Winchester 1300 failures? (Dave McC)

[kotengu]

I recall seeing some time ago on the Firing Line Dave McC posted about the Winchester 1200 series failing his depts tests for a duty gun, and am curious to know specifics - what failed, how, and why?

I'm also curious to know why it is that both the Remington 870 and Mossberg 590 seem to have been adopted for military/LE use, but the 1300 seems to be pretty scarce there. Has it been considered, and did it fail - again, why or why not?

I just bought an 870, so these points are kind of moot, but the Win 1300 seems like a great gun and I'm curious to know what I'm not seeing........

 

[HSMITH]

Not Dave, but I can tell you that the 1200 and 1300 are two totally different guns. The 1200 is a POS, much like the Maverick 88 you find at wally world. The 1300 is pretty solid, I would own one. The 590 and 1300 I would put on equal footing, but I do not have the experience with the 1300 that I have with the 590. I have extensive experience with the 590 and 870.

Why is the 1300 not in military use? I would GUESS that price point is a big factor in that, also would GUESS that Winchester is not actively pursueing that market. If the 1300 is not totally domestically manufactured that would be an issue as well.

I have seen a few 1200's break the locking lug pins, in the same manner as a Mossberg 500 under hard use. They will not take the abuse like an 870 or 590 will.

 

[Dave McCracken]

The MD Dept of Public Safety and Correctional Services tried out the 1200s as tower guns. I started there in 1977, and the 1200s were a few years old then.

In the typical Prison environment of neglect, ignorance and abuse, the 1200s didn't shine. There were failures to feed, light firing pin hits, failures to fire, and one action bar bent by one of our bigger gorillas.

Neither the Model 12s nor the 97s used before had these probs, and the 870s in use just kept working. The 1200s were withdrawn and surplussed around 1981.

All the Winnie pumps I've seen shot and have shot myself have had no problems since then. IMO, the 1300 series are good shotguns, though they need more TLC than that provided by my old dept. For civilians, this is not important.

HTH...

 

[HS/LD]

You will not find any Law Enforcement of military organisations using the Winchester 1300.

Winchester does not actually manufacture any firearms anymore. When you buy a Winchester 1300 you are actually purchasing a US Repeating Arms Co. gun made under license from Fabrique Nationale.

I would therefore assume that it is safe to say that the Winchester 1300 will not be used anywhere but the FN Police / Military shotguns will be.

It is interesting to note that while the FN is not used by the United States Military (as far as I know) that it is used around the world for both Law Enforcement and Military purposes.

I will investigate who actually uses the FN 1300 equivalent (remembering that Fabrique Nationale, a part of the Herstal Group is one of the world largest military firearms manufacturers).

FN's US Website
You will also notice that FN owns and makes Browning products.

FN's Weapons site

Herstal Group

Having used Fn products to a great extent in the military I am sold on their quality and durability.

Regards,
HS/LD

 

[foghornl]

Never fired a Winchester shotty, so I can't comment on them.

Winchester does not actually manufacture any firearms anymore.

It is truly a shame that a company name as colorful and history filled as Winchester does not actually MAKE firearms anymore.