Winchester 101 Pidgeon grade XTR

[b_s_c1]

I want to purchase an over/under 12 gauge and think I have made my mind up on the Winchester 101 Pidgeon grade XTR. The main purpose will be for bird hunting with a little skeet shooting. Is there anything anyone can tell me about this gun.

I have shot one before and I thought it was the best feeling shotgun I ever shot, but that was about 6 years ago.

I am wandering what some of yalls thoughts are on this shotgun.

 

[Sauer Grapes]

I have limited experience with the 101. I shot a few rounds out of one last year. I thought it was a very nice gun. {not sure what model it was}
Someone will come along and tell you the recoil is brutal, I didn't find that to be the case. Maybe if I shot 100 rounds I would feel different. For what you want to do with it, IMO it would be a great gun. If it fits you, I'd say your good to go.

 

[b_s_c1]

Thanks for the info. Not worried about the recoil. The one I shot 6 years ago, I used for a weekend of bird hunting. The only reason I was using that gun was because I broke the stock on mine. The guy thought about selling it to me and even named a price. His story changed when I said I would run to town to get the money.

 

[oneounceload]

A few folks I shoot with have some 101's...they like them and don't seem to have any issues with fit, finish, or function.....sorry I don't have more to offer

 

[Gordon]

I have a 101 20 gauge in Skeet 1 and Skeet 2 in the proper case. I have found it to be the "death Ray" on Chukkar, Grouse, Pheasant when they are close flushed with nickel plated 5s and 3" shells and with lighter loads and finer shot;quail.Obviously it is a "Skeet Grade" and is from the 70s when the barrels were 26, the ribs reasonable and the stocks field friendly. I have shot skeet with it and it thinks its a 12ga.
I also have a 12ga 101 "clays " gun from the 80s and it has a 30" barrel with Win Chokes (replaced with Briley tubes), a fairly high and wide rib a semi Monte Stock and some cast off which fits me for clay sports. It is a good clay sport gun and it replaced in the early 90s the Rem 3200 I used from the 60s thru 70s (now replaced with the final Citori "Trap" gun which is a target rifle basically!). I used the 12 ga. 101 with 3" duck loads untilsteel was mandated and it was good there too!
So I like those Japanese Winchester 101s very much and know of NO issues IF properly maintained by a knowledgeable person. Be sure to use snap caps because I heard the firing pins do break. I never broke one in Maybe 5K rounds in the 20ga and twiceas many at least in the 12 ga.

 

[BigSteve43130]

The 101 was one of the best o/u ever made. I had a 20ga w/27" barrels that I couldn't miss with and one of the few that I should not have sold. I keep my eyes open but have yet to find one.