[rbernie]

I may come in to one shortly - are there any known issues that I should look for?

[Milkmaster]

I have three of them and never had a "fail to fire". Like most modern quality firearms...They are about as good as you take care of them. I prefer the 1300 over the 870 just because it fits me better. I hope you enjoy yours!

[Dave McCracken]

Good shotgun, if not my first pick.

[sm]

Flaws?
Nope!

[41magsnub]

The only issue I have with mine (in 20 ga) is that it is finicky when shooting 3" ammo. It is extremely sensitive to short pumping where the front of the fired 3" shell just barely rubs the front of the ejection port and as such fails to eject if there is not enough force. When that happens the gun is usually truly out of service until I can jab the fired shell with a pocket knife or something and pry it out. This has never happened with 2 3/4 shells which is all I have an need to put through it anymore anyway.

[plateshooter]

I have a 1300 Defender. I have had no problems with it. I am very satisfied with the one I have.

[kentucky_smith]

Not a model 12 but I've never had a problem with mine.

[mio]

no problems with mine

[K9american]

1300 Defender here. No problems in 12 years.

[kcmarine]

Very reliable.

[Avenger29]

Mine's never given me a problem- we got it in '99. Fast pump, too.

[TX1911fan]

My only problem has been that the speed pump is so fast that it feels like it is shooting open on me. It kind of freaked me out the first couple times. The way the action is set up, it can cycle really fast, so you have to be ready for it. It is a great gun, and I have never had any problems. I just regret that I have more "fun" guns so it doesn't get shot much. I'll never part with it though.

[RCR29]

I have a 1200 and 1300. Both are great guns, and the old 1200 is the smoothest pump I've ever shot.

[ArmedBear]

I like them. I wish I would have bought one when they were a little more than the 870 Express. A much prettier gun, with good balance and feel.

From what I hear, the new FN's will be made in Turkey. Oh well.

If Ithacas actually exist, they might be worth a look.

[kirbythegunsmith]

Did you ever hear of the case of the self-ejecting firing pin?

1200/1300 etc. seldom have problems with the feed throat, but that can happen every once in a while.

Ejector locating tabs in some guns use a tiny screw to locate, and if loose or backed out: jam or lost screw is likely, bent or dragging ejector can occur.

Improper barrel assembly can wedge the ejector, if the front tail is not inserted in the left clearance slot (on RH guns) of the barrel extension. Bumping the ejector with the barrel off can dislodge the rear tail of the ejector being located by the tiny pin showing at the left rear outside of the frame. The spring behind the ejector may come out of it's hole, too.
Keep the bolt most of the way back to keep the ejector more compressed and likely to be harder to knock loose. Otherwise, the first sign of a problem is when your gun won't pump fully to the rear and feels like it has something in the way being pinched. There is, and by now you have bent the tail of your ejector.

Pump arms can break a tip off, but usually because the spot welds holding the arms to the tube have started to fail on one side, so the other arm has disproportionate load on the tip that ultimately fails. Both arms can lose the connection at the same time then, just in different locations.

Plastic trigger housings are more vulnerable to cracking, but not denting like metal. Don't lean that side towards the fireplace or wood stove, either.

Standard warning from me about crooked choke hole installations. I have cut off the ends of more than one barrel that have choke holes so far off center that the edge of the tube is exposed and vulnerable, and one that only has the burr at the edge of the hole (from another sloppy factory job) keeping the shot/wad from peeling the tube (yes, it is a Winchester, as is one of the others mentioned). I cut and re-thread properly many barrels for discerning shooters that prize accurate work (and shooting) more than saving a buck. Ammo that is wasted from shooting off, plus wounded game that is not cleanly dispatched, all should be part of the calculation of cost balance. This doesn't include the psychological benefit of hitting more consistently since your barrel shoots straighter.

How is that for a list?

kirbythegunsmith@hotmail.com

[md7]

mine has been running great since 1995. been a very reliable shotgun.

[nyggis]

No problems here either.. I love my defender!

A friend has a 1300 Turkey, which he has (ab)used for years, shot bizarre amounts of ammo from, and used in temperatures down to -40 degree centigrade... No problem...

Buy one!!!

[FALZOO-XD]

none what so ever with mine

[JustSomeDude]

I am looking at one of these, too, and it's in kinda rough shape cosmetically, but I want to put a bake on finish on it, so that doesn't bother me. I do have a couple of questions about that project. I don't have any experience with this gun, but I have decent mechanical abilities. What should I be aware of when doing this project?