The Winchester 1300 Defender is a great shotgun for the money. It's not quite as smooth as the more expensive Mossberg 590 or Remington 870 Police, but it is a very good value. The aftermarket doesn't seem to support the Win 1300 Defender as well as the others. (Including ourselves, but that will soon change!).All in all, you have a great shotgun and probably paid half of what the more popular guns cost. Shoot it, enjoy it!I have shot the pistol/stock combo on a Benelli M1. I really didn't like how heavier loads beat up my wrist. For me, the standard stock is the way to go on any shotgun, but that's just my personal preference, YMMV.-Kevin Smithwww.sidearmor.net

 

Sidearmor ... I appreciate your input. I would recommend the Winchester to anybody as of now so far no complaints. As far as the pistol/stock combo i might pick one up this weekend at the gun show cause i think they are pretty inexpensive. I'll post my opinion of it then. Later

 

One thing to look out for when buying a pistol grip, some of the cheaper models add a gap between the grip and the trigger guard. This may create too long of a reach for your trigger finger.

 

Sir, If I may? I have a full pistol grip stock for my ole Win. 1200. Sidearmor is right about length of pull with the trigger in cheap ones. If you have small hands this is even more of a hassle. As of defense with the Winnies, You have a good buy. I'll try to find the web address for the stock.

 

cassius.... I did not find a stock at the gun show i went to this past weekend. I am still looking so any site you might recommend i'll check em out. I would also rather have a good quality part I will stay away from the el-cheepo. THANKS

 

Here is one. Look around. See if you find what you are looking for. WWW.aspitactical.com. Good hunting.

 

Try checkin out this site: www.atigunstocks.comThey have quite a few aftermarket parts for the Win 1300. Now you can't buy straight through them, and I wouldn't recommend it if you could. Their MSRP is high. If you do a search on www.google.com for the Manufacturer and part name you'll find a dacentprice for the same part from a retailer.....Hope that helps

 

Just got a 1300 w/ a pistol grip included for 288. Does anyone know how to take the factory stock off?

 

Figured it out, there are 2 hidden screws in the back of the stock, then a bolt holding it on.

 

Looking at getting a Defender in a couple of days myself,what do you think of the action, and the patterning of the shot in general? Have you had a chance to fire slugs through it? If so, how were your groups?Thanks for any help!

 

I got a defender... I love it. I have not shot other shotguns though so I don't have anything to compare it to, but I think it's a great gun. I shot my defender for the first time the other day at an outdoor shooting range. I shot birdshot, 00 buck and rifled slugs. It performed very well. I'm in the process of turning it into a tactical shotgun. I just ordered a pistol grip forend and a buttstock & pistol grip combination.

 

I just got a winchester defender with a 20" barrle a little while back. Now i've had the barrel threaded and installed a full choke. i've also installed a ati over the top folder with a side saddle. Last night I added a surefire 636 tactical light system. It has a tac-star forend along with the tac-star magazine extension. I love this gun! its the newest member to my collection and its a blast. Took it to the range and set up several targets and ventilate them out to 40 yards with 00. to think i only payed $200 for the base gun i started to work with and its as nice as any other now...

 

anyone knows how to clean the 1300 after firing it? i just bought one today. thanaks

 

olneb,Unscrew the magazine tube cap and the barrel, forearm, and bolt carrier comes right off. Drive the pin out and the trigger group pops right out.Bushman

 

I have had two of these over the last 20 odd years - and both were crap. They would jam with inexpensive ammo, would not feed or extract low brass shells for skeet & target shooting. The after market parts to modify are scarse.For the money, buy a Reminton 870 or Mossberg 590A1. Guns cause crime, like spoons made Rosie fat

 

Like cassius said I have an "Ol Win1200" but mine is the "riot shotgun" it has a 20" barrel 5 round cap -4 in the tube 1 in the chamber. I removeded the bayonet band assembly and removed the stocks to put on some Tacstar & ATI parts. I'm using the top folding stock, 8 shot extension supported by a mag clamp, forend pistol grips and a tac star light system that uses a pressure sensitive switch. I think it looks pretty mean but fully loaded it's a little heavy :b

 

I hate to disagree but 1300's are not "crap" in my humble opinion. I ran at least 50 rounds through mine today using different types of ammo from light target loads to slugs without a single malfunction or hiccup WHATSOEVER.I have found that just about every sftermarket part that you could need is available for the 1300. They certainly are not scarce at all.I personally love mine, but this is just ny opinion--Rob

 

My 1300 works great for late seasoon snow geese over decoys or jumping them. It holds several rounds and I've even added a mag extension for more shots. Threaded bbl for tubes and shortened stock! Also try sooome minishells(1.5") from Aguila in yours--lotta fun!

 

I have a Winchester 1300 defender and want to attach a longer barrel. My shot gun came with a 28" barrel, but I can't seem to make it fit. Does anyone know how to attach the longer barrel?

 

I just bought one today. I did a lot of research and am extremely happy with the Defender 1300. If the salesperson wants to sell you a Mossberg then ask them to field strip it right in front of you. Take a look at the parts. They're thin and cheap. The Winchester is a great buy.

 

If you have a true 'Defender' model, as opposed to regular 1200/1300 in sporting length, factory magazine tube, etc., then you'll have to change the magazine tube out to one of factory length, which sometimes includes changing the magazine throat, or whatever they call it (two small parts that fit on top and bottom of the base of the tube at the reciever, that the tube screws into. You'll have to do this as barrel retention rings on sporting length barrels are meant for use on a five round mag tube, therefore the barrel mount ring is placed where the conventional five round magazine cap would secure it...not the eight round. It's not awfully complicated or anything, but it will require some parts and about $40, and is not 'intantly' convertible back and forth from sporting to defender configurations. If you want easy versatility with barrel swaps for wingshooting, deer hunting, turkey, and/or home defense, then a standard 1200/1300 with a magazine extension and other accessories deemed necessary is probably the most versatile. True Defender models are meant to stay that way, although the 'Camp Defender' model does go a ways towards more 'sporting' versatility in it's barrel setup for choke tubes, etc...though still short and usually with rifle sights on it.

http://www.winchester-guns.com/services ... 0field.pdf

http://www.winchester-guns.com/services ... fender.pdf

FYI: The U.S. Army has used and still uses many, many more Winchester 1200s than it ever has 870s. I had a whole slew of them that I upgraded for Kosovo and the Gulf and infantry cqb that were Vietnam era and still running like a Swiss Watch. Don't believe all the bashing you hear. Even a pump shotgun problem is most likely user related, and the Winchester pump designs have always caused problems with certain individuals with their 'recoil assisted' pump design. Some folks just try to fight it, rather than use it as intended.

 

Hey yall, I was just wondering if you can get an aftermarket wood forend and buttstock for a current production 1300 Defender? I like the way the wood stock looks better than the synthetic. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Yep...It takes the same stocks as the 1200 or 1300.

 

Ok, since wood stocks are made for 1300's, where could I find em?

 

If you have a true 'Defender' model, as opposed to regular 1200/1300 in sporting length, factory magazine tube, etc., then you'll have to change the magazine tube out to one of factory length,

Or you can get the longer magazine cap from Brownells. See http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtop ... 787#122787