Tell Me About Winchester 1400 Shotgun

[45shooter]

I purchased a Winchester 1400 shotgun from a guy over the internet.
He lives about 100 miles away so I'm going to meet him half way tomorrow.
Now, I know nothing about these shotguns but the picture showed a nice looking one so I bought it. I figured I couldn't go wrong for $150.
So, did I do okay or are these POS?

[Milkmaster]

I would say the price is decent if the gun is in reasonable shape. I bought a used Winchester 140 for my nephew and it shoots fine. The 140 is a economy version of the 1400. I disassembled and cleaned it really good. Then he immediately hit 21 out of 25 with it at the trap range without a failure using bargain ammo. I have an electronic copy of the owners' manual for a 1400 if you would like me to send it to you. Just send me an email.

[Cougfan2]

I used to have a 1400. Killed many a KS quail and pheasant with it. The only problem that I had with it is if you let it get too much powder fowling arond the bolt lugs (rotating bolt) it will sometimes fail to go into full battery. This will make you say words your momma wouldn't like when a pheasant gets up in front of you and nothing happens when you pull the trigger!:cuss:

[sm]

1400 is THE softest shooting shotgun- period.

Helluva nice "best kept secret". Proven in Skeet, Trap, 5 Stand, Sporting clays with high round counts.

Quail, Doves, Duck, Geese, Deer, Rabbits , Squirrel...if one can see it, one can fell it with a 1400.

Winchester knew what they were doing, and the Winchoke is a well though out and proven External knurled choke - approved for Steel shot as well.

Limited by design to only 3 shells, as gas system is designed such.
Migratory Regs limit to 3 shells and one does not have worry if gun is plugged - the gun meets regulations.

You did not mention if the gun was 12 gauge or 20.

If a 12 gauge, the gun was made back when targets loads were 2 3/4 dr of 1 1/8 oz shot. This was the standard for Skeet, and Trap folks used the 3dr 1/1/8 oz target load.

So don't mess with 1oz, or 7/8 oz loads, it was not designed to use them...

Softest recoil means you don't need lighter loads. You can shoot all day long and not be affected.

Recoil pad? WE never used one.

Enjoy and BA/UU/R

[romeo212000]

I have a 1400. It is a great soft shooting auto and for the money you cant go wrong. It points and swings very well too. However it is very heavy, so I can be a pain to carry on long upland hunts. But I dont know of any other auto that I have that I would rather hunt doves with. My O/U and my 1400 get in arguments when dove season roles around about who gets used.

[Dave McCracken]

Buy it....

[MCgunner]

Mine fits me like a well fitted tailored suit right out of the box. As mentioned, the recoil in my 12 is less than some 20s I've fired. It's sweet! I shoot 1 ounce loads fine in mine, the winchester high speed, but 7/8 will choke it occasionally. It doesn't like the 7/8 ounce and bargain shelf stuff. Keep the gas system and locking system in the chamber and bolt well cleaned after each use. Like any gas gun, it doesn't like getting too dirty. I have had an affair with mine for 20 years, love that thing. I'm starting to use it with Fasteel 2 3/4" waterfowl loads on ducks, too. Only thing I don't like about it is the shell elevator in the way on loading and the crossbolt safety. I have a Mossberg pump that loads without pinchin' my thumb and the tang safety is much appreciated for a south paw. But, with the Winchester, I've started holding that elevator up with my off hand and I can shove the rounds in even with a gloved hand and not get my finger pinched or glove caught in it. It's okay during dove season, doesn't bother me, but when my thumb gets cold, I have to remember to hold that thing out of the way. But, that's no different from any Remington or most shotguns actually. The only ones I can think of that don't have the elevator in the way is the BPS, the Ithaca, the Mossberg, and the new CTi which I can't afford. The Mossberg and the BPS are the only repeaters off hand I can think of with a tang safety. But, I I like the soft recoil of the Winchester. With heavy duck loads it's REALLY sweet. Like sm says, I've never even thought of putting a recoil pad on it, no need, even when shooting in a T shirt, even when poppin' 3.5 boxes of ammo on a three day dove hunt. I've never come away from a heavy shooting session or a long hunt with a sore shoulder with that thing and I wouldn't trade it for a 1100 Remington if you offered, no way, no how.

[JNewell]

A better shotgun than it looks like on the outside (like the 1200). Great values, both.

[Milkmaster]

Here is a manual for a 1400.

http://stevespages.com/pdf/winchester_1400_winchester.pdf