Lee... wonderful thread you have created! I bought a 7-shot FN TPS a few years ago and, having a number of shotguns already, gave it to my best friend as a gift. Now I'm kind of wishing I had given him something else and kept the TPS. But no problem. I just bought, on GB, two 1300 Defenders in top condition. One with wood furniture, the other still NIB as a PGO option.
This one has a beautiful polished blued finish and gorgeous furniture. I am thinking I will strip the slick varnish and do a tung oil-finish for better grip and richer looks.
This one seems to be matte black oxide? Or parkerized? Not sure which - any idea?
I'm making the PGO copy a permanent "Birdshead" PGO gun with the Speedfeed Birdshead grip, just for times when I want a very short shotgun for close-range use. I find the 1300 Defender with birdshead grip fired at mid-chest height is quite controllable and plenty accurate at 25' or less. I would likely only use it in the close confines of my home for HD and for carry in a vehicle on occasion.
I'm really enjoying getting to know the gun! Your thread helps add some very useful info.
In shooting my full wood furniture Defender, I don't find the recoil with 00 Buck bothersome at all. I think it must outweigh the TPS, though. The wood clad 18.25" Defender weighs more than a 20" 590, by a couple of ounces (6 lb. 15 oz. for the Defender and 6 lb. 14 oz. for the 20" 590).
stiletto... nice to hear of your experience with the Defender. The Centurion rounds sound interesting... I'm going to try to find some to test out. Thank you.