Winchester SXP Defender

[Big D]

Hey yall. I am awaiting the arrival of my SXP Dark Earth Defender but can find little info on the new SXPs other than they are made under contract to Winchester/FN Herstal in Turkey. I always wanted a 1300 Defender but was unable to acquire one before they went out of production.

Now 1300 Defenders go upwards of 4-500 on sites like gunbroker and I rarely see any in my local gunshops for sale used. Once I get mine I will conduct a full review, but any information on em in the meantime would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[Panzerschwein]

Winchester does not make guns anymore.

It's all either made in Japan or Turkey.

Very sad.

 

[Louca]

Big D, I got an SXP Defender a few years back and I really like mine. After I got mine, as sometimes happens, I wondered if I would have been better off with a Remington 870 for various reasons. You can see my post and the replies on that subject here if interested.

Please note that I treat the SXP as strictly a home defense tool. I shoot a SxS and O/U double barrels for hunting and sporting clays. In the SXP, I shoot #4 buckshot and have recorded pattern spread at various distances from about 8 feet to about 40 feet. I can send you pattern spread pics if you are interested.

If you are thinking about attaching fancy accessories, the SXP is probably not a good choice. But I just wanted mine simple. It is fairly light in weight so heavy loads are going to be talking to your shoulder a bit.
Lou

 

[Big D]

I already have an 870P as well as a HD 870Express. I just wanted a Winchester. I've always owned several Mossbergs over the years as well. I've never been one to hand all sorts of stuff on a hard use defensive gun or any other gun for that matter. How has your experience been with reliability/durability with your SXP?

 

[kopfjaeger01]

I've had my SXP camp/field combo for over three years now. I've put about 10,000 rounds through it with no issues. I like the ability to have the 18" hd barrel and the 26" field barrel. I've put slugs, buckshot, and all sorts of others through it.

I really like mine. I paid $400 for it. Well worth the price.

 

[Slater]

From an article describing the differences between the older 1300 and the newer XSP:

"Among the changes to improve the durability of the SXP is the elimination of the distinctive “fishtail,” V-shaped joint between the head of the stock and the rear of the receiver. The new straight-line joint is much stronger, while the receiver itself is made of aircraft-grade aluminum that is tougher than the impact-extruded aluminum of the old guns. Inside, the action bars and the plate upon which the bolt sits have been made from three pieces into one. Not only does that make the gun much easier to take apart—you can remove the action bars and bolt as one piece—it eliminates a source of wiggle and wear that was a weakness of the old design."

 

[Sammael94]

I absolutely love my sxp. I got it about a year or two ago and loved it from day one. I have fired target loads, buckshot and slugs through it and it performs well regardless of what if feed it. Did you get the version that comes with a defender barrel as well as a hunting barrel, or just the defense barrel?

 

[PabloJ]

Hey yall. I am awaiting the arrival of my SXP Dark Earth Defender but can find little info on the new SXPs other than they are made under contract to Winchester/FN Herstal in Turkey. I always wanted a 1300 Defender but was unable to acquire one before they went out of production.

Now 1300 Defenders go upwards of 4-500 on sites like gunbroker and I rarely see any in my local gunshops for sale used. Once I get mine I will conduct a full review, but any information on em in the meantime would be greatly appreciated!!

You have to look for undervalued guns out there. Four to five hundred for Winchester Defender is hard to justify when good automatic in excellent condition can be had for $300. Latest find is about 97% condition Model 50 12ga with 28" Modified choke barrel. A whole lot better value than alloy actioned pump gun. It is reliable and do to substantial weight easy gun to shoot well plus of course it self-loads from shot to shot which is big advantage.

 

[Big D]

The version I ordered is in flat dark earth 18" barrel which is also threaded for invector plus choke tubes. I just wanted something different that was relatively inexpensive but a good value. The Winchesters, other than the model 97/12 never really got much attention. From what I've been able to dig up on the SXP, it seems to be a good reliable pump.....but there is very little info on it. All that aside, I will make sure my gets a proper review including pictures and function testing.

 

[GT1]

I like it.

SXP Marine Defender

 

[PabloJ]

Hey yall. I am awaiting the arrival of my SXP Dark Earth Defender but can find little info on the new SXPs other than they are made under contract to Winchester/FN Herstal in Turkey. I always wanted a 1300 Defender but was unable to acquire one before they went out of production.

Now 1300 Defenders go upwards of 4-500 on sites like gunbroker and I rarely see any in my local gunshops for sale used. Once I get mine I will conduct a full review, but any information on em in the meantime would be greatly appreciated!!

I seen one at LGS last week. It had hardwood stock, vented recoil pad, swivels, iron sights long magazine with what looked like matte chrome plating on action, barrel, and magazine tube. The barrel said Stainless Police 2&3/4 or 3". The gun was tagged at $350 which salesman told me was very reasonable when one considers that new 870 Marine Magnum is close to $700. The Winchester while second-hand had no signs of ever have been used. While 870 Marine Mag is better shotgun it isn't twice as good. I would rate that Winchester equal to anything pump action that Mossberg makes. If I didn't already own Ithaca 37 I would have bought that gun.

 

[Slater]

I have the Desert Defender:

 

[Joezilla]

Slater,

How much was that Desert Tan model? I looked at one at Academy today, but cannot for the life of me remember what the price was.

I'm getting old.

Joe

 

[Slater]

That was $319 from Bud's.