Winchester 1300 Mods?? Help?

K

KevinK

New member
I've searched until I'm blue in the face and still haven't found the answer I need. I'm converting a Model 1300 from a deer barrel into a home defense weapon (no use for a slug barrel in So. Texas as there was in So. Illinois).

I have an 18" barrel ordered and an 8 shot magazine. Is this going to be a simple "remove and replace" or have I bitten off more than I can chew? I know the existing barrel removal is simple as I have swapped back and forth with a ventilated rib 26" barrel frequently. Will the 18" be as simple? How about replacing the existing magazine with the 8 shot? How does one remove the existing mag and reinstall the new?

ANY help would be greatly appreciated.

Happy Thanksgiving
 
I have the same gun. If you get the winchester barrel, it should be just a simple drop in fit. As for the magazine, I would imagine it is also a drop in fit. As for the 8 shot I would think you will have to replace the tube and the spring (I maybe wrong with the spring). It should be a pretty easy conversion.

good luck..
 
Thanks, Ranger Al. The Defender barrel came in, it has tru-glo sites preinstalled and they are the "bee's knees". The Defender barrel is built for an 8 shot magazine.

I received the magazine tube and it has some very shallow threads at the receiver end. I haven't tackled it yet, but I'm hoping that I can simply use a strap wrench to unscrew the 5 shot magazine and screw the new magazine in.
 
was it as simple as unthreading the mag tube?

I'm converting a Ranger 120 (low end 1300) into a home defense shotgun as well. I got a 1300 mag tube and just haven't had the time to look at it closely.

hoping to learn from someone else's experience.



and where did you find a defender barrel?
 
I have the same gun. I just cut my 26" barrel off to 18.75". Added sights. Works great.

Remember measure correctly. From the bold surface with bolt closed.
 
thats actually my plan, but if I can keep the barrel intact I'd rather do that. just in case I need to go shoot some duckies.
 
just in case I need to go shoot some duckies.
Click to expand...

I understand. But some added info if you do go with cutting the barrel. I assume your barrel has a vent rib. I cut mine just ahead of a rib support. This makes a good termination of the barrel.
 
KevinK: If you change the mag tube, be careful with the mag throat. It is a two piece assembly made of plastic/nylon and is easily distorted or broken. The mag tube threads into the throat and clamps down on the receiver.
 
I just got the parts for this conversion

I've got the 18 inch barrel, the 8 shell magazine, and even the throat piece.
Here's the problem so far, the 8 shell magazine has small 'splines' on it so obviously it cannot be screwed in. The receiver end of that mag has rings, not threads. So it has to be pressed in place somehow.

Here's the problem: The 1300 (duck model, if you will) must apparently screw out, because I ordered the mag throat for the 1300, by the gun's serial number, and it is a single piece with a THREAD on the inside. So I assume that the 1300 mag can be unthreaded. But the 8 shot defender mag doesn't mount the same way. I have reordered the throat piece because the one I have doesn't match the 8 shot mag tube. I am assuming that the correct mag throat for the defender 8 shot mag is two piece and has RINGS rather than a thread, so that it can match this 8 shot defender mag. And the next question would be: if it cannot be threaded in place, how does it go together?
 
actually it is a press fit. It's not threaded, those 'threads' don't thread - they're circular.

Mine has the two piece throat, but should be otherwise the same.

Press the mag tube in towards the receiver and the throat will be removable. then you have to press/pull the tube back out the front of the receiver.

I'm not there yet, but it appears that you'll then have to press the new mag tube in, put the throat in, then press the mag tube back out to get the proper fit.
 
thank god i found this website, i've been searching my brains out trying to find info on my 1300. Has anyone completed their home defense 'conversion' yet? i just bought an 18" barrel, made for an 8shot magazine...should be here any day now
where did you get the 8 shot magazine? and did yall figured out how to get it together?

thanks

keeblerelf
 
The 1300 magazine tube is pressed into the receiver.
Depending on the age of the gun, there are either a one piece or two piece plastic or metal spacers in the receiver surrounding the rear of the tube.

Here's an exploded view of the 1300. The spacers are parts 90 and 91:
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/sid=355/schematicsdetail/Model_120_1300

Here's a source of new magazine tubes:
http://www.e-gunparts.com/DisplayAd.asp?chrProductSKU=845790A&chrSuperSKU=845790&MC=

The tube has to be pressed INTO the receiver, which releases the spacers, then the tube has to be somehow pulled or pressed forward and out of the receiver.
Obviously, Winchester used special tools for this.
Beating on the tube or receiver is of course a non-starter since this will damage one or both.

I was never called upon to do this, but to move it to the rear you can make up an impact tool from steel pipe.
Wrap the tube with tape to protect it and slip a section of steel pipe over the tube. Cap the end of the pipe, and put a piece of thick plastic over the end of the magazine to prevent battering damage.
Use that as an impact hammer to bump the tube to the rear by sliding the pipe up and down on the magazine tube.

To get it forward, or to install the new tube, make another tool from steel bar stock that will easily slide into the magazine tube.
Drop a thick plastic "button" inside the tube, then drop the steel bar down the tube to bump the magazine forward.
Simply "bounce" the receiver up and down to slide the steel bar up and down the tube. This will drive the tube forward. Again, the plastic will prevent battering damage, this time, inside the tube.
 
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brilliant, thanks i had the removal part figured out...but i was lost on how to reinstall...good plan i think

maybe wrap that steel bar once around in electrical tape to add padding

cool deal
thanks
keeblerelf
 
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