Winchester 1200. Opinions?

[Tmask345]

I'm a dove hunter, but also like to collect milsurp guns from WW1 and WW2.

Because of the ridiculous prices on ammo, milsurp guns, etc, I turned my attention to C&R shotguns. Ammo is easy to find and I can use it for hunting.

Anyway, enough with the intro. Like I said, I collect C&R shotguns, mostly pumps. And I wanted to get at least one commercial example of every "trench" model used by the US military. I already have the Win 97, Win Model 12, Remington 10, Ithaca 37 and Stevens 520. Still need a Savage 620, Savage 77E and the Winchester 1200.

I read a few bad comments about the Winchester 1200. Looks like it has a few plastic parts prone to break. I never handled or seen a 1200, so I really dunno nothing about them. Is it really a bad shotgun? Why the military chose it if its so bad? What about the 1300? Is it better than the 1200? At least in pictures the 1200 and 1300 looks the same. The only difference I know is that the 1300 has a 3" chamber and can shoot steel.

Just asking before buying. Let me know about your experiences with them.

Thanks

 

[Saul]

One of the first guns I bought, and I still have it. You could call me a fan.

You should have no problem finding one for under $300.

 

[Tgood1]

Killed my first deer, hog, turkey with one growing up in fl. Still use it on occasion. Granted it is a cheap made firearm but it has given me no problems at all in +/- 40 years

 

[Lone Star Bluegrass]

If you have a 97 and 12, I’m afraid the 1200 will be a sort of disappointment for you. Everyone has their thing, though, and if martial shotguns is yours then I suppose it’ll fit nicely next to a Mossberg 500.

 

[1dirthawker]

i had a 1200, was my first shotgun, had it for years. was a great working gun. never had a jam or malfunction with it. it was stolen along with some of my other guns 20 years ago. a bit of a fan

 

[JimP]

A 1200 was the first shotgun that I owned. It worked flawlessly with thousands of rounds put through it shooting at rabbits, ducks, geese, and other upland game.

It isn't the prettiest shotgun out there but it works and I still have it in my safe. The only problem that I have ever had with it was a couple years ago when I went to chamber a round. It jammed on me and I had to disassemble it to clear it. Turns out somehow a 16 ga shell got into my 12 gauge bag and that is what caused the jam. I still don't know how that 16 ga shell got in there since I have never owned a 16.