phrogpilot
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- Dec 3, 2009
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I am seriously considering the purchase of a new Winchester 101 Trap gun. Does anyone have experience with the new Belgium (FN) built models?
Winchester 101 experiences
- Thread starter phrogpilot
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No experience with the Belgians...my Japanese had an annoying habit of letting the shells slip under the lip of the extractor...as did some of my friend's guns. Extractor/ejectors were just a little too thin/flexible. Shot well, stayed tight, but I would imagine the Belgian ones will be much better.
ShowMe2
Member
phrogpilot,
I've been shooting on of the FN-built Winchesters (Platinum Sporting) for 3 years now. I think it's a great gun with build quality that rivals a Citori or 600 series Beretta. Browning does the warranty work.
The Belgian-built 101s have no similiarities to the Japanese-built 101. They are a completely different receiver design. The new one is similiar to a Beretta.
While I use mine exclusively for clays, a valid criticism is their light weight for target shooting. I don't have issues with the recoil, but I shoot exclusively 1 ounce loads and never more the 100 per day. Fortunately, weight can be easily added if you want to go that route.
Naturally fit is important so check them out before you buy, but IMO they represent a "best buy" in the 12 gauge O/U market.
I've been shooting on of the FN-built Winchesters (Platinum Sporting) for 3 years now. I think it's a great gun with build quality that rivals a Citori or 600 series Beretta. Browning does the warranty work.
The Belgian-built 101s have no similiarities to the Japanese-built 101. They are a completely different receiver design. The new one is similiar to a Beretta.
While I use mine exclusively for clays, a valid criticism is their light weight for target shooting. I don't have issues with the recoil, but I shoot exclusively 1 ounce loads and never more the 100 per day. Fortunately, weight can be easily added if you want to go that route.
Naturally fit is important so check them out before you buy, but IMO they represent a "best buy" in the 12 gauge O/U market.
phrogpilot
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- Dec 3, 2009
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Show Me 2
Thank you for your post. Should I have a smity fit me before buying, or actually handle agun before doing so. How does a new shooter to trap really know (may "feel" great and fit poorly). I'd appreciate your thoughts.
Thanks
Thank you for your post. Should I have a smity fit me before buying, or actually handle agun before doing so. How does a new shooter to trap really know (may "feel" great and fit poorly). I'd appreciate your thoughts.
Thanks
ShowMe2
Member
phrogpilot,
I'm certainly not an expert when it comes to gun fit. I'm assuming you know the basic fundamentals of mounting, holding, and shooting a shotgun. My advice would be to go to a local gun club and see if you can hold and shoot various types of shotguns and try to determine what is right for you.
At my club, the vast majority of shooters use Browning and Beretta O/Us. They are fine guns and you can't go wrong with them. As a long time Citori guy, after shooting the Winchester for 3 years now, I would never go back to a Citori, but that's just me.
Hope this helps...
I'm certainly not an expert when it comes to gun fit. I'm assuming you know the basic fundamentals of mounting, holding, and shooting a shotgun. My advice would be to go to a local gun club and see if you can hold and shoot various types of shotguns and try to determine what is right for you.
At my club, the vast majority of shooters use Browning and Beretta O/Us. They are fine guns and you can't go wrong with them. As a long time Citori guy, after shooting the Winchester for 3 years now, I would never go back to a Citori, but that's just me.
Hope this helps...
Be advised that just because Winchester calls it a trap gun doesn't mean that it actually *IS* a trap gun. With that low rib and weighing in at 7lbs and change, there aren't many trap shooters that would consider that anything more than a gussied up field gun.
101's
Are very nice O/U's. Well priced and reliable. Check CDNN for a bargain.
Showme2 have you tried the new 725 Citori? It leans more towards the 101 then to its predecessor in how it feels. Also its lighter then 625 by about a lb. 725 might change your mind. One I shot also had very nice wood.
Are very nice O/U's. Well priced and reliable. Check CDNN for a bargain.
Showme2 have you tried the new 725 Citori? It leans more towards the 101 then to its predecessor in how it feels. Also its lighter then 625 by about a lb. 725 might change your mind. One I shot also had very nice wood.
Winchester101
Member
I have no experience with the newer 101s, all I have ever shot/owned were older. You could say I like them.
My favorite for trap is a single barrel built on the 101 o/u frame. Shoots great, swings smooth, handles like a dream. Shot my first 25/25 with it.
W101
My favorite for trap is a single barrel built on the 101 o/u frame. Shoots great, swings smooth, handles like a dream. Shot my first 25/25 with it.
W101
ShowMe2
Member
Vaherder,
I plan on checking out the 725, but here's the deal...
When the gun says BROWNING on it then a slimmer receiver design and lighter weight are wonderful. When it says WINCHESTER (even though they're built by one of the most prestigious small arms maker in the world), those qualities are forgotten about or even criticized.
A new Winchester Sporting has a MSRP around $2200. I don't know what the MSRP of the 725 is, but if it's anything like the 625, expect it to be at least a grand more.
As a long time Citori guy who still owns a 20 gauge Citori, it's not a $1000 better shotgun IMO.
I plan on checking out the 725, but here's the deal...
When the gun says BROWNING on it then a slimmer receiver design and lighter weight are wonderful. When it says WINCHESTER (even though they're built by one of the most prestigious small arms maker in the world), those qualities are forgotten about or even criticized.
A new Winchester Sporting has a MSRP around $2200. I don't know what the MSRP of the 725 is, but if it's anything like the 625, expect it to be at least a grand more.
As a long time Citori guy who still owns a 20 gauge Citori, it's not a $1000 better shotgun IMO.
The current line of Winchesters are built in Belgium, but don't make the mistake by believing they are coming from the same folks who hand build the Browning B25 Superposed custom guns. They're not. They are solid CNC built guns that are reasonably priced guns that I find to be too light for serious clay shooting...
BeerSleeper
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- Mar 24, 2010
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are they still? I couldn't find it in the 2012 catalog, and their "search" function on the website is mostly useless.
BeerSleeper
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Thanks!
I must have paged through to fast.
I was watching that one in last quarter's catalog, and cash flow didn't allow for it...I was afraid that price wouldn't still be there.
I must have paged through to fast.
I was watching that one in last quarter's catalog, and cash flow didn't allow for it...I was afraid that price wouldn't still be there.
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