Winchester SXP! Vs the old Winchester 120 ranger/ 1200/1300 series.

[cota]

I had a base model 120 Ranger back in the 80s used it hard it was a performer back them. Traded it with some cash for a new Rem 1187 when they came out 1990 x 1991.
A Waterfowl pal i still shoot with today had a Ranger 120 same time i had one, and we often reminisced about the old guns humble or not we had some good times with them freezing half to death.
Out of the blue he turned up here the other day with a new in box Winchester SXP 28 inch in duck blind think he said, it did handle ok for me, and although new and a little tight still did feel very similar to how i remember the old Ranger.
Now same type of bolt and basic design but with INV plus chokes instead of the little win chokes make any after market choke options readily available. .
So question? how do these new SXPs shape up against the old Winchester repeating arms 120/1200/1300 series long term . what is the verdict on these guns good or bad ?

 

[bannockburn]

cota

Can't speak to the other Winchester models you mentioned but my 20 gauge Model 1300 has been doing just fine for over 20 years now. Like it so much I added a shorter 22" vent rib barrel for upland game and an 18" plain barrel for home defense.

 

[Virginian]

The SXp is the fourth iteration of the 1200/1300/Speed Pump, so I hope they got it right at last.

 

[cota]

From what i could tell, this new SXP looked to be typical Winchester pump business as usual to me, I know the SXP has been out a few years now but as i lead a sheltered life its the first one i have come across i must say the Invector plus barrel is a positive move , as although after market chokes are available for the old winchokes from a few makers should you need then for steel etc the options are way more common for the inv plus barrels.

 

[dak0ta]

The 1200/1300/120 had these plastic feed throats attached to the magazine tube that were prone to break apparently. Check the SXP for that.

 

[cdb1]

My understanding is each successive version has had manufacturing shortcuts and less expensive parts but I don’t know that because I’m not a pump person and the only model I’ve held is an SXP. The SXP is made in Turkey and that is a deal killer for some but not me.

 

[jmr40]

For some reason I thought the SXP was made in China, and at one time maybe they were. But checking Winchesters website they are in fact made in Turkey.

http://www.winchesterguns.com/support/faq/where-are-winchester-firearms-manufactured.html

There are some pretty decent shotguns made in Turkey, I wouldn't worry too much about that. But I had one of the 1300's from back in the 90's. It was a decent gun at best. Not my favorite.

 

[1KPerDay]

Note that stocks barrels and forends (and several accessories) will not interchange between the 1200/1300 and the SXP. I have 3 1200/1300s but wouldn't buy an SXP. I just don't see the point of one.

 

[cota]

As i said original , i liked my old 120 ranger it was not my favorite pump action but it was 3 inch and it was reliable and the action was nice to use.
Seeing the SXP the other day and not curently having a pump action i was considering buying one. But comments here and elsewhere although not negative have me thinking i will hang on keep looking for that JC higins high standard i know is out there some where just waiting for me to find it.