Winchester 1200's and 1300's
- Thread starter dak0ta
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rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Same gun basically.
Winchester replaced the 7-shot model 12 with the 3-shot 1200 in 1964, and continued to make it until they went out of business in 1981.
At that point, USRA took over and made mostly cosmetic changes (better wood & checkering & 5-shot mag) to the gun, calling it the 1300.
Both the 1200 & 1300 use the same rotary bolt design.
And the same internal parts, as far as I know.
rc
Winchester replaced the 7-shot model 12 with the 3-shot 1200 in 1964, and continued to make it until they went out of business in 1981.
At that point, USRA took over and made mostly cosmetic changes (better wood & checkering & 5-shot mag) to the gun, calling it the 1300.
Both the 1200 & 1300 use the same rotary bolt design.
And the same internal parts, as far as I know.
rc
Geneseo1911
Member
I believe the main difference is that the 1200s are chambered for 2 3/4" shells while the 1300s will take 3". The actions are identical. In fact I have a 1200 barrel cut to 18 1/2" that I use on my 1300. I don't think 1200s were equipped with choke tubes either, but I'm not 100% on that one.
RC- what about the 120? I thought it was the original successor to the mod. 12. Was it just the economy version?
RC- what about the 120? I thought it was the original successor to the mod. 12. Was it just the economy version?
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
I believe the 120 Ranger was only made in 1986 and 1987 as an entry level shotgun. Quite frankly, I had forgotten about them until you ask.
Same gun as the 1200/1300, except cheaper wood and less nice finish.
The 1200 was also made in a 3" Mag 30" Full-Choke version from the getgo.
The 2 3/4" 1200's had the Win-Choke option if you wanted it.
It cost $10 bucks extra in 1970.
rc
Same gun as the 1200/1300, except cheaper wood and less nice finish.
The 1200 was also made in a 3" Mag 30" Full-Choke version from the getgo.
The 2 3/4" 1200's had the Win-Choke option if you wanted it.
It cost $10 bucks extra in 1970.
rc
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
If you hunt waterfowl, the 1300 is better because of the choke tubes that will handle steel-shot 3" mags.
For any other use, one is as good as the other I suppose.
rc
For any other use, one is as good as the other I suppose.
rc
Geneseo1911
Member
interesting-thanks for the info RC
Milkmaster
Member
I asked the same question a while back in this thread. Good info there.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=414214
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=414214
jlv08
Member
The Winchester 1200/1300 series shotgun ,as was mentioned earlier was a new model that replaced the Model 12 and angered lot of loyal Winchester owners.
The main reason was because of die stamping the internal parts and utilizing an aluminum reciever. The Model 12 it replaced was a mostly machined gun and was prohibitively expensive to build.
The rotary bolt is actually stronger than the Model 12 locking system and was very fast handling and Winchester introduced a "Speed pump" version due to this feature.
To the initiated of Model 12 fame, the change was almost blasphemy.
That is the price of progress.I have been into a few to repair and will tell you that if you knock out the trigger plate pins, you can drop the trigger plate and the the remaining parts will just fall out.
The manner in which the parts interact as well as how they are supported in the reciever is a somewhat weak design IMHO. Repeat, IMHO.
The 1200 series is reputed to have a more frequent mean time between failure rate than other manufacturers due to its inherent design.
They are being produced by FN now and I'm not sure that they are the same shotgun mechanically, but would bet ya a Pepsi it is.
The main reason was because of die stamping the internal parts and utilizing an aluminum reciever. The Model 12 it replaced was a mostly machined gun and was prohibitively expensive to build.
The rotary bolt is actually stronger than the Model 12 locking system and was very fast handling and Winchester introduced a "Speed pump" version due to this feature.
To the initiated of Model 12 fame, the change was almost blasphemy.
That is the price of progress.I have been into a few to repair and will tell you that if you knock out the trigger plate pins, you can drop the trigger plate and the the remaining parts will just fall out.
The manner in which the parts interact as well as how they are supported in the reciever is a somewhat weak design IMHO. Repeat, IMHO.
The 1200 series is reputed to have a more frequent mean time between failure rate than other manufacturers due to its inherent design.
They are being produced by FN now and I'm not sure that they are the same shotgun mechanically, but would bet ya a Pepsi it is.
jlv08
Member
I think all of the 1200/1300 series were 3" mag. I could be wrong but I do believe that they all are.
The 1200/ 1300 series shot gun is a perfectly serviceable shotgun that will give the averarage owner a nice gun to hunt with reliably.
When I was mentioning about it's weakness,my comments were made from what I have read regarding heavy use(almost torture for military/police work) and some of the comments from others on these posts who have law enforcement experience.
My own experience in fixing the 1200 model was people who own guns that did not know the value of proper care and cleaning of a firearm.
Still, the parts are stamped but they are parts such as the lifter, shell stops, and other verious action parts.
I think that the Winchester1200/1300 in the right hands, maintained properly is a very good shotgun for home defense and hunting.
There are better guns such as the (older) Remington 870 models, Browning pumps, Ithaca model 37, Mossberg 590, mind you.
When I say better I mean that maybe 2 genrations worth of use can be had such as we see with a Winchester model '97.
If the gun works well, looks good and is priced right, I say go for it.
I've had a couple of Winchesters, a 1200 and a semi model 140.
I didn't like the fit of the 1200 and sold it .
I could kick myself in the but for letting the 140 go.
That thing could spit lead like nobodys business!
The 1200/ 1300 series shot gun is a perfectly serviceable shotgun that will give the averarage owner a nice gun to hunt with reliably.
When I was mentioning about it's weakness,my comments were made from what I have read regarding heavy use(almost torture for military/police work) and some of the comments from others on these posts who have law enforcement experience.
My own experience in fixing the 1200 model was people who own guns that did not know the value of proper care and cleaning of a firearm.
Still, the parts are stamped but they are parts such as the lifter, shell stops, and other verious action parts.
I think that the Winchester1200/1300 in the right hands, maintained properly is a very good shotgun for home defense and hunting.
There are better guns such as the (older) Remington 870 models, Browning pumps, Ithaca model 37, Mossberg 590, mind you.
When I say better I mean that maybe 2 genrations worth of use can be had such as we see with a Winchester model '97.
If the gun works well, looks good and is priced right, I say go for it.
I've had a couple of Winchesters, a 1200 and a semi model 140.
I didn't like the fit of the 1200 and sold it .
I could kick myself in the but for letting the 140 go.
That thing could spit lead like nobodys business!
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
No, they weren't.
See post #4 & #5.
rc
jlv08
Member
Thanks for the clarification, RC!
I wasn't sure if they were all 3 " guns.
The 1200 I had was 3" and was a nice gun for what it was.
It just didn't pull up to my shoulder like I like.
Great info being given here and great folks responding!
I wasn't sure if they were all 3 " guns.The 1200 I had was 3" and was a nice gun for what it was.
It just didn't pull up to my shoulder like I like.
Great info being given here and great folks responding!
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