #00, or shoot slugs as accurately, as an 870 with a factory bbl.

I also cannot stand the bolt locking mechanism, but that is a personal issue.

[Skpotamus]

While I like the 1300's quite a bit (have hunted and shot clays with a 1300 20 gauge for almost 5 years now and have put well over 5K rounds through it with no problems), I would advise against buying one.

Winchester has shut its doors (forever supposedly) so support could become a problem for it down the road. If you get one and it breaks, you could very well be SOL.

[cjlandry]

I've had a 1300 Defender for many years now, and I have no problem with it.

Granted, it doesn't receive the abuse of daily police duty, but I'm not a cop so I'm not concerned with that.

I have only recently began practicing with it at the 50-yard range with slugs. I find it's plenty accurate for my purposes.

http://landry-family.com/slugs50yds.jpg

http://landry-family.com/AK47/AntiBG.jpg

The defensive collection has grown a bit since the bottom pic was taken.

[ronterry]

How about the 1300 Costal Marine?
3" Mag compatible, Truglo Fibre Optics, Stainless Barrel.
Set me back in the high Four hundreds.
I wouldn't have it any other way, since my address is on Winchester Road :) + My first gun for my 16th birthday was a '84 Winchester Ranger 20ga Semi...
http://www.ronterry.com/Photos/1300.jpg

I'm not to worried about the plant closing, since the basic 1300 has been around for ever!

[Skpotamus]

True, the 1300 has been around a long time, but Winchester is gone now. They officially anounced they were "discontinuing" the 1300, 94, and 70 series firearms in a letter to their dealers. Then they shut their plant down.

Unless somebody comes in and buys them out, new guns will not be available and the availability of parts could become a problem.

BTW, I REALLY hope someone picks them up since I prefer the 1300 as my shotgun of choice.

[ronterry]

The internals of my new 1300 are for the most part unchanged vs a twenty year old 1300, so parts are very plentiful.
Hell I was able to replace a bunch of parts on Ranger (1400) a couple of months ago when restoring it, and 1400 is a million times rearer than a 1300!
Might take a phone call, but there parts department was probably out sourced anywise, so as long as there’s some blue prints the parts will be around forever.
Think of the value mine might have in twenty years with a serial number of the last run of the mighty Winchester 1300???

[M1Garand]

Winchester 1300 series has better external finish and appearance, but it does not have the reputation of heavy duty working guns like Remington 870.

I have a Winchester 1300 and love it dearly, but I use Remington 870 Police Magnum for work.

Winchester 1300 may have better retention of market value compare to Remington, especially now it is discontinued.

[Romadoc]

I contacted FN Herstal (fnhusa.com)and they said they would continue to supply parts. This as they continue to market the FN Police (the one I have). This model is a 1300 with a better finish, 2 chokes and rifle sights.

[spudgunman]

i gotta side with 1300 being a super gun, i DUMP ammo thru mine, 180-300 rounds every two months. my only problem with it is if i load up 8 slugs and shoot them as fast as i can it will get hard to eject them due to the heat. however shooting 8 slugs isnt that common for me.

[amd4me]

lemme see if I understand this correctly.
Winchester is now defunkt?
As in no more winchester guns ever?
I sure hope I am hearing this wrong!

[Guns & Cockpits]

I dunno... I am a big shotgun guy, and I have a couple of 870s, a couple of Mossies, and only one Winchester. It's a 1300. And it was the first gun that I ever owned. Before any handguns, before any rifles, was my Winchester 1300. I've never, ever used a different gun for hunting dove, quail, or pheasant, and I do all three every year.

I'm the wrong person to ask about the 1300s "beat-up-ability", as I'm very careful with mine. I love the look. But it's lasted a long time for a gun that was bought for an eleven year old to learn to shoot with. That's a lot of hunting trips over the years.

I'll say this: while it doesn't feel as sturdy or as rugged as my HP 870, the action, safety, and trigger all feel a hell of a lot smoother. I'll take the receiver and trigger assembly of my Winchester 1300 over any other pump shotgun out there.

I'm currently shopping for a rifled 22" barrel with the rifle sights for it, so if anyone has any connections or knows where I can get a deal....

[Skpotamus]

amd4me, Winchester closed down it's plant back in Feb or March. No more winchester guns will be made. The only hope for any of those guns is if browning picks up the patents and starts making them, but if they do, it'll be overseas instead of here in teh US.

[amd4me]

Originally posted by Skpotamus
amd4me, Winchester closed down it's plant back in Feb or March. No more winchester guns will be made. The only hope for any of those guns is if browning picks up the patents and starts making them, but if they do, it'll be overseas instead of here in teh US.
What about Winchester ammo?

[Skpotamus]

Olin, who owns Winchester, is still going to be manufacturing ammunition.

[spober]

Originally posted by ronterry
How about the 1300 Costal Marine?
3" Mag compatible, Truglo Fibre Optics, Stainless Barrel.
Set me back in the high Four hundreds.
I wouldn't have it any other way, since my address is on Winchester Road :) + My first gun for my 16th birthday was a '84 Winchester Ranger 20ga Semi...
http://www.ronterry.com/Photos/1300.jpg

I'm not to worried about the plant closing, since the basic 1300 has been around for ever! o yes!

[spober]

Originally posted by cjlandry
I've had a 1300 Defender for many years now, and I have no problem with it.

Granted, it doesn't receive the abuse of daily police duty, but I'm not a cop so I'm not concerned with that.

I have only recently began practicing with it at the 50-yard range with slugs. I find it's plenty accurate for my purposes.

http://landry-family.com/slugs50yds.jpg

http://landry-family.com/AK47/AntiBG.jpg

The defensive collection has grown a bit since the bottom pic was taken. why did i trade my mak 90 off for a song!MAN I LOVE THEM EVEN WITH THE BAN THUMBHOLE STOCK.THEY STILL LOOK PLENTY MEAN AND VERY HANDY,

[SecurityTrainer]

Here is an idea of just some of the things you can do with a Winchester.

Shark DI*K III

Winchester 1200 28" VR with "Win-Choke" tubes
Tac-Star 10 shot Extended Mag Tube
Tac-Star Side Sadle 6-shot Shell Holder
Surefire 6-Z Tac-light w/ mount
Hogue Stock (*Note "Stock" forend)
*Option (not shown) HS Strut Turkey call
(Mounts to underside of Mag Tube)

I wish I knew how to post a picture I am just not getting it even after reading the Directions... sorry about that all.

Custom Two Tone Finish OD Greem W/Marine Varnish(Matt) finish

This is the Third (III) one of these I have assembled each one is slightly diferent this one was built for Turkey hunting (Plug included when required by law.)

*NOTE: Several Years ago F.N. Herstal Purchased Wihnchester Repeating Arms. Some FN Police Rifle and Shotguns are variations of the Mod 70, and the 1200/1300. I like the direction FN went!

Respectfully,

[DewMan]

FN makes the "Police Shotgun" http://www.fnhusa.com/contents/sg_police.htm

It's a 1300 by any other name but has a nice finish and is already drilled and tapped for optics and has screw in chokes. I don't think FN is going out of business anytime soon. I've had mine for a while now and I like it more and more.

[cjlandry]

Originally posted by DewMan
FN makes the "Police Shotgun" http://www.fnhusa.com/contents/sg_police.htm

It's a 1300 by any other name but has a nice finish and is already drilled and tapped for optics and has screw in chokes. I don't think FN is going out of business anytime soon. I've had mine for a while now and I like it more and more.

Yep. That's a 1300 allright.

While checking out their site, I ran across this Tactical version (http://www.fnhusa.com/contents/sg_tactical.htm), which is interesting, to say the least.

I'm not sure if I like it or not.

[stiletto raggio]

I have one of the FN Tactical Police Shotguns, the one with M16 type sights and the collapsible M4 buttstock. It shoot well, accurate with cheap Winchester slugs at 50 yards, and recoil is honestly not bad.

I also have four 1300s: two 18", one 22" rifle sights, one 28" winchoke vent rib. All of them are reliable and have nice triggers, especially since none of them cost over $250. I find the SpeedPump feature quite nice; it reduces The overall finish is superior to the Mossberg and the Remingtons in this price range. The only thing I don't like is that they don't (didn't) make a 20" 8 shot version. Definitely my preferred pump gun.

[unlearned69]

Very nice shotguns.

[stiletto raggio]

I have one just like that. Something about the uncheckered stock and short forend makes it look very business-like.

[cjlandry]

Originally posted by stiletto raggio
I find the SpeedPump feature quite nice; it reduces

??

You didn't finish that sentence.

[SecurityTrainer]

stiletto raggio

>...they don't (didn't) make a 20" 8 shot version."

If you look hard enough Winchester made a plain 22" or more likely a 24" rifle sighted bbl(CYL. bore for slugs) I think it was for the 1200 series.

Just add an extended mag tube from Tac-Star and you would have the shotgun you are looking for, of course finding one will be a bit of a challenge, but I have seen them. It would be quite a nice addition to your collection. FYI

Good Luck!

Respectfully,

[stiletto raggio]

It reduces cycling time and helps build muscle memory (my experience).

There... idea finished.

I know what you mean about the 22" barrels and tube extensions, but I prefer one-piece tubes when I can get them. It just seems funny to me that every other manufacturer realized that you caould add 1.5" and get another shell in there and Winchester just never did it.