new win. 1400 and I got some questions

[p89cajun]

Went to cabelas yesterday and ended up leaving with a winchester 1400 MkII. The finish is worn pretty good but the wood seams in good condition with no super huge flaws. I figured for $135 out the door it would make a fun project if nothing else and let me try stock refinishing. It has a long barrel, over 28" so I guess a 30", that is a fixed full choke. Now I have a few questions.

1) Why are these guns so cheap? $135 for an auto seems low even with a lot of finish wear.

2) I want to try stock refinishing and figured this would make a good stock to try it out on but will it be worth my time. Is the wood a super cheap wood that even with a nice finish will look bad.

3) I am having trouble finding winchester dates of production. Does anyone know of a good site? The serial # is N555560. Not looking for a exact date just a general time frame.

4) As much as I wish this gun had choke tubes, having it threaded just wouldn't be very economical on a cheap gun like this. What would this set up be good for. A 30" barrel with a full choke.

Put a couple of #6 shells through her this morning just to check the function and everything seems fine but I haven't had time to do a complete breakdown and good cleaning. I really have no use for this gun other than to sit there and look pretty. If the wood can't do this for me I guess I will throw it behind the seat and make it a truck gun.

[Dave McCracken]

A friend has a similar 1400, 30" Full. He uses it for trap and doves.

[nollsp]

Why they are so low in price is beyond me...I just picked one up a few weeks ago (looks like new) for $225.

Mine is a 20...all choke tubes...and just shoots like a DREAM!

Smooth action, swings great and fits me to a T!

I thought I would try it for a while and see if I would like the auto and after two weekends with the gun, this is a keeper for sure.

The gas system is easy to clean...and it likes to stay that way.

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

1) Why are these guns so cheap? $135 for an auto seems low even with a lot of finish wear.

Good question - great shotgun. I got a 20 ga in outstanding condition with vent rib and threaded bbl for choke tubes, for $235. It runs flawlessly. The only reason why they are cheaper is because our society has "magnumitis" and think that 2.75" shells won't do the job - gotta have a 3 or 3.5" magnum to kill anything. Nothing's further from the truth, so these are excellent finds for those who know. A light to moderate 20 ga will kill most anything very well, from clays to quail to grouse to pheasant. A high brass 2.75 will also work fine for turkeys and waterfowl.

[p89cajun]

It's funny about the magumitis. Almost all the used shotguns cabelas had were chambered in 2.75". I wonder if it were all people trading in for a gun that would shoot 3"

[TX1911fan]

I refinished to stock on mine and it turned out great. Strip it, sand it, stain it, Tung Oil it and you will be very happy.

One reason they sell for so cheap is that parts are very hard to find now, so you may have just bought a disposable gun. You may want to look into buying a parts kit so you can repair it in the future.

[evbutler462]

Around 40 years ago I bought a Win 1400. Loved it. A friend wanted worse. I sold it. Bought another. Another friend wanted it worse. These are good, light guns that will give good service.

Advice: Be on the lookout for another used 1400 beater and use it for parts. I've never had to have a part for one but you never know. The beater may have a better barrel than the one you now own. Lots of old 1400 beaters in pawn shops that can be dickered for. Offer 50% of the tag price and work up until you either say no or buy it. The tag price usually represents about 40% of what the pawn shop has in it.

[surfinUSA]

The Winchester 1400 is a great gun. I have the Ted Williams 300 version, vent rib, double bead, adjustable choke. Its a reliable, easy shooting gun.

I believe that these guns, like all post 64 Winchesters, needlessly are critisied by those that didn't see the forward thinking inovations of Winchester.

The aluminum receiver was critisied back then yet now its the standard the rotating bolt is strong and reliable, now also used by benelli. The gas system is very simple but it works reliably. Because of the gas system it only has a two round magazine but in a hunting gun this is not a problem as many states limit shotguns to three round.

Thank god that its as under appreciated as it is. Consequently its one of the few quality used semi autos you can routinely find for $200 or less. No its not an A5 Browning, Super X1 or an 1100 but there are a lot of worse guns you can bring into the field.

[Moonclip]

I got one in real nice shape, a MKII also, in 2006 for $125, it had removeable chokes. I've had no problems with it. They are generlaly underpriced.

[Hawk]

Why so cheap?

My wild guess is the 3 round capacity.
And the fact that the 3 round capacity is non-negotiablel. Can't use extensions so the tactical crowd will never warm up to them.

It is a convenient way of never forgetting your magazine plug - comes in handy when hunting sometimes.

I probably wouldn't be much bothered by it - I've been known to spend more on shotguns with a capacity 33% lower than the 1400. 1400s are plentiful in the 200 and sub-200 price range and that's a good thing.