Winchester 1300 Defender - "SleeperKing" pump gun

[Skidmark]

A picture of several sleepers... Ithacas, mostly... and a nice 870P on top.



The context was a discussion on shotgunworld: http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/view...02534&start=20

[OneKyards]

I had a Winchester 1300 Defender with a Davis Speedfeed stock on it. By far, the lightest, best priced and fastest pump action shotgun I have ever owned. Now have a FN "1300 AR Sights" Shotgun and a tricked out 870 Tactical Magnum. Still miss the 1300.

[DHart]

The Winchester 1300 is my favorite pump shotgun by far! My first gun ever was a 1300 in 20ga, which served me well in my trap and skeet days, and is still serving well as my second line of HD.

I just love how the 1300 has such a smooth action when compared to the other options. (Mossberg and Remington) It's a shame they don't make them anymore.

Here's mine. It's not the defender model, but it doesn't specify which on the gun and I forgot a long time ago:

Turo... that's a great shotgun you've got there! Thanks for sharing the pic.

As a young man I saw more Winchesters and Ithica's in service then Remingtons. At some point the Remington's just took over the law enforcement market. There was no Tactical or Home Defence market back then and you used what you had if someone came messing around your place. The fad started and the weapons that had always been there, the 12 and the 37 just got left behind. Damn shame too. You picked up two fine weapons and gave us old guys little trip down memory lane.

I'm happy to go on that trip down memory lane with you! I'm an old fart, but didn't get into shotguns until I got old! Now that I am, I'm sure enjoying the 500, the 590, the 1300's. (Had my time with several "quality" semi-auto shotguns - SX2, FN SLP, 1100CM, but I've left them all behind - I never got that total-faith-reliability-bonding-thing that I have with the pumps.)

Soon, a brand-new (old school style) walnut & blued 870P and a beautiful, older walnut and blued 18.5" Wingmaster will be coming my way as well.

So...... I'm just going to have myself a fun little shotgun frenzy and sort out which ones totally float my boat. I love my trusty 500 and now these two 1300's have really got me smiling. No doubt I'll wind up in a major love affair with the 870's as well. Nice to be able to have close "relationships" with all three models at the same time! YeeeeeeHaaaaw !

[pyromensch]

Beautiful pics and firearms you got there! Are you a pro?

Post caught my eye, since I (ahem) have a 1300 Marine...

Tried it with a pistol grip (Ouch!)...now have a Knoxx Recoil-AB stock. (Much better)

.

the same pistol grip or birds head grip shown, or the more traditional pistol grip?

[DHart]

More 1300 porn for the faithful...

[Paradiddle]

A picture of several sleepers... Ithacas, mostly... and a nice 870P on top.



The context was a discussion on shotgunworld: http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/view...02534&start=20

Looks like Black Talon's collection (on here).

The High Standard is a true sleeper of a shotgun. Holds more then the ithaca and is just as smooth.

[Super Spy]

I guess I'll add the 1300 to the list, The Winchester 1897 and 12 were THE shotguns for so many years. I'm surprised that they aren't more popular these days. I've been thinking about what shotgun to buy the FN SLP I like for a variety of reasons but hardly any aftermarket goodies for it. I may end going Mossberg 500, lots of aftermarket parts, I prefer the safety position, and I shoot it well. I will still keep an eye open for the Winchester 1300's and thanks for the illumination.

[Maltese Falcon]

the same pistol grip or birds head grip shown, or the more traditional pistol grip?

It was a traditional PG, had a Hogue rubber sleeve on it as well...still it was a handful to shoot.

.

[Black_Talon]

Looks like Black Talon's collection (on here).

The High Standard is a true sleeper of a shotgun. Holds more then the ithaca and is just as smooth.

Yeah, that's my pic. And since then I've added a few more High Standards to my collection, and sold some of the M37's.

[DHart]

I guess I'll add the 1300 to the list, The Winchester 1897 and 12 were THE shotguns for so many years. I'm surprised that they aren't more popular these days. I've been thinking about what shotgun to buy the FN SLP I like for a variety of reasons but hardly any aftermarket goodies for it. I may end going Mossberg 500, lots of aftermarket parts, I prefer the safety position, and I shoot it well. I will still keep an eye open for the Winchester 1300's and thanks for the illumination.

The Mossberg 500 is a great shotgun. I like the positioning of the controls and the lifter being out of the way for topping off. I have an 18.5" 500 six-shot, a 20" 590 nine-shot, and the two 18" 1300's eight-shot. I've loved my 500 for many years. The 590 is nice because it's basically a 500, but with the length, added bulk, heat shield, bayonet mount, etc. it's really kind of a beast. The 590 is a good gun, but my least favorite. Between the 500 and the 1300, I think I'd have to go 1300, whether eight-shot Defender model or six-shot 1300, much as I love the 500.

As far as handling goes, the quickest handling would be the 18.5" Mossberg six-shot and the 18" 1300 six-shot - either with a short LOP stock. These guns are really quick to shoulder and swing, you just lose a couple rounds of capacity.

As far as "lots of aftermarket parts" goes... what do you really need? Gotta ask yourself that question. Just because there are a bunch of various parts you can buy doesn't necessarily mean that you should buy them, or that you need them.

For me, a shotgun needs a sling and a nice, small weapons light. (Streamlight TLR-1 is perfect!). Short LOP stock is good too. As with the 500 and the 870, there is a huge array of mounts, lights, slings, and stocks available for the 1300.

I find there's everything I want and more for the 1300, so I'm not sure the 1300 can really be seen as "limited" in accessories... for me anyway.

If you want to be swapping barrels, the shorter magazine 1300 is the way to go as you can put different length barrels on it for hunting and HD. With the long magazine (eight-shot) 1300 Defender, the 18" barrel is the choice and the gun is set-up for defense.

[radioburning]

My Defender. Bought this when the Rodney King riots were going on.

[NorcalGSG]

I love the Winchester 1300- it cycles so smooth and fast its hard to describe. But when you shoot the 870 and then the Winnie back to back, you can tell. I lucked out with mine, I won a Turkey hunting version with the 22" barrel at an NWTF dinner. I never used it, so finally she got a trim job and pulls HD duty now.

[Rukus]

Heres my 1300 Defender in its HD setup- Speedfeed IV stock.

[Skidmark]

I've got a Savage break-action 12 ga., and will soon own an 870P. I've looked around for a good Winchester 1300 in the past, and will look again when I can afford another shotgun. It's a sickness, but at least guns are cheaper than motorcycles, and take up less space!

[DHart]

Skidmark... yes, guns can be cheaper than motorcycles.

I liked my flashlight addiction while it lasted, it was a lot cheaper than guns. Now shotguns are really trippin' my trigger. Oh well....

I got a Hogue OM 12" LOP stock for my matte black Defender yesterday, so I decided to make some pics.







Man, I am really loving these Winchesters! What a great shotgun the 1300 is.

The matte black 1300 Defender with the short Hogue stock and 18" barrel is only about 36" long... and with 8-shot capacity, that's not
easy to come by... a lot of firepower in a really maneuverable, compact package.

1300's are my new addiction. MUST stop buying them. I have a third on the way... another wood furniture, polished blue 18" Defender,
but this one with a six-shot capacity instead of 8. That's the one I'm going to put the birdshead grip on to make my shortest, lightest, most
nimblest little shotgun.