Why I Will Never Buy Another Winchester

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SwampWolf

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Joined
Sep 18, 2005
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Location
North Central Ohio
On Christmas of 2019, I gave my son-in-law, Jon, a Winchester "Super X Defender" (a Model 1300 pump variant) that I purchased new for $279.99. The gun sat in his closet unfired until he went to a range last week near Apex, N.C., where he lives (raising my three grandchildren and being the owner of his junk removal business "JunkLuggers of the Triangle" keeps him a busy man) to fire it for the first time. The following is an account from Jon describing his experiences via e-mail that he forwarded to me:

12-16-22 E-mail sent to Winchester from Jon: "Hello, I own a Winchester 1300 12 gauge, serial no. L35798xx. I was at the range and the barrel hanger broke off. The gunsmith at the range told me I should contact you because apparently this is something that should never happen. The range officer said the gun was defective and should be repaired by Winchester for free."

12-19-22 E-mail sent to Jon from Winchester: "Hello, Thank you for reaching out to us on your gun. Due to the age of the gun, we no longer offer service on this firearm. All gun parts and service have moved to Midwest Gun Works. They are an excellent dealer that we trust to do a superb job on our firearms. Please reach to them at 636-475-7300."

Jon contacted Midwest Gun Works and received this estimate for repair: "Hi Jon, this happens often and we can repair it. You're looking at 1 1/2 hours labor @ $112.50 to resolder it, $125.00 to reblue the barrel and return shipping/ins is about $50.00. We are 10-12 weeks out on service work at this time."

Winchester made a lot of Model 1300 pump shotguns over the past several decades and I thought they were still making them. I'm very disappointed with the cavalier attitude from the customer "service" department. Obviously, a cost of $287.00 (plus whatever it costs to ship the gun to the repair shop) isn't viable in terms of what the gun is worth. My only advice to Jon at this point in time is to find a local gunsmith and get an estimate.

Any other advice? Entropy to the rescue?!
 
Terrible that Winchester won't take care of it.

Honestly, I bet you could find someone to TIG weld it on (probably take all of 10 minutes). Then spray some paint on the area afterwards. Not the prettiest solution, but it'd be functional. I'd do it for you for free if you were in CO.
 
Possible advice.
So sorry for the firearm problems. I hate broken guns and guns which have a tendancy to break.
I didn't know Winchester shotguns had a bad reputation, although I've never looked at them much.

Keep watch for a used Winchester which might use the same barrel type and keep both for parts.

Totally scrap the Winchester idea and switch over to the Mossberg 500/590/590A1 series which seems to have been going for years now.
https://www.mossberg.com/firearms/shotguns.html

Even the current Remarms/Remington 870 might be a choice, although I'm unsure/don't-know how viable the current Remarms company is.
https://www.remarms.com/shotguns/pump-action/model-870/

Or just pay Midwest Gun Works what the price is to repair. Shipping should just be for the barrel, which will be less expensive vs. the entire firearm. Perhaps skip getting the barrel reblued and merely spray paint the barrel upon its return.
 
SwampWolf said:
On Christmas of 2019, I gave my son-in-law, Jon, a Winchester "Super X Defender" (a Model 1300 pump variant) that I purchased new for $279.99. The gun sat in his closet unfired until he went to a range last week near Apex, N.C., where he lives (raising my three grandchildren and being the owner of his junk removal business "JunkLuggers of the Triangle" keeps him a busy man) to fire it for the first time. The following is an account from Jon describing his experiences via e-mail that he forwarded to me:

12-16-22 E-mail sent to Winchester from Jon: "Hello, I own a Winchester 1300 12 gauge, serial no. L35798xx. I was at the range and the barrel hanger broke off. The gunsmith at the range told me I should contact you because apparently this is something that should never happen. The range officer said the gun was defective and should be repaired by Winchester for free."

12-19-22 E-mail sent to Jon from Winchester: "Hello, Thank you for reaching out to us on your gun. Due to the age of the gun, we no longer offer service on this firearm. All gun parts and service have moved to Midwest Gun Works. They are an excellent dealer that we trust to do a superb job on our firearms. Please reach to them at 636-475-7300."

Jon contacted Midwest Gun Works and received this estimate for repair: "Hi Jon, this happens often and we can repair it. You're looking at 1 1/2 hours labor @ $112.50 to resolder it, $125.00 to reblue the barrel and return shipping/ins is about $50.00. We are 10-12 weeks out on service work at this time."

Winchester made a lot of Model 1300 pump shotguns over the past several decades and I thought they were still making them. I'm very disappointed with the cavalier attitude from the customer "service" department. Obviously, a cost of $287.00 (plus whatever it costs to ship the gun to the repair shop) isn't viable in terms of what the gun is worth. My only advice to Jon at this point in time is to find a local gunsmith and get an estimate.

Any other advice? Entropy to the rescue?!
Click to expand...

I wouldn't give 300 dollars for any 1200/1300/1400 shotgun. I have 15 years of complaining about those on here. My own new 1400 broke within the first 25 round. And it's continued since that one. I've had more of those 3 shotguns come to me broke than EVERY other brand of shotgun combined even the budget Turkish guns. If not the barrel coming apart then the ejector gets eat by the action because of the tiny pin breaking or walking out or the bolt bridge breaks. The ejector are sold in 3 packs..... thats how good they are. And there are at least 3 variants where winchester changed it to fix the issue.... never helped. I keep plenty

I did buy a new 150 dollar sxp during black Friday with my cabelas points. It will remain in the box until I die. That way maybe it will work for the next person.
 
Sad story. It reminds me to go try anything new ASAP to check function. Many items are dead on arrival, especially in electronics. I am lucky it never happened to me with a firearm. Well, my used Baïkal side by side busted after two or three cases of trap, but it was used, maby a little abused by the previous owner, certainly not new. Very disappointing from Winchester on that one. Never had an ounce of trouble with my own SXP shotgun, I guess I could have.
 
I've been considering a new Model 1873 rifle. I would have favored the Winchester made by Miroku, but this causes me some concern.

I can't say that I'm particularly sympathetic about a $279 shotgun being junk. What's more concerning is Winchester's willingness to sell such a thing in the first place, and then their approach to aftersales support.

For what an 1873 would cost me, I would expect nothing less than perfection -- 1 in 1000. Anything short of that, and I would absolutely expect Winchester to make good on it. If this isn't what I can expect, then I will buy one of the Uberti replicas through Taylors, not that I would expect them to be more perfect, but that they'd throw in an 1873 single-action pistol with the rifle, all for less than the Winchester.
 
My problem started with Winchester back in the 70s when they stuck me on a parts order. I sent them a parts order with a check, they cashed the check and then would not ship the parts because they were in bankruptcy. The proper thing to do would have been send me the infilled order and check back.
That was the end of my gun shops business with Winchester.

So as to what westernrover said about expecting- expect from Winchester in one hand and shat in the other, and see which one fills up the fastest!
As to your problem, a good smith or even a good TIG or mig welder should be able to reattach it for you.
 
I’ve ‘heard’ but not experienced (never owned one) that the 1300 was prone to failure.

For years now I’ve been looking for a 1300 Upland (English straight stock) version. No particular reason. I just like pump SG’s with straight stocks.

I think the replies above have finally put that desire to rest. I’m over it now.
 
You're going to take a loss on it no matter what, so either see which shops are willing to buy it in its current condition or wait for a gun buyback and get a $25 or $50 gift card in return.

I learned a long time ago it pays to go with the common, popular guns because they'll always be made and serviced. Winchester is just a brand now, not some precision crafted piece of quality.
 
The USA made 1300's were pretty solid guns. I have an older one that has worked great for years. No experience with the newer imported shotguns. But if it was bought new in 2019, it should be current production and easily repaired at the factory.

But at any rate it isn't an expensive collectible. It's a working gun. You should be able to get someone locally to solder the part back on for a few bucks. I wouldn't even re-blue it. I'd either live with it, or give it a rattle can camo job.
 
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TTv2 said:
You're going to take a loss on it no matter what, so either see which shops are willing to buy it in its current condition or wait for a gun buyback and get a $25 or $50 gift card in return.

I learned a long time ago it pays to go with the common, popular guns because they'll always be made and serviced. Winchester is just a brand now, not some precision crafted piece of quality.
Click to expand...

In this case, it's hard to say the winchester 1300 isn't "common and popular" though. From the 97 to the 12 winchester made the best shotguns. Riding on that "common and popular" reputation is why the 1200,1300,1400/120,130,140 sold. The 1300 was made for 40 years


jmr40 said:
The USA made 1300's were pretty solid guns. I have an older one that has worked great for years. No experience with the newer imported shotguns. But if it was bought new in 2019, it should be current production and easily repaired at the factory.

But at any rate it isn't an expensive collectible. It's a working gun. You should be able to get someone locally to solder the part back on for a few bucks. I wouldn't even re-blue it. I'd either live with it, or give it a rattle can camo job.
Click to expand...

Pretty sure they were all US made. They moved production after they killed the 1300 and called it sxp. Every one I've had come to me broke was US made. The ejector design was terrible. Three updates and it never helped. The barrel was just shotty manufacturing on some guns. Not really design issues. The bolt bridge was pretty uncommon but enough that I've seen it twice. Quite possibly caused by owners though.

The sxp is very similar but I've not seen one broke yet. Maybe nobody buys them because they had a 1400 or 1300. Lol
 
Have had a couple bad experiences with Winchester. Not their firearms but their ammo. Have had more than one squib load from Winchester white box .38 spec. Looks like the cases had primers with no powder. Also had a box of dynapoint .22 magnum ammo that was swelled and would not chamber in my rifle. Contacted Winchester and they requested I send the ammo to them at my expense. I sent the ammo to them but never heard anymore from them, nor did they replace my ammo.
Have never owned a Winchester firearm but do have a Winchester Golden Boy Pocket knife.
 
SwampWolf said:
On Christmas of 2019, I gave my son-in-law, Jon, a Winchester "Super X Defender" (a Model 1300 pump variant) that I purchased new for $279.99. The gun sat in his closet unfired until he went to a range last week near Apex, N.C., where he lives (raising my three grandchildren and being the owner of his junk removal business "JunkLuggers of the Triangle" keeps him a busy man) to fire it for the first time. The following is an account from Jon describing his experiences via e-mail that he forwarded to me:

12-16-22 E-mail sent to Winchester from Jon: "Hello, I own a Winchester 1300 12 gauge, serial no. L35798xx. I was at the range and the barrel hanger broke off. The gunsmith at the range told me I should contact you because apparently this is something that should never happen. The range officer said the gun was defective and should be repaired by Winchester for free."

12-19-22 E-mail sent to Jon from Winchester: "Hello, Thank you for reaching out to us on your gun. Due to the age of the gun, we no longer offer service on this firearm. All gun parts and service have moved to Midwest Gun Works. They are an excellent dealer that we trust to do a superb job on our firearms. Please reach to them at 636-475-7300."

Jon contacted Midwest Gun Works and received this estimate for repair: "Hi Jon, this happens often and we can repair it. You're looking at 1 1/2 hours labor @ $112.50 to resolder it, $125.00 to reblue the barrel and return shipping/ins is about $50.00. We are 10-12 weeks out on service work at this time."

Winchester made a lot of Model 1300 pump shotguns over the past several decades and I thought they were still making them. I'm very disappointed with the cavalier attitude from the customer "service" department. Obviously, a cost of $287.00 (plus whatever it costs to ship the gun to the repair shop) isn't viable in terms of what the gun is worth. My only advice to Jon at this point in time is to find a local gunsmith and get an estimate.

Any other advice? Entropy to the rescue?!
Click to expand...

Not much I can do on that. I don't have the equipment or tools to braze it back on. Midwest does do good work, it sucks that Winchester won't fix it on their dime.
 
SwampWolf said:
My only advice to Jon at this point in time is to find a local gunsmith and get an estimate.
Click to expand...

Looks like my advice is really the only option Jon has. As others have opined, rebluing the barrel is putting lipstick on a pig. I'm amazed, though, that Winchester could make as many Model 1300s as they did and over such a relatively long period of time if the design/workmanship and/or materials was as bad as is being reported here. But it's the complete lack of service and unsympathetic attitude from Winchester that bothers and disappoints me most. I thank everyone for their advice and well-considered inputs.

Even though my first gun was a Model 67 Winchester single-shot rifle I received as a Christmas gift in 1957 when I was 14 years old and even though I have bought many Winchester firearms since, I will never buy another Winchester.
 
SwampWolf said:
Looks like my advice is really the only option Jon has. As others have opined, rebluing the barrel is putting lipstick on a pig. I'm amazed, though, that Winchester could make as many Model 1300s as they did and over such a relatively long period of time if the design/workmanship and/or materials was as bad as is being reported here. But it's the complete lack of service and unsympathetic attitude from Winchester that bothers and disappoints me most. I thank everyone for their advice and well-considered inputs.

Even though my first gun was a Model 67 Winchester single-shot rifle I received as a Christmas gift in 1957 when I was 14 years old and even though I have bought many Winchester firearms since, I will never buy another Winchester.
Click to expand...

A new barrel is still likely cheaper than even a local gunsmith, certainly more expedient.

The Winchester company that made your model 67 has nothing in common with the company that made the OP shotgun other than the brand name.

I hate that brands don't die with the company that creates them...
 
SwampWolf said:
On Christmas of 2019, I gave my son-in-law, Jon, a Winchester "Super X Defender" (a Model 1300 pump variant) that I purchased new for $279.99. The gun sat in his closet unfired until he went to a range last week near Apex, N.C., where he lives (raising my three grandchildren and being the owner of his junk removal business "JunkLuggers of the Triangle" keeps him a busy man) to fire it for the first time. The following is an account from Jon describing his experiences via e-mail that he forwarded to me:

12-16-22 E-mail sent to Winchester from Jon: "Hello, I own a Winchester 1300 12 gauge, serial no. L35798xx. I was at the range and the barrel hanger broke off. The gunsmith at the range told me I should contact you because apparently this is something that should never happen. The range officer said the gun was defective and should be repaired by Winchester for free."

12-19-22 E-mail sent to Jon from Winchester: "Hello, Thank you for reaching out to us on your gun. Due to the age of the gun, we no longer offer service on this firearm. All gun parts and service have moved to Midwest Gun Works. They are an excellent dealer that we trust to do a superb job on our firearms. Please reach to them at 636-475-7300."

Jon contacted Midwest Gun Works and received this estimate for repair: "Hi Jon, this happens often and we can repair it. You're looking at 1 1/2 hours labor @ $112.50 to resolder it, $125.00 to reblue the barrel and return shipping/ins is about $50.00. We are 10-12 weeks out on service work at this time."

Winchester made a lot of Model 1300 pump shotguns over the past several decades and I thought they were still making them. I'm very disappointed with the cavalier attitude from the customer "service" department. Obviously, a cost of $287.00 (plus whatever it costs to ship the gun to the repair shop) isn't viable in terms of what the gun is worth. My only advice to Jon at this point in time is to find a local gunsmith and get an estimate.

Any other advice? Entropy to the rescue?!
Click to expand...

Thoughts: Winchester as you, I and a lot of people here knew it, ceased to exist in 2006. If you bought it new after that, it is probably a Turkish-made shotgun. Your son-in-law will have less time and money in buying a replacement barrel.
 
You didn't buy a Winchester. You bought a Turk. Had a guy come in and order a Win 1873. Fancy wood, color case, octagon barrel. Came in, paid the balance and left. Came back all p'oed. "This thing is made in Japan! Take it back!"
$1800.
We politely refused. He has asked for a gun he pointed out in a catalog and we got it for him. I told him that Winchester was just a name now and none were US made. Japan, Belgium, Portugal and Turkey. He said he was going to scrap it. I offered him $10/pound not to.
Sad but true.
 
If there was still a Winchester company making guns it might make sense for them to fix the gun or replace it. But...that is not the case. Whoever is running the name now has no liability for previous stuff. So...do not buy anything Winchester if you do not want to. I got lifetime warranties from Grant's, Penny's, Sears Roebuck, and others in my shop. I got Winchesters of different kinds and periods too. I am on my own with all of it. So are you and your Winchester.
 
Bill M. said:
"Why I Will Never Buy Another Winchester"

All in all maybe not a bad policy to have now. There is no more "Winchester" now. Just a company leasing the name.
Click to expand...
Yep, just like many a great American brand that used to build quality products and thereby earned their highly-regarded reputation. Then eventually, the vultures get a chance to buy one of those companies with those great products and stellar reputation, often after a period of poor management of the original company.

The vultures make a killing by cutting costs and living off the brand's reputation from long ago, a few people at the top of the vulture company attain generational wealth while gutting what used to be a great American brand. There may even be enough power in some brands to see this happen a couple of times with a couple of different vulture groups. Eventually though, even those customers who just buy stuff on reputation without doing their own evaluations of the product find out the truth, and learn that they are only buying the old American brand worn as a skin suit on a lowish-quality item that has been cost-cut to death.

Another once-great American brand on the trash heap, or at the least, adorning guns or other products that have nothing to do with the ones that built the brand.

I do love my 1938 Model 52 B, though. It's from another world compared to modern Winchesters, IMO.
CyRd3NJ.jpg
 
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Dang. I was looking at a 20guage SXP recently for my fiance, but after handling it I just had a sour taste in my mouth concerning its quality. Glad I went with my gut on that one, and passed it over for a Mossberg bantam.
 
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