Mossberg 500 or Winchester 1300?

Status
Not open for further replies.

washambala

Member
Joined
Dec 2, 2009
Messages
148
Location
Phoenix, Arizona
I had my heart set on the 500 for my first shotgun but I was looking around on gunbroker and saw the 1300s. Now I cant decide. What would you guys do?

(I can only afford one right now)
 
I bought and shot my Mossberg 500 today (first gun bought since becoming an "adult" ;)) and I love it! But then again I have never shot a Winchester 1300 so I cant really speak. BTW I got a hell of a deal on my 500, 340$ for the gun and had plenty left over to pick up a few boxes of 12ga 00 :D
 
I own a 1200 Winchester and a lot of Mossberg 500's and they are both good. The Winchester will have less add-ons available. Which safety position do you prefer? The WIn is a cross-bolt, the M500 is a tang. If you like cross-bolt and Mossberg, look at a Maverick 88 by Mossberg. Same as a 500 but with the WInchester safety.
 
Both very cool. They aren't making 1300s anymore, if that's a consideration. The action on the 1300 is smoother, and probably just a tad faster as the bolt unlocks and begins to move rearward when you pull the trigger. very slick. The safety isn't in the ideal location, it's a bit of a reach for me, plus it's not particularly lefty-friendly.
 
I wouldn't say the Winchester 1200/1300 series is more quality than the Mossberg series. Mossberg is a utility gun built and designed to a price point so manufacturing doesn't have to be sacrificed. it's designed to be built inexpensive, yet it works, and does that well. The Winchester some argue looks nice and bling on the outside but there are some weaknesses in the design that people burned Winchester for when switching from the Model 12. One consideration is the mag tube has plastic throat inserts that could wear out. There's something else about the action bar and bolt carrier assembly, but I have forgotten. There's a member at Shotgunworld who goes by SuperXOne and he knows a lot about it (go search up the thread there), and he hates both Mossberg and Winchester pumps and praises Remington 870's, but his argument although biased, has some weight.
 
The Mossberg 590 is more of an equal to the Winchester than the 500.

The Maverick is made of parts from Mexico.

I own a 500 and a Winchester 1300 (rebadged FN TPS, actually).
 
I'd steer clear of the 1300 personally. We've had one for a few years now and have had nothing but problems with it. Its sits in the back of the safe and nobody will even bring it out for a range day. My dad bought it as a gun for my brother who has lost interest in shooting so I spent some time with it to figure it out. The stock was splintering within the first 200 rounds and on more than one occasion we've had a day cut short because it would jam up and the slide wouldn't move an inch after a shot was fired. Honestly, I don't trust the gun at all and I find it uncomfortable to shoot. I'm also 6'2'' and have had problems with thumbing my nose when shooting high power shells...this is just my opinion...we could've just gotten a single bad one out of the batch...but the fact that they're no longer in production should tell you something about the success of the gun...I'd go with the mossberg, its a heck of a gun that has had great success simply because it works and works well for the price paid...

my 2 cents anyway
 
Winchester 1300 is twice the quality gun.

This is correct, I hate to say it. Hands down the 1300 wins over an 870 (express), but the 500 vs. 1300 is a hard one. Yes the 1300 has a better reputation, but my Mossberg has just been a beast for many years.
 
The 1200/1300 is no better than the 500, and many are getting long in the tooth. Parts and accessories are much more available for the Mossberg 500/590 than the Winchester 1200/1300, if that matters to you. I have owned all of these and many more and speak from a lot of experience. Buy the one that suits your preferences and fits you better.
 
A few things.
I can get both guns for about the same price. I am aware that the 1300 is only available used and have no problem buying used. As for the safety, it doesnt really matter that much at this point. The only shotgun shooting I have done is with a Winchester SX2 (Dads) and this has just been with clays. I havent shot it enough to have gotten used to the safety yet.

If it helps at all this will be a fun gun mostly with an HD role when its not being used. This will be the only gun I have (so far) that will have any knock down power so it will stand ready when Im not shooting. Most of its use will be in clay games though and it should be more suited to that.
 
Mossberg 500 OR Winchester 1300

I own both.
A 500 Mossberg; A 1300 Defender; A 1300 long barrel hunting model.
In my oponion the 1300 is a smoother, faster cycling, more refined SG.
The overall quality of the Winchester is superior to that of the 500.
The 1300 is lighter as well due in part to the alloy receiver which I am 100% sold on! Some may say that the alloy receiver is weaker, thus a fault with the 1300. I disagree strongly for the following reason, which is another attribute about the 1300 that's won me over. The 1300 uses a four lug rotary lock bolt, similar to the AR-15's. It locks solidly into the chamber of the barrel and keeps pressure trapped in the barrel through the peak of the firing cycle. Because of this the receiver does NOT have to withstand the pressure. So the lighter material works! After the pressure peaks and returns to a safe level, the bolt unlocks and the remaining pressure assists the bolt traveling backwards. This makes the 1300 fast to cycle rounds. In fact it's billed as the fastest, smoothest pump action shotgun, period. And based upon my experiences I agree. The follow-up shots are so quick it almost feels like the darn thing will cycle-pump rounds on its own!.
It has dual action bars for real smooth chambering of shells and this helps prevent the action from binding-up. I've never had a binding problem with either of the 1300 that I own, in fact never a problem period.
I guess they got the name "1300 Speed Pump" for a reason, it's fast man, real fast!
I even read about it having been tested with one of those electronic timers. According to those tests the average was .56 of a second for three shots. That’s right, about a half second! Of course I'm NOT able to shoot as fast as those guys that conducted these tests. And accuracy goes out the window when cycling rounds that quickly. But I cite if to illustrate a point.
So anyway I look at it the 1300 pumps very fast and is quite strong thanks to that 4-lug rotary bolt designed system.
Like I said I actually feel it with my forward pump hand. That thing is fast! And slick!

I do however like the location of the safety on the Mossberg better than any SG I've ever owned, used or held.

BUT with that being said you'll probably be happy with either, but for me it's the 1300.
 
If you want the the rotating bolt concept in a pump, take a look at the Benelli Nova/Supernova. Aside from the plastic, it's steel skeleton, has a mag cutoff, and is more expensive although still produced.
 
Yes on the Nova. If you only want a short barrel, and if the rebates are still in place, you should be able to pick up a brand new Nova Tactical for $300-350 after rebates. If you want a "sporting" length barrel too, forget it - Benelli barrels are waaaaaay too expensive.
 
1300 all day long! Winchester is 10 times the gun of mossberg, and that is when Winchester was still 100% American! I have a select energy, 1300, 1500, '97, and a new SXP defender. I have never had a jam or misfire one in any of my shotguns, and have had and seen mossbergs jam a lot in high demand situations. you can find the new SXP Field for 300-350 in most gun stores and it is brand new, not used
 
How do you like the SXP? Even though the 1300 is discontinued I imagine the SXP has most of it's parts in common.
 
The fact is that it's hard to buy an American-made pump shotgun that isn't at least "really good" and most are better than that, at least when shipped from the factory. Abuse or (unlikely) really high round counts may affect an individual example but that's not what's being discussed. To the OP I would say again: try to get your hands on one of each. They are slightly different in terms of their ergonomics - see which fits and works better for YOU, then buy that one and learn to shoot it well.
 
I own a Mossberg 500AT and a Maverick 88.

The Mav cost me $250 after tax new, and I bought the Mossberg 500AT sans stock and barrel for $40.

The Mossberg/ Maverick is a utilitarian piece as mentioned earlier, and is quite reliable. It may not look the best, but they are inexpensive, easy to personalize and replacement parts are everywhere. The same can't be said for the Win1300, as they are not longer in production.

What are your plans for the 12 gauge? Home defense? Hunting? Blasting off rounds at the local junk yard? Some of each?

Either would be good for any purpose. Again, I prefer my Mossberg due to the number of available barrels. My Mav came standard with a 28" smoothbore, which I use for goose, duck and turkey hunting (various chokes not included). I bought an 18.5" smooth bore and added a heat shield and ghost ring sights for home defense. And lastly bought a 24" rifled barrel for deer hunting.

As Mossberg barrels and fairly inexpensive, the Maverick88/ Mossberg 500 purchases made fiscal sense to a guy on a budget. I can set up the guns in any manner I desire, for a wide variety of functions. Not so sure if the Winchester has as many options available to it.
 
JNewell- Are these the sort of guns a larger range might rent? I would expect the 500 to be available but the 1300 doesnt seem popular enough.
 
Mossy 500 all day. Easy to load, easy to unload, easy to shoot, never has elevator jams, and it has a thumb activated safety that is very easy to get to if you're using a non pistol grip setup. Its the little brother of the 590 A1 which was produced for the DoD. Mossberg still makes the 500. Mossberg has a rack of variants and replacement parts for it. Mossberg.
 
I am in the you can't go wrong with either camp. If they are around the same price you should try and shoot them both and see which one you like better. I have shot both and prefer the Mossberg but only because I have more time behind this gun. If you guys have Big Five up there in Flagstaff you should check out the deals they have on Mossbergs the one by my house usually has combo's with a long barrel and a short barrel for under $300. Just some food for thought good luck.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top