Winchester 1200 and 1300s

[dak0ta]

Hi,

I read that the magazine capacity on a Win 1200 is only 3 rounds for the sporting version. Is this true?

Also, I hear that the Win 1200 is unreliable and these problems were addressed in the 1300 model. Does anybody know why the 1200 was unreliable and what makes the 1300 better?

I like the jeweled bolt of the 1200. Also, why is the fore-end so much longer?

 

[LeverGunJunkie]

I had a WIN Ranger 120 (economy version of the 1200) as a kid. Owned it for 20 years. The only malfunction/reliability issue I had was a pretty severe jam using slugs and a slug/deer barrel. That was it though. The magazine capacity on mine was either 4+1 or 5+1. It has been a while but I think 4+1.

I currently have a WIN 1300 Black Shadow that is set up exclusively for slug hunting. It is also a very reliable shotgun. Based on my non-gunsmithing eye, there is absolutely no internal part difference between the 1200 or 1300. At least I can't identify one. Externally, the fore-end does seem longer. Not sure if this is the purpose of a longer fore-end, but it allows you to keep your non-trigger hand a little closer in toward the receiver if you prefer. Much better than the tiny fore-end on the 1200 model, IMHO.

 

[JoeMal]

I have a model 1300 and it shoots like a charm...

 

[Milkmaster]

I am also a fan of the 1300 Winchester series. Here is a link to a thread discussing the differences from about a year ago. You may find it interesting.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=414214

 

[Dirty Bob]

My 1200 has been 100% reliable since the day I bought it -- almost 30 years ago -- for $150. Its capacity was 3 until I removed the magazine plug.

The long forend is a sporting feature. It allows you to have your support hand in a variety of locations. Some prefer the support hand closer to the receiver than a "corn cob" forend allows.

All my best,
Dirty Bob

 

[dak0ta]

Makes sense. So can you put a "defender" style barrel on a sporting model 1200? Will a 1300 defender barrel fit a 1200?

 

[gego]

These shotguns must have come in many configurations.

I recently bought one marked Model 1200 on the barrel , 12 Ga, 2 3/4" shells. It had a 28" ribbed barrel with a single bead front sight and with the winchoke system, but it did not have a jeweled bolt. It had a plastic? or resin thin butt plate with "Winchester Repeating Arms" in a circle logo. It has a walnut stock and fore grip. The serial number was stamped forward of the trigger guard on the underside of the gun, and was a fairly high number (L1226XXX) if they only manufactured somewhere around 1,000,000 of these. Magazine capacity is 4+1.

From what I have read on the internet, most of the Model 1200's did not have the winchoke system, but came with fixed choke barrels???

I paid $220 plus tax for it at a Pawn shop, and would say it is in very good condition; a few scratches on the receiver and a few scratches on the stock plus some varnish missing from the fore stock. It had a little white paint on the stock where it must have been bumped up against something that was painted white, but that all came off by rubbing it hard with a little finish restorer on an old dishtowel. The patina of the wood is so nice looking that I don't think I will do anything else to the wood; has nice checkering on the stock and fore stock. I have not fired it yet, but did run five shells through it just to see how it cycled and it appears to be in good working order.

 

[jlv08]

I had a 1200 for a short while nad it was a pretty good shotgun.

I liked the rotary bolt and the speed it had for follow up shots.

Taking the gun apart is easy and the internals literally fall in your hands.

The internals are stamped metal and seem delicate but I've never heard of these guns malfunctioning.

 

[RetiredLawman]

I have used them in the past. Most folks familiar with them like them but state that it shows just how how cheap a gun can be made and still be functional. They are beautiful guns.

 

[SwampWolf]

Other than the gunsmith's observations in the link provided by Milkmaster, nobody seems to know of any substansive differences between the Models 1200 and 1300; which leads me to believe there aren't many, if any. Why the model number change is beyond me.

 

[ReloaderFred]

I bought my Model 1200 new in 1969 or 1970, for $125.00 and it's been my hunting shotgun ever since. I don't have a clue as to how many rounds I've put through it hunting dove, quail, chuckar, pheasant, ducks, rabbits, etc. It has never failed me one time to feed and function. It even works pretty good for shooting trap.

Mine came with a full choke. In fact, it was so tight, I had it opened up to Improved Modified in about 1978.

Hope this helps.

Fred