Good price for a Winchester 1400 12ga?

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My brother has a Sears marked shotgun that I cross referenced to be a Winchester 1400 semi-auto. It is in nice shape and I have fired it. It worked great with any loads other than the light ones. It seemed that the light loads sometimes didn't work the action. I don't think there was a problem with the gun, it just likes more powerful loads to work the recoil system. No big deal as I know it is not a faulty gun.

What is a good price for it? He wants to trade it towards my motorbike and I want to give him a fair value. I was thinking $200 was fair because it is a Sears marked gun and is older. It is nothing special but when I shot it, I liked the lower recoil vs. my pumps. I think I might use it when I shoot trap or skeet because my shoulder seems to take a pounding with the 870 I normally shoot.

 

[krimmie]

Sounds like a Sears Model 300. Value is usually less for a cross brand gun as you point out, but $200 would be a fair value of a Winchester 1400 in about 85% condition. The gun should cycle even the lightest loads, try cleaning the gas system.

 

[MCgunner]

No, my 1400 doesn't like those bargain priced wimp loads, either. About 2 out of a box will hang in the ejection port and I just reach up and grab it and yank it out, and it gets worse if you don't clean the gun and gas port/piston after every use. However, the slightly hotter Winchester superspeeds seem to work fine and I don't have a problem with steel shot waterfowl loads, of course. Buy WW Superspeed 1 ounce at 1330 fps and it'll work fine. Try that 7/8 ounce bargain priced crap Walmart sells and it won't. Actually, the WW superspeed stuff ain't that expensive, about 3.50 a box IIRC last time I bought it. It's still very light recoiling out of the gun, too, as is even hot steel loads and it adds a little more punch for dove hunting or clays.

I gave $255 for my new Winchester in about 1987 I think at Walmart for what that's worth to ya. It's the "Ranger" model, birch stocks, nothing fancy, but deep shiny bluing unlike the Remington Express models. The Rangers are nice looking guns compared to an Express Remington. This thing is probably my favorite shotgun despite it's being a 2 3/4 inch only gun. It just fits well and shoots so sweet, no bruised shoulders or faces. Awesome gun, especially considering what it cost. I don't understand, frankly, why it wasn't more popular in its day.

 

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So $200 for the Sears model may be a tad high? Maybe I will pass since I have two 870s and really wanted either a 20ga 870 or a 1100. After shooting my wife's 20ga youth 870, I think I am hooked on 20ga. I also prefer shorter barrels and I think the Sears gun has a 28-30" tube. Too long for my tastes.

 

[MCgunner]

I don't think if it's high, it's THAT high. If you want it, it sure is a good gun, and I'd buy one at 200 bucks if I didn't have one, for sure. If it's over priced, IMHO, it ain't more'n 20 or 30 bucks. I mean, just how many autoloaders out there can you find for $200 even used?! An 1100 will run you more, no doubt, and won't shoot any better IMHO. Others will argue the point, I reckon, but I've owned an 870 and shot a lot of 1100s and just don't see the cult thing going there. There are other guns out there that work just as well.

I've kinda been wanting a Spartan 453 for the 3" capability, but I ain't sellin' my Winchester if I ever get one. It fits me too well. The gun WILL save you some busted blood vessels in your shoulder, sure shoots soft for a 12.

My gun has a 28 inch tube and it's perfect for me. One thing, though, what is it choked? If it's choked modified, fine. I might shy away from it if it's choked full. Mine's interchangeable winchokes, I'm just assuming this one is fixed? That might be a reason to pass on it. My most used chokes are mod and IC. I never have the full tube in the gun, but then, I don't hunt turkeys, don't have a place to hunt turkeys.

 

[RUT]

>>I'd buy one at 200 bucks <<

Same on this end. I've had several 1400's over the years and all performed admirably. Oddly enough, they tend to fit me better than most anything else.