[augustino]

Today I picked up a Winchester 1300 I had on lay-a-way at a local pawn shop. When I first saw it I tried the action and was going to load a couple of snap caps to see how the feed was. The guy behind the counter nearly had a hemmorage! No sir you are not allowed to place a round into a firearm in this or any store! So I pointed out that these weren't live rounds, instead they were snap caps and I wanted to see how it feed.
I'm sorry sir I can't let you do that, blah blah blah...
So today I pick up the 1300 and rush home to check it out. First thing I do is place a snap cap into the mag and it just falls straight in. Damn waht a butt hole I am!!! I broke it down as I should have done in the store and the entire spring and cap was missing. Back to the shop and they have their gun smith connection who is going to get it right as they said.
I have got to be one of the dumbest S-O-B's ever born. That's sorry old boys I would never use profanity although I came close today.:confused:

[Pete409]

Snap caps aren't meant to replicate live ammo in feeding and functioning. They are solely for dropping the hammer on a "cartridge" manually placed in the chamber.

[WardenWolf]

Actually most are designed to test feeding as well, particularly because many firearms cannot be loaded singly.

[augustino]

Regardless of whether or not a snap cap is the best means for checking feeding, inserting 3 into the mag and pumping the gun to determine that the rounds can be delivered from the mag into the chamber does work. And IF they would have allowed me to conduct this test the first time I checked out the shotgun, I would have known for sure there was a feeding issue.
From that point I would have disassembled the SG and found out that the internal spring was not in place.

[Fred Fuller]

augustino,

'Buyer beware' is always good advice. Don't beat yourself up over this, it sounds as if the shop is going to make things right for you, and a magazine spring and follower aren't serious installation problems at all. You ought to be up to speed quickly, and the 1300 is a good design and shouldn't give you any trouble.

Just take it easy on yourself, and be safe with your new shotgun,

lpl

[Gunfighter123]

You should ALWAYS ask about a gun shops return policy on used firearms !!!!

More then one shop has a "you leave with it and its yours" policy.

[Geneseo1911]

Sorry to hear that Augustino. I would never have thought of the spring being missing either. On a used pump I'd make sure the trigger, safety and disconnector worked, check to make sure the shell release moves, check the action release button and call it good. I guess I'll have to add "make sure there's a spring in the mag" to my list. You'll enjoy the gun once you get it up and running though. My 1300 was the best money I ever spent.

[mbt2001]

With all of the "policies" that most stores have, it is very difficult to tell if you are getting a piece that is a POS or a diamond. My advice, if you are buying used, stick with name brands or make sure you get it at a price that includes some minor repair work. If NEW, make sure it is a reputable company.

OP, don't beat yourself up. It isn't your fault you trusted the gunshop to sell you what you intended to buy. being trusting isn't a fault. It is something we all do.

[mnrivrat]

Just curious as to wether you asked permission to run the snap caps though the gun before you attempted to ?

If I seen someone in the shop slipping a round into a gun he is looking at, I will get concerned real quick , as I don't know that it is inert without seeing it first.

Anyway, sounds like they are making it right, so you should be good to go, and yes, they should have known it was missing perhaps.

I say perhaps, because you wouldn't believe what happens in a gun shop when the guns are out for display where they can be handled. Missing choke tubes, and sights screwed off the barrel are a couple examples, so I see no reason why someone can't get by with stealing the mag spring and follower as well.

[augustino]

Just want to thank everyone for their comments, much appreciated. Yes they SAY they are willing to make it good and so we'll see. They also said they would refund my money but I want that 1300 as a compliment to my 1300 Defender.
The biggest downside to this is that next week, on 3/28 turkey season opens. And I planned to get some test firing in with the new SG yesterday & today. Can't do that now so I'll try to get to a range this week to see the patter of this gun.
But thanks again everyone!

And in reply to a question about having asked if I could load a few snap caps, no I didn not formerly ask. But once stopped by mgmt I did show them the caps and tell them these are complete dummies. They still didn't allow them to be loaded into the mag. I don't think they knowingly tried to rip me off. But maybe they did??? Perhaps some folks might have gone home, seen the spring as being missing and simply made the repair themselves. Go figure???

[Hungry Seagull]

Im happy to see that things are moving along and that they will make it right.

And yes Snap caps can be used to test the feed/unload etc at least mine does it well.

[SASS#23149]

If they offered you a refund,then I'd say they are a stand-up shop.
don't beat yourself up,I would have never thought to check for a spring and follower,and I've handled many many long guns at stores.

[inSight-NEO]

Im sorry about your troubles. Given this situation, if I ever buy a used shotgun, I will certainly be sure to open it up and take a look inside the mag tube.

Regardless of whether or not a snap cap is the best means for checking feeding, inserting 3 into the mag and pumping the gun to determine that the rounds can be delivered from the mag into the chamber does work.

Not necessarily...Several times have I used certain "snap caps" for function testing and wound up with several mis-feeds. I then tried a heavier type (dummy rounds) and had no mis-feeds at all. The weight, length, and design (particularly around the "lip") can affect reliable feeding. Of course, in your case, it seems as if this would have made no difference.

Anyway, Im not sure what "snap caps" you were using, but Ive been using Pachmayr brand and while nice, they tend to jam up the works when inserted into the tube. This has happened with every shotgun I own. I have since relegated them to "chamber feed" only, for the purpose of dropping the hammer. For true function testing, I now use A-Zoom dummy rounds as they more closely replicate the size/weight of standard 2 3/4" rounds.

But again, all of this stuff basically amounts to squat given the situation you personally encountered with this particular weapon. However, its something you might consider for future reference.

Regardless, if the guys who sold this gun to you are willing to make things right, consider yourself lucky.

[Rshooter]

It also amounts to our trust in the "dealer" we buy from whether they be a gunshop or a private seller. I always ask if I can disassemble or field strip a weapon before I buy it. I have only been denied once and that was at a formal gun shop. My money, which was out, went back into my pocket and I left with a thank-you.

[augustino]

Just to let everyone know today I picked up the 1300 from the pawn shop. It's was repaired as they said it would be. I ran a few snap caps through it and all feed & ejected as expected w/o a hitch!
So now it's mine. And something they did that was nice considering the circumstances, they gave me a BOYD leather trimmed case, in as close to perfect condition as one could ask for, for my trouble. I went on-line to price this case and it ranges from 89.00 to 109.00 bucks for the identical model!
So in the end it turned out well.

Thanks everyone for some solid info and feedback!
augustion