Get in touch with Joe Bowles. He posts here as Tron. Give him a call, describe your issues, and he can fix your stock with the modifications and adjustability that will allow you to get it fitted to yourself.

http://www.tronspace.com/Pages/default.aspx

As far as your recoil issue, it's definitely a by product of incorrect gun fit most likely aided by a crappy recoil pad. What are the ammo specs (shot charge weight and muzzle velocity) of the shells you were using?

 

Have the stock cut to proper length and a recoil pad installed at same time will fix the length issue.
Add something like a cheek pad should take of the rest?
https://www.amazon.com/ACCU-RISER-MOLDE ... +cheek+pad
:arrow: Not the best setup but cheaper then a custom stock and I'm not really sure a Winchester 1300 is worth the effort of a custom job?? :roll:

 

I have a 1300 Defender also and at one point had two of them but sold one to a friend after his HD shotgun was stolen. They are a great defensive shotgun but they do kick a bit. You can look for some light loads for practice and buy "low recoil" shells for defense. Remington and Federal both make a "low recoil" (8 pellet) 00 buck shell. There is a noticeable difference between those and regular 00 shells.
Hogue may make a shorter stock for the Defender but it would be synthetic which will make the gun lighter weight (I assume yours is a wood stock set) and more recoil may be felt. Slug gun stocks are typically monte carlo style so keep an eye out for those too.
Another option for reducing the felt recoil is sending the barrel to Vang Comp Systems and have them modify the barrel. I had mine done a couple years ago and it made a big difference in patterning (better) and there was a noticable difference in the felt recoil. The down side is that the machine work to the barrel is a little costly. I did NOT have the ports installed in my barrel.

https://vangcomp.com/shop/install-the-v ... ur-barrel/

My friend 1300 is still original and mine has been modified. We got together after my barrel came back from Vang Comp and both of us were pleasantly surprised in the felt recoil comparing both guns. His gun is a wood stock version and it still kicked harder than mine with the synthetic stock.

I hope you find a solution to your 1300, they are great shotguns.

 

Steelemaiden, this may be an option depending how short you need the stock. If your stock is wood, you can have it cut down then add foam rubber pads to the comb to raise the comb height. The pads will also help reduce the felt recoil.

http://www.midwestgunworks.com/page/mgw ... -1-30-1386
http://meadowindustries.com/gunstocks.html#quick

 

Thank you all for the wonderful suggestions. I've discovered through research that my 1300 is apparently a police model (which makes sense, as my dad was a constable and said he carried it with him). I measured the stock and it is actually only 13 inches - I guess I have really short arms! I did order a trap/skeet style forend for it that should make it less of a stretch to reach the forend. The barrel is 18 inches. The recoil pad is very had rubber.

The loads that I have shot through it so far are Federal Target Load, 2 3/4", 8 shot, 1200 muzzle velocity. I have some Remington Managed Recoil 00BK in it for home protection. I'm assuming recoil will be the least of my concerns if I have to use those!

I would like to be able to shoot trap occasionally and have read that this gun can be used for that. I'd love to have an adjustable comb and stock customization done, but question the justification of spending more on the stock than the value of the gun itself. I have been looking at the cheek risers like some of you posted as an alternative, but I ran across an old forum thread on here that said that some cheek risers add bulk to the sides of the stock and interfere with the proper line of site. Do you know anything about that? I like the look of the cheek riser posted by WB: https://www.amazon.com/ACCU-RISER-MOLDE ... +cheek+pad - it looks like it would allow me some flexibility on the amount of rise added.

I'm wondering if my money would be better spent modifying this to the level that would make it good for home defense and purchasing a ladies shotgun for trap shooting. I doubt I will ever be an every weekend shooter, but I do enjoy shooting and I like going with my dad when I visit him. I've looked at the CZ Ladies Sterling and Franchi Instinct Catalyst - unfortunately even in a city like Dallas, I can't find a single store that carries them so that I can actually see them before purchase, so I could end up with all the same problems of fit if I have to buy without being able to see them first. Any thoughts on that issue would be appreciated as well - perhaps that is the topic for a different post - if so, please pardon me, I am new to this!

Thanks again for all of your wonderful advice!

 

You're better off with an AR-15 carbine and appropriate ammo for home defense.

The collapsible stock and shorter handguard makes fitting the gun to yourself MUCH easier and cheaper. In addition, AR carbines are lighter than what you have.

The barrel of a rifle can be as short as 16 inches before you need an ATF tax stamp, whereas a shotgun's barrel can't be shorter than 18" before the ATF steps in to regulated them. Shorter barrels are obviously easier to deal with in the sometimes confined portions of a home.

ARs have SIGNIFICANTLY less recoil than any shotgun, they are extremely reliable, and can be easily outfitted with a weapon light (something that no home defense firearm should be without) and better sights (electro-optic red dots).

And last but not least, they can easily carry 30 rounds on board instead of four to eight. I don't give a crap what statistics say, nor do I care about stupid gun forum sayings like "if you can't get it done with five you're screwed anyway". When I'm defending my home, I want every unfair advantage I can get over the invaders.

Don't listen to the fools who will tell you that an AR is dangerous for home defense because of over penetration or because a DA will paint you like a bloodthirsty killer. To the former, any shotgun ammo useful for self defense will penetrate at least as much if not more than 223 Remington defensive (not military ball) ammo through household construction materials. To the latter, there isn't a shred of evidence that the choice of firearm (so long as it's legal where you live) will turn a good shoot into a bad shoot in court.

 

You're better off with an AR-15 carbine and appropriate ammo for home defense.

I actually have an AR-15 and love it! I was in the ROTC during college and learned with an M-16, so the AR-15 was a must have. I also have several pistols that I keep under my mattress. Since I have a 6 year old son, I'm not comfortable keeping the AR-15 loaded by my bedside right now. This Winchester Pump seems perfect for the bedside, since I leave it unchambered and (in addition to teaching him gun safety) my son isn't strong enough to lift and rack this. I know many do not believe in keeping a loaded gun with children in the home - but my husband travels a lot and I feel that an unloaded gun is about as helpful for home defense as a good heavy rock.

 

I would keep the 1300 for defense and definitely spend the money on a decent shotgun for trap. The 1300 would limit you in trap pretty quickly.
Some cheek pads/risers can add bulk to the sides and it could be an issue. The Meadow Industries link I posted offers minimal side bulk. The other I cant speak about.

 

Since I have a 6 year old son, I'm not comfortable keeping the AR-15 loaded by my bedside right now. This Winchester Pump seems perfect for the bedside, since I leave it unchambered and (in addition to teaching him gun safety) my son isn't strong enough to lift and rack this.

If you're comfortable with leaving a shotgun in condition 2 (loaded magazine, empty chamber, safety on) around your son, why is an AR-15 in the same condition unsafe?

 

Thank you for your input. I will certainly give this consideration. As for my thought process behind introducing and exposing my son to different firearms at this age and as he grows older, I think that is something very personal for each parent and each child. I don't have an interest in discussing that on a forum.

 

Thank you for your input. I will certainly give this consideration. As for my thought process behind introducing and exposing my son to different firearms at this age and as he grows older, I think that is something very personal for each parent and each child. I don't have an interest in discussing that on a forum.

You can do whatever you want, for whatever reason you want. I don't care.

You asked for advice and I gave it based on logic and on knowledge.

However, don't expect me to buy your "safety" rationalizations when they are not based on logic and facts.

 

You can do whatever you want, for whatever reason you want. I don't care.

WELL, there goes THE FRIENDLIEST FORUM reputation down the drain!!!

 

Your 1300 is not designed for shooting trap or any other clay target discipline. The barrel is too short and it is rather light weight, which increases felt recoil.

The shells you have been shooting are common for shooting trap but many shooters are using one ounce of shot at 1100 or 1150 feet per second to reduce recoil.

if you are really interested in shooting trap, I suggest you consider getting another gun, one designed for shooting clay targets. It will have a wood stock, very possibly shorter or at least one that can be easily shortened to fit you and is very likely to be heavier to reduce felt recoil.

As was suggested, get in touch with Joe/Tron. He will offer advice regarding making the 1300 fit you (raising the comb, cutting the stock to a correct length and at the same time, correcting the "pitch"), which is the angle formed by the rib and the end of the stock, the "butt," approximately 90 degrees.

As it is, the bottom pointed "toe" of the recoil pad probably jabs you in the breast when the gun recoils.

Depending on how much trap shooting you intend to do, a gun that fits you will pay dividends in your clay target shooting success as well as your enthusiasm for the sport because of shooting success and shooting comfort.

How tall are you? (Height is one indicator of how well guns fit shooters, especially regarding the length of the stock.

 

Thanks so much for the feedback! I just ordered your book! I've taken the advice of the helpful people on here and ordered a Kick Eez for the 1300, along with the Accu Riser for the the cheek riser. I have an Uncle who builds and modifies guns and he has agreed to fit the Kick Eez and shorten the stock if needed. I'm not sure if he does much as far as customizing pitch. If I am going to use the 1300 strictly for defense do you think it is necessary to have a formal fitting done to adjust the pitch? I've been in touch with a local guy -ADM in Fort Worth - who will do an in person fitting, but I'm beginning to think the money would be better spent on the trap gun that I ultimately select. We contacted the local trap range and they actually don't even allow shotguns with barrels shorter than 21" So, my use of the 1300 will primarily be limited to my visits with my dad in Arkansas and defense.

I've been looking at the CZ Lady Sterling and the Franchi Instinct Catalyst for trap - but so far have not found anyone who carries them in stock so that I can try shouldering them. We are going to a gun show this weekend to see if we have any luck there. That said, I'm curious as to whether it is worthwhile to seek out a shotgun built for ladies (I am 5' 3" by the way), or will I likely still need enough customization that I'm better off looking at a broader range of guns and planning to have it fit. Unless I become really hooked on this, I'm looking to do more of the occasional shooting, so I don't want to invest thousands in a trap gun right now - so I'm looking to balance quality with a reasonable (under 2k) budget.

Thanks again for all the helpful advice!

 

Thanks so much for the feedback! I just ordered your book! I've taken the advice of the helpful people on here and ordered a Kick Eez for the 1300, along with the Accu Riser for the the cheek riser.

The Kick Eez pad is excellent and the Accu Riser will raise the comb. Be careful though that it does not also move your cheek/eye horizontally - unless that is desired to horizontally align your eye with the rib.

I have an Uncle who builds and modifies guns and he has agreed to fit the Kick Eez and shorten the stock if needed. I'm not sure if he does much as far as customizing pitch. If I am going to use the 1300 strictly for defense do you think it is necessary to have a formal fitting done to adjust the pitch?

No. If you need to face an intruder and worse yet, fire at him, the clay shooting problems associated with shooting a gun with the wrong pitch will not be present.

I've been in touch with a local guy -ADM in Fort Worth - who will do an in person fitting, but I'm beginning to think the money would be better spent on the trap gun that I ultimately select. We contacted the local trap range and they actually don't even allow shotguns with barrels shorter than 21" So, my use of the 1300 will primarily be limited to my visits with my dad in Arkansas and defense.

I suggest that you postpone the consideration of visiting a stock fitter until you have the gun you will use for clay target shooting.

Depending on which gun you buy, you may not even need to visit a fitter after reading my book. It will depend on what needs to be done to the stock on that gun to make it fit you.

However, visiting a good stock fitter is always better than trying to explain the changes a stock needs to whomever is doing the work.

I've been looking at the CZ Lady Sterling and the Franchi Instinct Catalyst for trap - but so far have not found anyone who carries them in stock so that I can try shouldering them. We are going to a gun show this weekend to see if we have any luck there. That said, I'm curious as to whether it is worthwhile to seek out a shotgun built for ladies (I am 5' 3" by the way), or will I likely still need enough customization that I'm better off looking at a broader range of guns and planning to have it fit.



Visiting a gun show is an excellent idea. If I may let me suggest a good "shooting form" to use when you shoulder guns.

An over/under is the ideal gun only if it fits you and if you can tolerate the felt recoil, which is significantly greater than that of a gas semi auto.

Many of them that are designed for clay target shooting are heavier than semi autos, which reduces felt recoil slightly but require stronger shooters to handle them well.

Shooting form consists of the stance (foot placement) head, neck and body posture and the gun mount, which is very important for good shooting.

A gun that fits you...

will be able to be mounted on your shoulder just inside of your shoulder joint with the recoil pad at a height where you do not need your neck forward to put your cheek on the comb.

and your cheek on the comb, your trigger hand will be in a position that will allow you to pull straight back on the trigger (the check for proper grip size) and not "up"..

your nose/thumb separation will b about an inch.

the pitch will be such that the whole recoil pad, top to bottom, will make simultaneous contact with your shoulder or, the pointed "toe" of the pad will make contact only very slightly before the top "heel" of the pad.

A lady's or youth gun will come MUCH closer to fitting you without modification. It may not fit the way you want it to but it is likely to be close.

Any gun with a wood stock can be made to fit you with the exception of the pistol grip. With your petite hands you will not be able to reach the trigger without sliding your hand up and forward on the grip. That is not good because you would need to pull up rather than straight back on the trigger, which will invite inconsistent trigger pulls that can delay the gun's firing and upset the timing of your shots. Put more simply, you will not hit as many targets.

Unless I become really hooked on this, I'm looking to do more of the occasional shooting, so I don't want to invest thousands in a trap gun right now - so I'm looking to balance quality with a reasonable (under 2k) budget.

That is a very reasonable budget. You will be able to get an excellent gas operated semi auto clay target gun. I more than strongly recommend such a gun. Their felt recoil is substantially less than either a pump or over & under gun and, much less expensive than a decent o/u.

With your budget though, you should also be able to find a good o/u as well. Do not shy away from a good used gun. Good over & under guns will last a lifetime.

If you are like many people, you will become hooked quite easily.

All of the above is in my book. If you have any questions as you read, you are welcome to call me in Wisconsin at 920-464-0124 or to email me - rollin@stockfitting.com.

Thanks again for all the helpful advice!

For my part, you are very welcome.