Winchester Defender

You see them here and there........ often as private-purchase guns.

The Defender 1300 is descended from the 1200, which is a modernized Winchester Model 12, which prior to the introduction of the 870, was THE pump shotgun of the shooting world (yeah, the Remington Model 10 had a lot of fans, but not as many as the Winchester. Even the Ithaca 37 didn't have as many fans as far as I know).

So there's nothing "wrong" with the 1300 (FN's new Police shotgun is essentially a 1300 on steroids). It's just the 870 has the market sewn up.

The 1300 is a very good shotgun. Few find themselves in cruisers. 870s have the police market pretty well cornered. That's because of their unequalled track record.

The Winchester in theory will not hold up as long as the 870. The point may be moot, I've never heard of one being worn out.

Murph, you're thinking of the Model 31 Remington.

I bought a Winchester 1300 Defender but had to return it because the bolt would not lock. I had fired a friends in the past and was impressed with it. Winchester claims that the 1300 is the fastest firing pump and from personal experience I believe it to be true.

I would take my 1300 over any other pump shotgun anyday. Its been awesome.

I like the one I have. It doesn't see much action since it's a house gun but every once in awhile I get it out for some informal trap in PA. Breaks em just as good as my other shotguns. It also groups 00 pretty good for me.

I bought mine in 1993. I take it out once a month to make sure I stay proficient with it as it's the primary HD piece at night.

I must have close to 10K rounds of 00 and slugs over the last 11 years without a hitch.

I like it very much.

If'n I ever have any money again, I'll get an 870. Meanwhile, I'm quite happy with my 1300.

I've had my eye on the camp defender lately. It has a 22 inch barrel and wood stocks. Looks very pretty. I think it will go nicely with my model 12.

Why is the 1300 more likely to wear out faster than an 870?

Why is the 1300 more likely to wear out faster than an 870?

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It has an aluminum reciever. Aluminum will break eventually due to fatigue failure. Steel will not. Chances are the failure point is so far out it won't matter unless the gun get neglected.

What's the weight comparison between the two (1300 vs 870)?

On alumminum vs. steel: Basically, if you've got enough money to shoot enough ammo to wear out the 1300, you've got enough money to buy a new one (or so I've heard).

What's the weight comparison between the two (1300 vs 870)?

On alumminum vs. steel: Basically, if you've got enough money to shoot enough ammo to wear out the 1300, you've got enough money to buy a new one (or so I've heard).

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Last time I checked the 1300 Defender was around a pound lighter than the comparable 870 (6.5 to 7.5 lbs).

Yes, the price of a new 1300 is tiny in comparison to the ammo cost to shoot it to breakage. If you treat it properly it will last a lifetime, if you treat it badly then it won't.

The difference is, the 870 uses the receiver to lock the bolt. In the 1300 the bolt is a lot like an AR-15 bolt, it locks directly into the barrel so there isn't all that stress on the receiver. The receiver is there just to hold all the internals, not for stress.

The difference is, the 870 uses the receiver to lock the bolt.

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No, the 870 bolt locks into the barrel extension.

I have two 1300s and they are both great. However, if and when I buy another pump gun it's going to be an 870. Do yourself a favor and buy the 870 the first time around.

Former 870 zealot here. Always liked the slick, fast action on the 1300 but never took them seriously. I used to have a nagging worry about the aluminum receiver. Then I remembered that my primary rifle has an aluminum receiver as well. Many of the same folks who look down on Winchesters and insist on the 870 for "serious use" will point out the aluminum receiver as the major weakness. In many cases, they have no hangups about the aluminum receiver on the AR that they also count on for "serious use." Seemed contradictory to me, so I quit worrying about it and got myself a 1300. Couldn't be happier.

My bad about the 870 bolt locking into the barrel extension. The bolt of my Winchester Model 12 locks to the upper part of the receiver.

For the record....

IMO, the 1300 is a darn good shotgun. I do think that under heavy use for a generation or three, the 870 will hold up longer. Using standard loads, the 870 may need a new oversize locking block around the 80-100K range. Nobody I know has run that many rounds through a 1300, and I'd be really interested in hearing the results.

This advantage is more theoretical than actual. We may see a 1300 worn out, though our children might.

Cameron Lamont reports his has over 23K of glitchless rounds behind it in the last few years.

I've other reports of 1300s used 5-8K or so a year for decades w/o a problem.

Let me invoke the McCrule for the Big Four shotguns.

Get the one that FEELS best....

I own a 1300 Defender and I like it. but when I asked my department if I could carry the 1300 as my shotgun I was told that I could carry whatever I wanted as long as it's an 870. I'm a detective and I'm not issued a shotgun though I have to qualify with one twice a year. I pointed out that according to the department's own firearms policy I could carry any modern pump or semi-action 12 gauge. I was told yes that 's correct so go get a Remington 870.

I went and got an 870.

The 1300 is still a great shotgun.