Winchester 1300 Defender with woodstock

[nathan]

I was at a pawnshop and saw a really nice Win 1300 defender with the classic wood stock and forearm, cylinder bore with full length tube magazine . It was priced $320. I didnt buy it though but have the urge to go back . Maybe ill offer $ 250 plus tax. What were the reviews on them back then? Do they have issues like weak parts or they re robust shotguns like the classic Remington 870s? I remember they were sold in walmart for $220 -240 back in the late 1990s.

 

[Virginian]

The Winchester 1200s had lots of issues. The 1300s were quite a bit better, in my opinion. The SpeedPump was another intended step up, The current version, the SXP is another change. The Mossberg 500 and Remington 870 have been virtually unchanged over an even longer span of time. You be the judge.
Now, this does not mean that every 1200, or 1300 is bad, but twenty glowing testimonials won't change the fact that an unacceptably high percentage of those guns did have problems. If you get a good one it may outlive you. Again, its your money, you decide.

 

[rcmodel]

The SpeedPump was the thing I hated most about my late BIL's 1200.
It was fine with light game or trap loads.

But the sucker would 'help you' pump so good with heavy loads or Magnums, the Impressed forearm checkering would take the skin off your hand blowing itself open every shot.

You couldn't hold it shut if you tried!

All his needed was a return spring and it would have been a 1400 semi-auto with heavy loads..

Myself?
I like my guns to stay shut until I open them myself!!

rc

 

[PabloJ]

I was at a pawnshop and saw a really nice Win 1300 defender with the classic wood stock and forearm, cylinder bore with full length tube magazine . It was priced $320. I didnt buy it though but have the urge to go back . Maybe ill offer $ 250 plus tax. What were the reviews on them back then? Do they have issues like weak parts or they re robust shotguns like the classic Remington 870s? I remember they were sold in walmart for $220 -240 back in the late 1990s.

$200 max, but quite honestly I would rather buy old Mossberg 500 police shotgun.

 

[mnrivrat]

Recognize that parts are getting harder to find as well.

The speed pump was a lousy idea in my opinion. I converted several guns for folks back to a normal release.

I too would stick with the Mossberg 500 or Remington 870 over the Winchester pump guns.

 

[Nickel Plated]

With the Winchesters your always gonna get most guys who say "Just get a 500 or 870" whenever you ask about buying ANYTHING else.

And you'll have the few guys who own the Winchesters and wouldn't trade them for anything else. I fall in the latter category. i love my SXP and personally love the speed pump on it. Sure, any pump gun can do that with a bit of practice. But the Winchester just makes it so much easier. I guess it just makes sense to me. Why wouldn't you want the action to open itself?

I guess the Winchesters might not be "torture-test tough" like the Mossbergs and Remingtons. But then again I don't go around dropping my gun off the roof and running it over with my car. I just shoot it like a normal person.

 

[MCgunner]

Just seems kinda high to me. But, then, I base that on 1400 autos which weren't as popular, believe it or not, as the 1300 pumps. At 250, maybe......

 

[.455_Hunter]

My older brother has used a 1300 Ranger successfully for almost 30 years.

Earlier this past year, I found the exact gun as the OP the sitting in the used rack of a local tacticool shop. Surrounded by polymer, this unloved weapon with a very low round count was priced at $199.

Needles to say, it found a new home...