Why not Winchester?

Another Happy Winchester Model 1300 Defender Owner.

Another Very Happy Winchester model 1300 Defender owner. :)
In addition to two Rem 870's, and one Mossberg 590, and two Norinco M97's, I have 7 Winchester Defenders, and like all seven of the Winchester Defenders, and have not had a single malfunction out of any of them.
Thay are without a doubt the best looking of the combat pumps, and very positively poccess the smmooootthheest action on the market---- bare none.
I personally believe that the reason the Remington 870 has such a strong following is because in had such a head start (about 30 years) on the other brands.
I do believe that there is a possibility that the Mossberg 590A1 might have a pretty good whack at "De throning" the 870, as the 870 has been at the top for along time, even tough I like the Winchester, I don't think it is in position YET(Just wait).
The 870, the Moss.590/590A1/Winchester Defender/IthacaM37 all are good quality guns over all.
I just happen to be partial to the Winchester Defender because it is simply the best one of them all.:D .
SeeYa-StevieB.
 
jnsn,
Yes, the romance of the Remington 870 Wingmaster. There are a lot of middle aged folks who don't remember when the Wingmaster was introduced. They grew up with the Wingmaster and to them it is what a pump gun IS. I know a lot of folks who will wax rapsodic about the merits of a nice Wingmaster.

I learned to shoot with a Win '97 but went on my first hunts with a Rem 870.

Yah, I know it's no model 12 or Ithaca 37 in terms of machine work but they do have great cosmetics for an American pump and are solid performers.

Chuck Graber
 
Now if any of you know where I can get a tactical sling for my Camp Defender I would be ecstatic.

When I say tactical I mean one that carries the shotgun in front of you and allows you to shoulder and shoot with taking the sling off your shoulder.
 
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Let's put some dates to all this from the Standard Catalog of Firearms.

Model 12 - dropped from the regular product line in 1963, but reintroduced in 12 ga. only w/a ribbed bbl. from 1972 until 1980. A Custom Shop model was available until 1979. They made some versions later(like Ducks Unlimited dinner guns IIRC), but I'm concentrating on the 1963 date because that's when the reasonably priced field models were dropped.


870 Wingmaster - 1950-1963. Plain walnut stock.

870 Field Wingmaster - Introduced in 1964. Checkered walnut and screw-in choke tubes.

(FWIW)
870 Magnum - 12 or 20. Introduced 1964. Choke tubes in 1987.
870 Express - 12 ga. Intro. 1987.


So...cheapest Model 12 goes out in 1963 and the Wingmaster gets checkering and choke tubes in 1964.

And here we are, wondering what happened to Winchester.

John
 
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