Winchester 1200

G

geoffthesnake

New member
Saw one at a local shop, thought it looked pretty cool, then I saw it was priced I think around 250$ and I thought it was really cool. I tried doing some research but couldn't find much info about it other than whats on wikipedia. Anyone ever owned or shot one before, if so, how did you like it?
 
The Winchester 1200 pump was made on a cost basis. In other words made as cheaply as possible and not be unsafe. There are plastic parts that break and can not be had for any amount of money.

All that said there are also owners that love the gun and will not trade for any amount of money.

Just remember your looking at a gun out of production,if something wears/breaks parts are hard to find.
 
I have one I bought new in the mid-70s. It has the win-choke system. I have used it to hunt quail, phesant, dove, ducks, geese and deer.

It is still one of my favorite guns since I have so many memories with it. It never failed me.

Yes, it was an inexpensive gun at the time. I seemed to recall I paid about $140 new for it.

I say buy it if you like it. It is not like you are purchasing a five thousand dollar gun and will never find parts for it.
 
Interesting. From what I can tell there are other options out there with more readily asvalible parts, should I need them, within the same price range.

Thanks for the replies.
 
I've had a 1200 since the mid 1980s. Mom and Dad bought it for me at a garage sale. It's a 12 gauge with the Winchokes.

I've had it apart for some time refinishing the stock. I really need to complete that. The varnish was pretty scarred up from years of use.

The 1200 was a radical departure for Winchester in that the traditional shotgun bolt lockup was abandoned in favor of a rotating bolt head that locks into grooves in the barrel extension.

This makes the 1200 one of the strongest shotguns ever fielded by any maker.

I've fired probably 15,000 rounds through mine in the years that I've had it, and it never failed to feed, fire, or eject (except with cheap assed Hungarian bargain basement shells).

It's biggest drawback is that, compared to othershotguns of the time, including the Ithaca Model 37 and the Winchester Model 12, it's rather heavy and clunky.

As long as everything looks good on it, I'd not hesitate to buy another 1200.
 
Exploded drawing at http://www.urban-armory.com/diagrams/win1200.htm

See Part Numbers 40102 & 42102, the magazine throats upper and lower. They're plastic, and subject to wear/embrittlement/breaking, especially when contacted by some solvents used (or misused) in cleaning firearms sometimes.

This is one of the weak points of the design, if they break down, feeding problems are the likely result.

fwiw,

lpl
 
For that much money, I'd track down a used Remington or Mossberg, or a new Mossberg Maverick.

Keep an eye out, though. I picked up my Ithaca 37 for $250 and it's in great shape.
 
I saw a few of the 55102ns parts come apart the nI would braze them together the plastic piecse could be had at most gun shops. Was a cheap gun made cheap and sold cheap. Nothiong like the model 12.
 
I have multiples of just about every American pump gun made since the 1930s. And I have to say the 1200 is one of my favorites. Yes, it was somewhat cheaply made, especially compared to icons like the 12, 37, & 31. But it was also innovative and extremely smooth. Mine has worked well for many years and many thousands of rounds...never a problem of any kind. It started out as my "rough weather gun", because it was inexpensive, and became my all-weather/all seasons shotgun because I was having so much success with it. The 1200 is one of the easiest guns around to completely strip down and clean. A rank amateur can handle that task. Parts are still available on e-gunparts (Numrich) and on gunbroker.com. But I've never needed a part in all these years. Just lucky, I guess.
 
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A lot of people pick on this gun because of price and so called "quality"....

Let me just say this, the gun is worth every penny!!! I have one I got from my father who bought it off of he police sergant who used it on the police force. This gun still runs like a dream no matter what and it is so smooth!:D

Its not a gun thats gonna 20,000 rounds a year but it will pretty much what ever the average person is gonna need it for, so I say do it. You wont be disapointed!
 
1200

I gave one to my wife with a short slug barrel for home protection.It is her shotgun to nail any would be intruders. light and easy to use. great for a lady.
 
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