Can I change barrels?

[BRL]

Firstly, I'm not a shotgunner, nor do I know much about hunting with one. I inherited a Winchester 1300 Defender Marine from my brother. It's a nice shotgun and has never been fired. But, I'd like to get some use out it and maybe take up turkey hunting. The barrel is an 18" standard fixed choke. Can the barrel be switched out like most other shotguns? Is it possible to hunt with an 18" standard choke barrel? If so, what would the max range be?

Thanks!!

[Graybeard]

The best answer I can give you is maybe.

I'm almost certain the 1300 barrels are interchangeable but never having owned one personally I'm not 100% certain.

An 18" barrel shotgun is nearly ideal for turkey hunting IF it throws a tight enough pattern. I don't know what choke your barrel has if IC then it likely would do only for closer range shooting of turkeys but inside of say 25 yards it would do a fine job beyond that it would be a bit marginal. If it's a modified barrel add five to seven yards to that range and if a full choke then it's easily up to 40 yard shots with the right loads that it patterns well.

If the barrel is thick enough and I suspect it is you could also have screw in chokes mounted to it by a gunsmith and have an excellent all round gun for turkey hunting and self defense use.

[BRL]

http://www.winchesterguns.com/prodinfo/catalog/historic_detail.asp?cat_id=512&type_id=908&cat=012C


When it says "cylinder", I assume that's improved cylinder?

Thanks again.

[rbwillnj]

No, Improved Cylinder is tighter than Cylinder.  Clyinder is supposed to be the same as the bore of the shotgun.   From open to tighter it goes like this;

Cylinder, Skeet, Improved Cylinder, Modified, Improved Modified, Full, Extra Full.

There is also a Light Modified which is a half step between Improved Cylinder and Modified.

[LONGTOM]

rbwillnj:
You are correct but I have seen the skeet refered to as SKEET 1 and the light modified refered to as SKEET 2.
Still the same constriction just different names.
Hastings uses these terms for their chokes.


LONGTOM

[BRL]

Thank you for clarifying that and the additional info!

[mcwoodduck]

I am going to say Yes you can but....
The mag tube on the defender (8 shot) is longer than the standard Win 5 shot so the barrel locking ring is further down the barrel (closer to the muzzle) than the standard field gun.  So if you get a new barrel you will also need to get a short Mag tube, and mag spring.  It just screws in with a strap wrench.  Depending on state you may also need to install a plug to limit capacity to 3.
It may be easier and cheaper to just buy a standard shotgun new or used than get all the parts and change it around.
It may be cheaper to buy a pick up truck than turn a police car into one.

[BRL]

Good point, that's what I was wondering...if I might be better off with a new shotgun. But, I wanted to make use of the one I was given. But, I suppose I could park it next to my bed instead of my CCW.