Winchester 1200 age, steel shot?

Cfeldheim · 05-05-2007, 06:30 PM

Hello, my first post; looks like a great selection of fourms. A friend of my wife just gave me her Winchester model 1200 shotgun (a good firend to have!). It's a 12 ga. pump,chambered for 2 3/4" shells, has the winchoke choke tubes, and a 28" barrel. I don't know much about these guns (I shoot a Wingmaster), but a fellow duck hunter told me that some model 1200s were not able to shoot steel shot. Anyone know if there is validity to this, and if I could tell the approximate age of the gun? Thanks in adavance,
Cliff

ArkansasHunter · 05-05-2007, 07:27 PM

Hi guy Welcome to Gun and Game ! I hate to tell you but steel shot over time will ruin the barrel of the model 12. I own 4 shotguns and only one will handle steel shot.
Cfeldheim there will be other members along to better explain why this is so please keep checking back.
Again welcome aboard and have a good time, looking forward to hearing alot from you. A.H

trapfreek · 05-05-2007, 08:21 PM

Hello and welcome to the forum. The Winchester 1200 is the forrunner of the Mod 1300 and is an excellent shotgun. I have one in 12, 20, and 16 gauges.
the Mod 1300 barrels will fit the 1200 so it makes it a very versitile weapon. I have the slug barrel and the 30" trap barrel along with the winchoke barrel. I don't know the exaxt age of the gun, some one here should be able to help you with that.

Mooseman684 · 05-05-2007, 09:02 PM

Welcome to G&G Cliff.
The model 1200 Shotgun was Mfg. from 1964-1981 so the serial # would determine what year. They Are NOT made to shoot Steel Shot ! However, you can shoot the Bismuth or Zinc or tungsten shot without a problem, supposedly. I personally would not with the choke system you have...Stick with lead shot where legal and for Clays.
Rich

Cfeldheim · 05-07-2007, 01:11 PM

Thanks for the input. Looks like I won't use it for waterfowl hunting, but I'll give it a try for dove and quail this fall. Thanks again,

Cliff

05-05-2007, 06:30 PM	#1
Cfeldheim Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2 Trader Rating: (0)	Winchester 1200 age, steel shot? Hello, my first post; looks like a great selection of fourms. A friend of my wife just gave me her Winchester model 1200 shotgun (a good firend to have!). It's a 12 ga. pump,chambered for 2 3/4" shells, has the winchoke choke tubes, and a 28" barrel. I don't know much about these guns (I shoot a Wingmaster), but a fellow duck hunter told me that some model 1200s were not able to shoot steel shot. Anyone know if there is validity to this, and if I could tell the approximate age of the gun? Thanks in adavance, Cliff

05-05-2007, 09:02 PM	#4
Mooseman684 Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alaska Wilderness Posts: 9,200 Trader Rating: (0)	Welcome to G&G Cliff. The model 1200 Shotgun was Mfg. from 1964-1981 so the serial # would determine what year. They Are NOT made to shoot Steel Shot ! However, you can shoot the Bismuth or Zinc or tungsten shot without a problem, supposedly. I personally would not with the choke system you have...Stick with lead shot where legal and for Clays. Rich __________________ You know you might be facing your doom,when all you get is a click when you're expecting a BOOM!

05-05-2007, 07:27 PM	#2
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 10,466 Trader Rating: (0)	Hi guy Welcome to Gun and Game ! I hate to tell you but steel shot over time will ruin the barrel of the model 12. I own 4 shotguns and only one will handle steel shot. Cfeldheim there will be other members along to better explain why this is so please keep checking back. Again welcome aboard and have a good time, looking forward to hearing alot from you. A.H

05-05-2007, 08:21 PM	#3
trapfreek Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Indiana Posts: 491 Trader Rating: (0)	Hello and welcome to the forum. The Winchester 1200 is the forrunner of the Mod 1300 and is an excellent shotgun. I have one in 12, 20, and 16 gauges. the Mod 1300 barrels will fit the 1200 so it makes it a very versitile weapon. I have the slug barrel and the 30" trap barrel along with the winchoke barrel. I don't know the exaxt age of the gun, some one here should be able to help you with that.

05-07-2007, 01:11 PM	#5
Cfeldheim Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2 Trader Rating: (0)	Thanks for the input. Looks like I won't use it for waterfowl hunting, but I'll give it a try for dove and quail this fall. Thanks again, Cliff