Wingmaster or Winchester 1300?

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FiveFeezy

New member
I've been looking for a pump shotgun for pheasant, duck, geese, turkey, trap, and home defense. I'm down to two finalists in my search:

1) Winchester 1300, excellent condition, 28" barrel, screw in chokes, handles up to 3"shells, $250.

2) Remington Wingmaster, fair condition with some rust, 28" barrel, fixed full choke, 2 3/4" shells only, $200.

I understand that the fixed full choke is not ideal for my use and that I would need to get an additional barrel for my needs. Also the limit of smaller shells is less versatile. Is that a good enough deal on a Wingmaster to make its limitations worth it? Thanks for the help.
 
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jmr40

New member
Everything being equal I'd normally take an 870. But the 1300 is a good, under rated gun. To me it would be worth the money to have the versatility of the choke tubes and the 3" shells to go with the 1300.

Even though most of my shotguns have interchangeable tubes I use IC about 90% of the time. If the Wingmaster were IC or Modified I might feel different. A fixed full choke is the least versatile of all the fixed chokes in my opinion.
 
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LSnSC

New member
The Wingmasters always fit me better with their narrower comb, but the 1300 is a good shotgun. Dont think you could go wrong with either.
 
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PawPaw

New member
+1 on the 1300. It is a fast shotgun, probably quicker than the Remington. It's got a rotating bolt that, by design, unlocks after it fires (I don't know the technical explanation) and helps with the pump action.

I've got both an 870 and a 1300 in my battery. The 870 is my cruiser shotgun, mainly because its a standard for police work. The 1300 is my wing-shooting shotgun.
 
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zippy13

New member
The 870 is my cruiser shotgun, mainly because its a standard for police work.​
It's the standard police gun mostly because it's the "low bid" shotgun. When the 870 was introduced, its cheaper construction costs undermined the existing market. Given the choice between a nice W-1300 and a worn R-870, it's a no brainer -- get the Winchester.
 
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Dave McC

Staff In Memoriam
zippy......

The 870 has ruled the police market for decades for a few good reasons besides "Low Bid".

Continued reliability despite neglect, zero maintenance and outright abuse is one.

If cheaper ruled, all the cruisers would have Mavericks.
 
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zippy13

New member
Dave, there's a difference between "low bid" and the cheapest gun available. If you've been around government procurement procedures, you know that an invitation to bid can be tailored to favor a specific model and disqualify others (Mavericks). IMHO, being a popular cruiser gun doesn't make the R-870 the best choice as a sporting gun. And, I like to think, neglect, zero maintenance and abuse typically aren't problems with sporting arms. But, on the other hand, we have a thread about a poorly functioning R-870 that has a mysteriously dented receiver.
 
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Doc TH

New member
"Wingmaster" is not synonymous with "870". The Wingmaster was the highest quality model 870 manufactured. Having shot both a good deal, I would go for the Wingmaster.
 
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bamaranger

New member
low bid

I was rooting around some old property lists a while back and turned up a sheet that had Win 1200's on it. They were "low bid" and thats why our outfit got them, they were cheaper than 870's at the time. They were also outside of policy by 1990, and not reliable to boot. We were much relieved to get 870's.

A vintage Wingmaster like you describe is a great shotgun. All steel and made prior Rems current up/down cycle of quality. If the finish is that bad, Duracoat or some other refinish may help you live w/ it.

Fixed choke Rem barrles are not that uncommon. About every shop I've ever been in has several gathering dust in the corners. You ought to be able to scare another up priced right.

I would not let the 3"v.2.75" issue spook me. Modern 2.75 mags are serious ammo and do not give up much to the 3" shell.

Get the Remington!
 
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zippy13

New member
"Wingmaster" is not synonymous with "870". The Wingmaster was the highest quality model 870 manufactured.
Click to expand...
I recall a time when Wingmaster and 870 were synonymous. It was before Remington introduced the cheaper 870-Express. Back in the day, the standard Wingmaster was a Plain Jane shotgun. For a few+ dollars more, there were standard and custom upgrades available, you could get target specific models or buy a prettied-up gun. Even today, for $216 extra you can get a Classic over a standard $818 Wingmaster.
 
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TxGun

New member
If condition were close to equal, you'd have to take the Wingmaster. It is definitely the better shotgun. But the conditions of the two guns being what they are, I'd probably go with the 1300. It's a good shotgun...I'm not saying it isn't...but the Wingmaster is one of the gun world's icons. Generations of sportsmen voted with their wallets and the 870 decisively won that race. I don't care for the Express line though...I'd rather have a used Wingmaster than a brand new Express any day and twice on Sunday.
 
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Dave McC

Staff In Memoriam
In the late 70s, MD DOC bought both Winchester 1200s and the S&W Japanese made clone of the 870 for institutions.

Both kinds were withdrawn by 1981, they did not hold up to the abuse and neglect common to agency weapons.Replacements were all 870s.

BTW, the armory at the MD House of Corruption at the time held about 20 mixed Model 12s and 97s in good working order.They could not be issued.

Be that as it may, I've run across plenty of 1200s and 1300s since then giving yeoman service and getting a modicum of PM and TLC.
 
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L_Killkenny

New member
My only 2 shotguns are an 870 and a 1300 and grew up hunting with an 870 Wingmaster, all of em 12ga's. In most cases I'd say the 1300 was the better, lighter, slicker gun and I prefer mine over the other 2. The Wingmaster "may be" slightly better made but in the conditions you're talking about just get the 1300 and be done with it. Now keep in mind that barrel selection for the 1300 is very tough if you ever want to swap while aftermarket accesories abound for the 870 and can be had about anywhere.

LK
 
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Adamantium

New member
Look beyond the brand warfare or silly abuse stories that don't apply to 99% of us. One shotgun will take chokes and hold 3 inch shells, the other one will not. Talking about low bid or what police agency did what won't be very important if you aren't getting good patterns with steel shot through a fixed full choke.
 
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gtrjames

New member
If both guns were set up with the same choke/ barrel combo, I'd go with the 870...I have both and the Remington just fits me better. Sometimes the 1300 action is a little too slick...with 3 in mags, I have had it eject the hull without me even pumping it, and even had the live round under it fall out of the chamber also...maybe it's just mine.
 
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