Winchester 1400. How good are they?

[firestar]

I just bought a Ted Williams M-300 that I checked and found out it was made by Winchester and is the model 1400. It is a semi-auto 12ga with an adjustable choke and 28" bbl including the choke. It is in almost mint condition because it has been stored for most of its life. It is chambered for 2 3/4" shells.

What do people think about these semi-autos? I don't hear much about them. I will be shooting it this weekend I hope. How much is it worth? I plan on selling it because I have a 870 and I don't feel the need for two shotguns. What should I ask for it when I decide to sell? I am going to put it up for sale here at THR so I want a real world price and not a "retail" price.

 

[Lennyjoe]

I bought one from a buddy about 5 years ago. It had a smoothbore rifled sighted barrel on it for slugs.

Since then I have obtained a 28" barrel and an x-full choke.

Use it all the time dove hunting. With the modified choke its a true blue killer in the field.

Put the improved cylinder in it and its great for skeet.

X-full for Turkeys. Mowes them over like it aint nothing.

Its been very reliable for me. Only failed to eject one time in the last 5 years and I have put thousands of shells thru it.

Great semi in my eyes!!!!

All for the price of $100

 

[HSMITH]

Used to have a bunch of them in the hunter safety program around here for training guns. It is not a very good shotgun. They are fairly frail compared to 1100 and similar shotguns. It is also not very reliable. These guns were run side by side with 1100's, 11-87's, 9200's, and a few old 303's and A5's. The 1400's fell apart in heavy use. It would probably be fine for a guy that goes out hunting, then puts it up until next season. For a shooter it would not last long. In 100% condition they bring about $175-215 from what I have seen. In 90% they go for about $100.

Edit: The Ted Williams name and adjustable choke drop the price by at least 25%. Not many people recognize the value of either anymore.......

 

[Ron L]

I've owned a Model 140 for over 20 years. It's a plain-jane version of the 1400 (not as nicely blued and plain wood). In that time, I've shot a couple hundred of rounds of trap, used it for bird, small game, and even with slugs for deer. I can't remember ever having a malfunction except when I tried experimenting with a short barrel and light target loads.

 

[combat effective]

Not a semi, but I've got a Ted Williams pump 20ga that my father had long before I was born. It's still going strong. It has the poly-choke on it.

 

[bbrown609]

I have a Model 140 which is the plain version of 1400. My father bought it for me used well over 15 years ago. It is still in great shape. I use it for hunting as well as at the skeet range. Feeds just as or more reliably than some of the high dollar guns in our club. Parts are still easy to come by also. Looking to upgrade now only for the option of shooting larger shells.

 

[PawDaddy]

We,ve got three in our family. Two are twelve guage and one is a twenty. They have worked well for us. They are not as nice as my Rem. 1100, but a decent shotgun.