Winchester Model 1300 Defender

[VanL6]

I just aquired one of these through a trade with a buddy for one of my 12 guage feild model shotguns. He wanted my shotgun for hunting and I wanted his brand new Winchester that he never fired(he couldn't use it to hunt). It has an 18 1/2" barrel, holds 8 shells, and I think it will do just fine for a home defensive weapon. I will try to get out during the next few days to "Break it in". Has anybody here played with one of these?

[Lawdog]

I use one for a duty weapon.  It replaced an older M870 Remington that had developed a bad habit of misfiring factory ammo.  It had a history of problems and I got tired of always taking it to the shop.  Now it is some else's problem.  I really like the Defender, so far no problems and that is what I wanted.  Like any shotgun, in my opinion, it will make a great home defense weapon.  Lawdog

[Holiday]

I had one several years ago. I got silly and traded it of, wish I hadn't. It was a real nice gun. They are solid and dependable. in my opinion, they don't get the credit they deserve, everyone seems to be nuts over the Remington 870.

[SAWgunner]

Yup, that is my current defense setup.  I put a Surefire fore-end grip flashlight, a side saddle shell carrier and a Wilson combat sling  on mine.  Out of all of the shotguns I own (and have owned) this one patterns the best.  My home defense ammo is the Federal tactical 00 Buck, which is a great round.  I have played with this thing alot, and I can get off three shots in a little over a second very accurately.  Most people choose the 870 because of the options available for it, or (in my opinion) they choose whatever their favorite gun writer says is the hot item.  In all honesty, I do love 870s, but the 1300 Defender is just as good and better in some aspects.

[VanL6]

Here is a pic of it:

I have not shot it yet cause the weather has been to bad up here the last few days, and I have not been to thrilled about taking it to the indoor range.

[VanL6]

I finally got out this past Sunday to shoot the first couple rounds through this fine shotgun that have ever gone through it. I went out to the woods with a good friend of mine and his 13 yr. old son. We took a couple of other shotguns out also to do some target shooting. The 13 yr. had been shooting a 20 gauge a little bit during the past 2 years, and Sunday was his first time firing a 12ga. He did quite well. I found a tree stump that was about 3' in diameter, and stood out of the ground about 7' high. I pumped 60 rounds through my Winchester, in the pick above, at that stump. That was my first time shooting a shotgun from the "Hip", and it was pretty awesome. Now it gets throughly cleaned, and put away, and hopefully only comes out when I feel like shooting at stumps again from the "Hip".