[HS/LD]

As a quick update I bought a Winchester Defender 1300 12 gauge back on the 19th of November 2002 for $239 from Gart Sports here in Colorado. So it is now about 6 months old.

As some of you here know I took to shooting this with some gusto and I was regularly feeding it about 500 shells a week (or so I thought).

Usually Walmart 100 shell boxes of anything Remington or Winchester target loads and assorted 00 buckshot and slugs in the 5 and 25 shell boxes.

I decided (after another post) to count the box flaps. I rip the flap off the shell boxes and throw them in a box in the garage after shooting.

I have:

107 flaps from 100 round boxes = 10,700
94 flaps from 25 round boxes = 2350
412 flaps from 5 round boxes = 2060

Totals 15,110 shells
I need a reloader :(

I thought I had only about 10k through it!

As to reliability this shotgun has performed without a glitch that wasn't operator induced.

Although I seem to remember a double feed one day into the receiver effectively stopping the action from closing.

The alloy receiver shows wear in the form of shiny tracks on it's interior surfaces and some scratched on the outside, I have no problem with laying in on the ground or against a tree, but nothing that it didn't show after 200 shells. The action in very smooth and as those who own a Winchester with the rotating bolt know, very very fast.

I have replaced NO parts in the gun and it gets a basic cleaning after every 2-3 outings. It is kept with 6-7 in the tube when on duty beside the bed and the mag spring still has no problems feeding the gun.

Just thought some of you would like to know. It certainly surprised me!

Regards,
HS/LD

ps. I request that NO one actually figures out how much this ammo has cost me.... please I don't want to know.

[Andrew Wyatt]

hrrm.


i've fired about 300? rounds through my mossberg since i got it two years ago.

it's had three failures to feed (two were aquila minishells, one was due to an overtight sling mounting ring over the mag tube) and two failures to fire (unknown cause, hammer possibly fell to half cock)

my mossberg needed a little work to function out of the box, because the interruptor latch had a burr on it, and was holding the shells untill the lifter had lifted. the shock of the action closing would jar the round loose, spitting it out onto the ground. this was fixed before the first outing.

as it came from the factory, the LOP was about 2 and a half inches too much. we took two inches off the buttstock and remounted the recoil pad before shooting it the first time.

[HSMITH]

Anyone that says the 1300 is not a decent shotgun is nuts. Glad yours is treating you well. Another 3 years of the same and you will have caught up to my 870 provided I don't shoot it anymore :neener:.

Joke aside, that 1300 is FAST in my hands, I do like them and the way they shoot. Good shotgun.

For God sakes man buy a reloader!!!!! You could have bought the loader AND a spare 1300 with the savings from this year alone, and had change left over. If you have some money laying around buy the Dillon, if not buy the Mec 9000G.

[HS/LD]

I SAID DON'T MENTION THE MONEY!

I started to figure it out and started feeling sick...

This doesn't count the .308 .40 9mm that always come out with the shotgun!

I am trying to right the ammunition off to the corporation... there has to be a way...

HS/LD

[sm]

HS/LD
When I quoted Misseldine " Good shooters are made--not born" I didn't mean you had to this all in a 6 month time frame. :D

Reminds me of Danny Glover's Character in Lethal Weapon to Gibson ( Riggs) after seeing him shoot..." you sleep with that thing?"

I can't talk, I've done the same thing. I'm glad its has served you well. It is an extension of you it sounds.

Ask your acct about " Entertainment"expenses. Might see if you can write off " depreciation".

Fellas -I think HS needs an operator to go with a reloader at his rate, if he can find one to keep up with his shooting...

[Badger Arms]

I've always thought of the Winchester as second to the Remington in my order of choice. The biggest beef I have is with the rotating bolt. I prefer a tilting bolt. My opinion and mechanical tastes alone. I also prefer a steel receiver but this, again, is only my taste. I used to sell the Defender regularly to customers for bear defense. It's smoother than the Mossberg and I feel it's more refined.

[Andrew Wyatt]

It's smoother than the Mossberg and I feel it's more refined.


I got that impression, too.


i'd like to see a winchester defender with mossberg style controls.
that would be the bee's knees.

[Mk VII]

does anyone make a shorter buttstock for the Winchester? I've always felt the nylon one to be longer than is good for me.

[Dave McCracken]

Mk VII, Winchester makes a Youth Model 1300. The stock from that should be available.

HS/LD, thanks for sharing that. Your 1300 has held up,and so have you.

Get a reloader,learn how to use same, and go for the gusto....

[Badger Arms]

Hogue makes a 12" LOP model. Yes, the picture is of an 870 but that's what they showed on their web site.

http://www.hogueinc.com/getgrip/prodimg/08720.jpg

http://www.hogueinc.com/getgrip/merchant.ihtml?pid=4618&lastcatid=19&step=4

[Correia]

HS,

I just did a little figuring. :eek: :D

Wow.

I bet you are pretty darn good with it now though. :D

[HS/LD]

Correia,

That’s is what I was going for. I used to put about 300 rounds a week while in the Army through both a .308 and a 9mm MP5.

So whenever I buy a new gun that is going to be for 'serious' reasons i.e. my carry gun a .40 and a home defense SG the 1300. I think it is irresponsible to not gain a complete familiarity as quickly as possible.

When I bought my carry handgun (an HK USP in .40) I would buy 10 x 50 round boxes a week for the first 6 months or so (now about a 1 or 2 boxes a week).
When I opted to use the 1300 for HD I was not familiar with a Shotgun in this role. So I invested in the ammo in order to bring the skills up to an acceptable level. I think that I am now reasonably proficient with the SG.
It is far too important not to have a proficiency in a 'self defense' weapon.
I will even intentionally jam the 1300 (as it wont jam on its own :) ) in order to gain the muscle memory to clear a jam under pressure, at least 3 times per outing.

Plus all that shooting is fun!:D

They only thing to remember is to install "in-ear" plugs and then wear full muffs over the top... 500 12gauge shells per week can certainly damage your hearing.

Regards,
HS/LD

[Dave McCracken]

HS/LD, GOOD points.

If a HD tool is a good idea, knowing how to use that thing well past bare minimum is also good.
Nobody ever, ever, ever lost in a crisis by being TOO good with their weapons.

'Nother is about hearing protection. There's too many hard of hearing shooters now.

[Correia]

All very true.

That is why I use a Dillon RL550! :)