Got my first shotgun! *hee, hee, hee!*

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Evyl Robot

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On Saturday, the wife and I were at the pawn shop that we frequent. We have been wanting to get into long guns, as we have been on a revolver binge since we started shooting. At the pawn shop, we decided to fondle shotguns.

Long story short, we wound up purchasing a 28-inch Winchester 1300 20-gauge. --and we love it! We went through 50 rounds at the range on Saturday, and you would have thought that we were a couple of kids with a new toy! I had no idea that a pump action would cycle this smooth and quickly, and the recoil is still low enough that it doesn't bother my wife's shoulder, which she has had trouble with in the past.

It's scratched and dinged (the gun, not my wife's shoulder), so I don't have to be paranoid about its looks, but functioned flawlessly. The bluing is mostly intact, and the stock has most of the finish on it.

After shooting, my friend that works at the range pulled out the choke tube to look at it. To his surprise, it came out with finger force, and would not thread back in. Now, the gun is with the smith, and I haven't heard back about it. Worst case scenario, if they can't get the choke tube back in, I think I'll have the barrel cut down to the limits of the law, and make it a dedicated house gun.

One thing that I keep asking myself is why we didn't do this sooner. We only paid $150.00 for the gun, which seems like a pretty good deal to me. This thing is cheap to feed at the range, and we both love shooting it. How could be possibly be wrong? Does that price seem fair for this gun to some of you shotgun aficionados? Thanks!

--Michael
 
Have you considered having a Deluxe Polychoke installed on it? IMHO, if you have Polychoke cut the barrel to 24" and put their Deluxe model on it, you will have a 26" ver versatile shotgun. I've been using them over 40 years and will not have a gun without one. You have everything from a full choke to cylinder at your fingertips and it beats the heck out of screw-ins. Some guys don't like their looks but I do. You can't even see it if your gun has a vent rib.

Another option would be to have a gunsmith cut a couple of inches off the barrel and rethread it for the Winchoke. Then you can walk around with a pocketfull of chokes. I'd go with the Polychoke. Then all you do is dial in the choke you need.
 
Have you considered having a Deluxe Polychoke installed on it?
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No I had not, because I was ignorant of any such device! How cool is that! Seriously, this is all completely new to me. When I was a kid, my dad let me shoot his Remington 12-gauge ONCE just so I could FEEL THE POWER. Then, I shot five shells from a Beretta 12 at the local firearms expo. Beyond those two experiences, this is the first I've had any dealings with shotguns at all. Please, keep the advice rolling in. How much to the chokes usually cost, anyway?
 
You will never regret having this installed on your gun:

Check out this link:

http://www.poly-choke.com/choke.htm

A very handy device. Just send them your barrel and the overall length you want. I have mine at 24" overall. They will cut your barrel next to a rib support so that it will look good.
 
They install either a bead or a new high viz flourescent front sight. I really like the high viz sight. There is no extra charge. Download their order form and ship your barrel to them. They have less than a week turnaround.

You will have a very handy do-it-all shotgun.
 
Note - Most shotgun afficianodos do not like PolyChokes. Having one installed is not cheap and will usually decerease the value of a gun.
What were you shooting? Cutting the barrel will decrease the weight and increase the kick. And, I think it increases the noise too. A longer barrel like the 28" you have is generally preferred for shooting at clay pigeons. For HD lots of people cut the length to make it handier.
The gunsmith should be able to run a tap into your barrel and clean out the threads and then your screw in choke should be fine.
If you want a PolyChoke, get one that screws into the same threads your choke tube does, and then it is removable. Check the price of removable tubes versus a Polychoke too.
 
Note - Most shotgun afficianodos do not like PolyChokes. Having one installed is not cheap and will usually decerease the value of a gun.
What were you shooting? Cutting the barrel will decrease the weight and increase the kick. And, I think it increases the noise too. A longer barrel like the 28" you have is generally preferred for shooting at clay pigeons. For HD lots of people cut the length to make it handier.
The gunsmith should be able to run a tap into your barrel and clean out the threads and then your screw in choke should be fine.
If you want a PolyChoke, get one that screws into the same threads your choke tube does, and then it is removable. Check the price of removable tubes versus a Polychoke too.
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+1..... I have to agree. And would you really want to put $150 choke system on a $150 gun?

BTW thats a reasonable price for that gun IMO.
Shoot it alot, have fun...enjoy!
 
You may just want to get another barrel in 18" instead of cutting the one you have.
 
Good price on a fairtomiddlin' shotgun. There's lots of happy 1200 owners in Shotgunland.

Put me down as one of the folks who dislike Polychokes. While they work, often well, I dislike the esthetics and muzzle heavy feel. Internal choke tubes are much better, IMO.

New barrels are not hard to find, but see how this one works out first.

Next, BA/UU/R.....
 
I bought a Winchester 1300 in 12 guage several years ago. I really liked the gun a lot. It now belongs to my son.

I really like it better than the Rem. 870 Express and the Mossberg 500 that I had prior to getting the Winchester.
 
You may just want to get another barrel in 18" instead of cutting the one you have.
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See, I'm kind of torn on this issue. I know that I could get another barrel. I would really like to retain the length so it's a decent field gun when I go camping, but that makes it difficult to double as a house gun. Since the other weapons we have are revolvers, it only makes sense for the SG to be the house gun. When barrels are floating around the internet for ~$150, maybe I should be looking for a second gun! If I found a similar deal on a 12, I would feel differently about hacking up the 20 as a dedicated house gun. Of course, I find myself musing whether it would be advantageous to split the difference and have it cut down to - oh, say - 22-inches - just for the sake of argument. Losing six inches off the barrel would make it handier around the house, and might leave enough length to have fun in the field. Or, would it be the worst of both worlds with a gun that's still too long to easily maneuver in tight quarters, and not enough barrel length to make a decent long shot? Any of you have input on this idea?

And would you really want to put $150 choke system on a $150 gun?
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I think the concept of the poly-choke is wonderful, but this is what I keep coming back to on the issue. I understand that there are other manufacturers with similar systems. I believe that I saw a Savage-made one on another gun once. Are there more economical alternatives to Poly-Choke that will still be as effective? Beyond that, it would kind of be like pearls before swine. I can see the value of being able to tune the choke like that, but I wouldn't know what to do with it any more than my mom would know what to do with tunable struts on her car. I'm kind of leaning in the direction of picking up a couple different conventional chokes and playing with them prior to doing this type of mod.

--Michael
 
I would think you could find a used barrel and cut that cheaper than any other alternative, but the cheapest one I see on a quick look was $130. Keeping the barrel you have and buying another $19.95 choke tube is looking good I would say. A 28" barrel on a 20 is not really unhandy at all. I have shot enough wood ducks in a thick swamp and doves to vouch for that.
 
A 28" barrel on a 20 is not really unhandy at all.
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Except indoors.

I have shot enough wood ducks in a thick swamp and doves to vouch for that.
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I would bet never in your hallway. That's certainly why I'm torn. I like the 28. I believe you are right though. And, the first barrel I find to fit it under $50 is coming home with me. That is for certain.

--Michael
 
As mentioned above, many folks dislike polychokes. I have picked up two guns over the years for $100 each BECAUSE they had polychokes - a Remington 870 and Winchester Model 12.

If you want a polychoke, check out the used racks. Also ask at gun shops if they have used barrels for your Winchester. They might not be on display. You can also order a barrel over the internet.

Congrats on a good shooter and a wife who enjoys shooting! Good luck with that choke.
 
If you plan on keeping the gun, the $150.00 for the Polychoke is a great investment. I have several guns with Polys and do not plan to dispose of any of them.

My advice: Consider the barrel length you want and send the barrel to Polychoke and let them fix you up. My guns are tools and I have never entered them in a beauty contest. I dearly love the convenience of the variable choke. Truglo also makes a great variable choke.

If you want a handy gun that will fit all your needs, I would not hesitate to spend $150.00 on a $150.00 gun. The price of the gun should not be a factor. Spend a day in the woods hunting various game and fiddle with screw-in chokes when changing from waterfowl to quail to squirrels to crows. With a Poly or Truglo, all you have to do is set it to the choke you need and have at it. The looks make no never mind to me. I think they look cool and they work great. In fact, they improve the looks of some of the guns marketed today.

If you want a quick solution, go with either Truglo or Polychoke. You won't be sorry. I will not have a shotgun that I use for hunting unless it has a variable choke. Plus, I have won many a turkey at turkey shoots with it set on extra full.
 
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