1969 winchester 1200 ?

[357smallbore]

Just was give a 1969 Winchester 1200 from a passing of a family member. Gun is as new as can be. 2 3/4 shells and fixed MOD choke on a 28in barrel
Are these shotguns good? I would use it for Pheasant, Turkey and shoot some Trap with it.

 

[Blue Brick]

Yes.

 

[Virginian]

No. They evolved into the 1300, which then evolved into the Speed Pump, which then evolved into the current SXP. Hopefully they have all the bugs out of it now. They were known to break plastic parts.

 

[Blue Brick]

Nothing wrong with the 1200. I own a 1300 clone combo. I sold my 1200 to my father in law so i could by the combo.

 

[Blue Brick]

My follower was fine.

 

[kudu]

Better than most of the foreign imports coming in now. Not a high volume shooter, but if only shooting 300-500 shells a year, it should last you a lifetime.

 

[John Joseph]

They're good shooting guns. The problem with them now as I understand it is availability of parts.

 

[bannockburn]

357smallbore

I have a Model 1300 20 gauge and it's held up well over the years without any problems. Originally got it for upland game but haven't been hunting for quite some time now. Have converted it to home defense by getting an 18" barrel for it.

 

[1KPerDay]

No. They evolved into the 1300, which then evolved into the Speed Pump, which then evolved into the current SXP. Hopefully they have all the bugs out of it now. They were known to break plastic parts.

I would say "devolved."

 

[rule303]

The only part that is somewhat prone to failure is the plastic magazine feed throat. They would wear out after tend of thousands of rounds. After replacement they would run tends of thousands more. They became unavailable when USRAC (Winchester) went under in 2006.They are now available new from Numrich.
There was a lot of hate on these when they came out, but remember that they were drastically different from the model 12 that it replaced. Aluminum receiver, polymer trigger guard, modular design for parts interchangeably. Back in the mid 60's it was unusual, today it is almost 100% of repeating shotguns (and most other guns)built.

 

[Virginian]

I am a retired gunsmith, and I was an active shooter back when they came out. I also sold guns. I stopped selling 1200s and 1400s because of the issues. As far as I am aware, there were many 1200 that were still soldiering on after my association with them. The problem is there w Therefore I do not recommend them.

 

[SwampWolf]

Not Model 12s nor even Model 870s but, still, very serviceable shotguns in my experience. Every bit the equivalent of a Mossberg Model 500, imo. I prefer a cross-bolt safety button in the front of the trigger guard, as in the Winchester, as opposed to a rear-mounted safety button, as on the Remington. Mossberg's tang-mounted safety button is the best location of the three-again, imo.

 

[Virginian]

For some reason my post got butchered and I cannot edit.
I am a retired gunsmith, and I was an active shooter back when they came out. I also sold guns. I stopped selling 1200s and 1400s because of the issues. As far as I am aware, there were many 1200s that were still soldiering on after my association with them. The problem is there were too many that did have issues. The 1300 felt really good and handled about as well as any gun I have ever shouldered for me, but I saw too many of those with issues, too. Therefore I do not recommend them.

 

[John Joseph]

If someone gave me one, I'd be grateful of course but it's not what I'd buy for myself.
Don't look a gift horse....

 

[entropy]

Someone did give me one. When my Grandpa's Alzheimers' got worse, I ended up with the 1200 my Dad gave him some years before, when we took him pheasant hunting. I promptly traded it for an 870 Express. I suggest you do the same, unless it has huge sentimental value.
My Dad liked the 1200 for some odd reason, because St. Paul used them for riot guns, not the 870 like 90% of other PD's.