MotorCraft
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What are the pros and cons for a Winchester 1300? And do they include the clones like the Savage 320?
Winchester 1300 Pros and Cons
- Thread starter MotorCraft
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Virginian
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What he said above. I must admit they do handle fairly well, at least to me. They are a whole lot better than a 1200. There is a distinct difference between a true clone and similar. Clone means the parts interchange. Like the Uberti Colt SAA replicas. I know nothing of the new Savage.
They do have a plastic mag tube throat, but that doesn't seem to be a problem on most 1300's. The ones on the 1200 failed pretty regularly.
I'm not sure why the cheap parts comment always comes up on these. I think a lot of that comes from the fact that the 1200/1300 series replaced the much loved model 12. Back then a pump shotgun had a forged steel receiver, and all of the small parts were solid steel machined to their final shape. When the new guns started hitting the market with aluminum receivers, plastic trigger guards, and stamped steel internals, people just assumed they were cheap junk that wouldn't last.
I'm not sure why the cheap parts comment always comes up on these. I think a lot of that comes from the fact that the 1200/1300 series replaced the much loved model 12. Back then a pump shotgun had a forged steel receiver, and all of the small parts were solid steel machined to their final shape. When the new guns started hitting the market with aluminum receivers, plastic trigger guards, and stamped steel internals, people just assumed they were cheap junk that wouldn't last.
bannockburn
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My Model 1300 has held up quite nicely over the years without any problems to speak of. Bought a couple of spare barrels for it and use it for upland game and home defense.
Barry the Bear
Member
I inherited the defender model from my dad after he passed, he generally kept in a gun sock. It only had a pistol grip, so when I got it I put a hogue stock on it, When I finally when to shoot it I found out it would not cycle high brass load(i.e. buckshot and slugs)
only feild loads. I couldnt believe my father had this peice of junk protecting the roost, I promptly traded it in on a mossberg 590. Im saying all 1300s are bad but at least my particular example was.
only feild loads. I couldnt believe my father had this peice of junk protecting the roost, I promptly traded it in on a mossberg 590. Im saying all 1300s are bad but at least my particular example was.
jogar80
Member
I have a 1200 and a 1300... both get used a lot, both have held up very well over the years. I don't have anything but good things to say about em.
rbernie
Contributing Member
I've actually had plastic mag tube retainer issues on a 1300 12ga and on a 1400 20ga that I owned, and decided not to put up with that - there were better options for the same cash.
Captcurt
Member
Never a problem.
You can say what you want about cheap plastic parts and aluminum receivers, but my 1300 has never missed a beat since the early 1980's. And it isn't because I babied it. I used it for everything when I first got. I took several deer with buckshot, small game of all kinds, waterfowl and when I got serious about turkeys' I bought a 21" smoothbore slug barrel, stuck an extra-full extended choke in it and killed a truck bed load of turkeys. I honestly lost count of the turkeys. If a gun was going to come apart it would do it with 2 oz. turkey loads.
The old SX1 semi auto was dubbed as the best semi auto that Winchester had built. I would imagine that the SXP would rank up there too.
You can say what you want about cheap plastic parts and aluminum receivers, but my 1300 has never missed a beat since the early 1980's. And it isn't because I babied it. I used it for everything when I first got. I took several deer with buckshot, small game of all kinds, waterfowl and when I got serious about turkeys' I bought a 21" smoothbore slug barrel, stuck an extra-full extended choke in it and killed a truck bed load of turkeys. I honestly lost count of the turkeys. If a gun was going to come apart it would do it with 2 oz. turkey loads.
The old SX1 semi auto was dubbed as the best semi auto that Winchester had built. I would imagine that the SXP would rank up there too.
Virginian
Member
A few dozen glowing testimonials about "my gun is great " are not going to erase the history of known problems with a particular gun. Everyone who reports problems are not making them up, and the people who rave about theirs are not lying either. The issue is that all the good guns do not make up for all the bad guns. If someone is looking to buy one, they need to weigh the odds.
After a few tries, I would no longer order a 1200 or 1400 for anybody. I sold several 1300s, and only had issues with two. One had a broken part out of the box and the second one broke a part within a few hundred rounds. Winchester replaced the first one and I fixed the second one with a part they supplied me.
When the new Ruger Red Label 2 debuted lots of people were thrilled. A quality American Made O/U by a great maker for a good price!!? But what about the issues with the RRL 1? "You're full of it." "Mine has been great." "I love mine." "You're being negative." etc., etc. Now lots of them have been back to the factory, some more than once, and customer service got so backed up there were months long waits. Some could not be repaired to the owner's satisfaction and full refunds were offered. The rumor mill says it is going to be discontinued again in 2015. And some guys have guns that are just fine and they rave about them.
It's your money, you make the call.
After a few tries, I would no longer order a 1200 or 1400 for anybody. I sold several 1300s, and only had issues with two. One had a broken part out of the box and the second one broke a part within a few hundred rounds. Winchester replaced the first one and I fixed the second one with a part they supplied me.
When the new Ruger Red Label 2 debuted lots of people were thrilled. A quality American Made O/U by a great maker for a good price!!? But what about the issues with the RRL 1? "You're full of it." "Mine has been great." "I love mine." "You're being negative." etc., etc. Now lots of them have been back to the factory, some more than once, and customer service got so backed up there were months long waits. Some could not be repaired to the owner's satisfaction and full refunds were offered. The rumor mill says it is going to be discontinued again in 2015. And some guys have guns that are just fine and they rave about them.
It's your money, you make the call.
rbernie
Contributing Member
^^^^^
Well said.
Well said.
Yes.
Deltaboy1984
Member
I shot several and never had any issues.
I have yet see a broken Winchester shotgun come through our shop. They generally are cheaper than Mossbergs and definatly cheaper than Remingtons. After market stocks, barrels, or accesories are harder to find for Winchesters, but they are also generally cheaper too.
Milkmaster
Member
I have yet to see a worn out 1300. Abused? yes...beat up? yes...worn out? no. In general it is a lightweight shotgun which is easier for carry but the trade off is a little more recoil. Good for walking while bird hunting, but not so good for shooting 4 or 5 rounds of trap or skeet in a day. Like most major brand shotguns, you do your part and it will function fine. Good Luck!
MCgunner
Member
The 1300 (my own is a 12 gauge 1400) is a light (vs steel receiver) , quick to the shoulder, sweet shooting shotgun. Its crossbolt safety is in FRONT of the trigger guard where a crossbolt should be. Personally, I'll choose a tang safety ala Mossberg/Browning every time, but I did replace that crossbolt with a left hand version on my 1400 which makes it 100 percent better for me, if not as good as a tang safety. I prefer the shell elevator design of the Mossberg and Browning, out of the way.
So, the 1300's weak points for me are its ergos. Its handling and smoothness of its action are its strengths. This question is about the 1300, a pump, but I'll add that the 1400 auto has the softest recoil of any gas gun I've tried, yet it's light owing to the aluminium receiver. Sweet shootin' gun. The old Model 12 didn't lock up like the 1300, if I'm not mistaken, locked at the back of the action against the steel receiver? Correct me if I'm wrong on that which I'm sure you will. LOL But, with the 1300, the lock up is via a rifle like three lug rotating bolt which locks into the barrel SOLID. I see the action as STRONG, personally and the aluminum receiver as desirable for its handling qualities. Yeah, lighter to walk with, but light weight relates more to handling for me.
And, it doesn't hurt that my 1400, right out of the box, feels like the stock was cut to my dimensions. The 1300 is similar, have shot them. Plastic and all, my 1400 is 25 years old and still going strong.
So, the 1300's weak points for me are its ergos. Its handling and smoothness of its action are its strengths. This question is about the 1300, a pump, but I'll add that the 1400 auto has the softest recoil of any gas gun I've tried, yet it's light owing to the aluminium receiver. Sweet shootin' gun. The old Model 12 didn't lock up like the 1300, if I'm not mistaken, locked at the back of the action against the steel receiver? Correct me if I'm wrong on that which I'm sure you will. LOL But, with the 1300, the lock up is via a rifle like three lug rotating bolt which locks into the barrel SOLID. I see the action as STRONG, personally and the aluminum receiver as desirable for its handling qualities. Yeah, lighter to walk with, but light weight relates more to handling for me.
And, it doesn't hurt that my 1400, right out of the box, feels like the stock was cut to my dimensions. The 1300 is similar, have shot them. Plastic and all, my 1400 is 25 years old and still going strong.
MotorCraft
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My Wal-Mart has this on their special order for $231.00
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/37_973/products_id/78655
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/37_973/products_id/78655
I bought one years ago for my dad to use for an HD gun. Got it set up with 21"RS smoothbore barrel and everything.
He put 50 rounds through it, and it has sat in the closet for years now so I can't say it's seen a lot of use.
I can say, though, that in my tests, I put it through the paces and compared it side-by-side with an 870express, and a Mossberg 500.
It compared very favorably with the other two, and I found it to be smoother in operation.
If I remember correctly, it was more difficult to disassemble than the Mossberg or Remington. I could be mistaken though. It has been probably 6 years since I took it apart.
He put 50 rounds through it, and it has sat in the closet for years now so I can't say it's seen a lot of use.
I can say, though, that in my tests, I put it through the paces and compared it side-by-side with an 870express, and a Mossberg 500.
It compared very favorably with the other two, and I found it to be smoother in operation.
If I remember correctly, it was more difficult to disassemble than the Mossberg or Remington. I could be mistaken though. It has been probably 6 years since I took it apart.
MCgunner
Member
It pulls down for cleaning pretty easily, but lord help ya if you try to disassemble the trigger group. If you wanna install a left hand safety, just take the trigger group down to the gunsmith. 
rbernie
Contributing Member
I've never understood this notion. Crossbolt safeties should be BEHIND the trigger, so that the shooter can feel the position of the safety as they shoulder the weapon and extend their finger towards the trigger.
MCgunner
Member
Personally, shotgun or pistol, my trigger finger is extended along side the trigger guard when not ready to shoot. This is reflex from training for me. When shooting IDPA, it SHOWS the RO that I've got my finger OFF the trigger, so that habit just carries over to my long guns I suppose. I ABHOR the 870's safety position, probably comes from shooting my grandpa's right handed 870 left handed, but I just hate EVERYthing about the 870's ergos or lack there of. I will not own one. The Winchester isn't much better, truth be told, but at least the safety is in the right place (for me) and i've converted it, FINALLY, to left hand after missing a lot of shots on early morning teal that came and went while I was fishing under the trigger guard for the safety. At least out front of the trigger guard, I never accidently engaged the safety with my shooting finger while shooting.
Use what you're used to and like, but you can have all the 870s ya want. I'll take a pass. See, this is probably why they make alternatives, keep everyone happy.
What I don't understand is why 870 fanatics wanna force me to buy an 870 when I don't like 'em. Some seem to have that attitude. But, most don't, probably why the Mossberg 500 is the best selling pump shotgun in the history of the galaxy.
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Virginian
Member
I have shot with tang safeties, crossbolts in front of the trigger, and crossbolts behind the trigger, and it makes about 1/4 of 1% difference to me. And the bolt locks into the barrel on all modern pump guns.
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