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I am new to shotgunning and asked this question on a previous post but recieved no response so i figured i would try a new topic. but anyways i was woundering if the speed pump on the 1300 is actually practical or is it just a marketing gimic.

marketing gimic, but my 1300 is faster than anyother pump ive shot.

The Winchester 1300 traces directly back to the Winchester 1200, which was introduced in 1964. Recently, Winchester has begun this "speed pump" advertising campaign that exaggerates a feature common to every modern pump action shotgun - firing the gun releases the bolt.

I'm a big fan of pump action shotguns, and had the opportunity to test fire a WalMart 1300 Ranger a few months ago. I found it no faster pumping, or softer shooting than an 870 Express.

Pump action shotguns are among the least expensive shotguns available. Collect 'em all! Seriously, try out a few different guns and see which one you like best.

It is a new advertizing term for an old feature, as WinM12 has stated.

In regards to the "speed pump"; the current description of this function is accurate but IMHO, misleading because this function is not new, or unique to the current Winchester pump.

The basic design, the Winchester 1200, came on the market in 1964 and it functioned in this manner. It had the same rotary bolt head etc.

The 1200 was on the market for 4 years when I started shooting. It was never very popular for clay target shooting where a lot of shooters fire 5,000 to 20,000 shells/year. The target versions dissappeared from the market quite a while ago.

The few examples of the 1200 or the 1300 I have cycled have not impressed me with any perceived smoothness or speed, they are not bad but don't live up to the advertizing claims IMHO.

The 870 does the same thing (bolt unlocks the second you pull the trigger) and it came out in 1950. An 870 will unlock when fired with a snap cap, recoil with a live shell will partially open it. The Ithaca 37, an even older design does the same thing. My Ithaca M37 Supreme Grade that I use for sporting clays opens and partially cycles if shot with the left hand off the fore end.

I have shot doubles in skeet with various pump shotguns since 1970 and later on, sporting clays occassionaly. The 870's, older Remington 31's and Ithaca's cycle very rapidly and smoothly, as will the Winchester M12. I have never found any of them lacking on any multiple target presentations.

IMHO, the bottom line is shoot what ever you like, are comfortable with and have confidence in; whatever that may be and don't place too much store in advertizing.

with my 1300 when I pull the trigger without my hand on the pump, it will automaticly eject the shell, and all ive got to do is push forward on the forarm to load another shell.

So does my 1971 manufacture Ithaca M37 Supreme Grade if it is fired without holding the fore end. I have owned this gun since I acquired it, new, in 1972, the Supreme Grades were well honned at the factory and mine did this from new.

The M37 is an adptation of the Remington M17 which was designed by J. M. Browning and introduced 88 years ago in 1917, so this opening feature is not a new thing, nor exclusive to the Win 1200 or 1300.

In my 35 years of shooting, I have not found my Ithaca M37 any faster on skeet, trap or sporting clays doubles than an 870 or the Win. M12 that I used to own.

I like shooting both the M37 and the 870 but I do not consider the M37's ability to open and eject the shell when fired without holding the fore end to provide me with any value when shooting multipul targets.

The current ads lead people to believe this is some new, unique feature that adds some advantage to using this model; IMHO and experience, it does not. I think if a person likes the 1300 and wants to shoot and own them, go for it; but don't believe all the stuff written in ads about ANY brand/model.

having the speed pump makes logical sense.

because it releases the forarm when you fire.

This is what pump shotguns do, it is NOT exclusive to one brand/model.

As I stated earlier, the current Winchester "Speed Pump" advertising campaign exaggerates a feature common to all modern pump action shotguns - firing the gun releases the bolt.

I purposely used the phrase "modern", since the classic Winchester Model 12 had an additional safety feature built in. Since the Model 12 was designed in the early 20th century and introduced in 1912, ammunition was not what it is today and "hangfires" were not unheard of. (A hangfire is when the primer has been struck, but there is a delay before the shell goes off.) Therefore, the Model 12 locking system requires the forend be given a slight "push" forward after pulling the trigger, in order to release the bolt. It is no coincidence that this requisite "push" is supplied by automatically by the shooter's forward positioned hand (the left hand for right handed shooters), due to the inherent recoil of firing the gun. Winchester designed this safety feature to prevent the accidental ejection of a shell that could go off in the shooter hand (or face!).

I have used my Model 12 Trap grade for occasional doubles from a manual table trap. I have had no problems working the pump for doubles.

For the reason explained above, a "hands off" forend grip will not release a Model 12 pump. However, my brother-in-law reports successful "hands-off, self opening" from a Mossberg 500 pump.

Again, there are plenty of great guns out there. Ignore the advertising hype and buy the gun you like the best.