I had a 1300. It handled buckshot okay, but threw slugs about 4 ft high at 50 yards.

Although I have never had a defender, I have had 5 1300's. They were all for hunting, but with a 22" barrel and screw in chokes, they were perfect for police work. With magnum loads the "speed pump" lives up to its name. I have several shotguns, 870's, Benelli Super Nova, and Ruger Red Label, but the 1300 tops them all. Awesome shotgun!

I have never had a problem with my 1300 Defender. Reliable, and tacti~cool, too.

good

I have an original defender that was my wife's grandfather's, and it still works great. My Father-in-law refinished it and it looks and works like new.

One of the best shot guns Ever created.

Love it!!!

Out of the box I give it 4 stars. I have had some custom work done to mine so it performes much better.

My first one my Grandfather gave to me 22 years ago when I first graduated the Police Acadamy, the second one I just bought w/ the AR stock and a light rail. I have shot and carried others, but my Winchester stays by my side.

I have had mine for about 6 years, I really like mine

I fired one of these down at a range in texas with the 20 gauge model never fired the 12 gauge but the 20 guage will destroy a carebear on a walking range

This is the first shotgun I ever bought, payed $132 walk out the door(know that was sometime ago). I have killed deer with it, killed a truck load of doves over a south Texas waterhole. It has never quit, never failed. It is short light easy to carry, the first one I would grab, and the one firearm I would choose if I could only have one long arm.

I have carried one on duty since 2000...I don't leave home without it...

It's pretty much a toss up between the 1300 and the 870 but I have a Winchester 1300 Black Shadow that has been very reliable and has killed everything from ducks to deer. The Winchester just fits and feels a little better to me.

I love my "Wonder Winnie." It was my second shotgun after my Mossberg 500. I shot a 2-day tactical course with it and it performed flawlessly. Feels great, handles well, inspires confidence. The pump action is smooooth.

Good shotgun, kicks like a mule

Grate gun bought my own to have

I have the 1300 Defender in Stainless Marine, and not only does it look sharp, but it is a great shooting gun also.

Great hunting gun.

Best shotgun ever. Very accurate.

I like the number of shells and tactical color of this shotgun.

Good Gun..

Have had mine since 1989, very good gun.

great shotgun lightweight and very smooth

These are rotary lock-up, blow-back assisted meaning faster open & cycling of chamber. Once you break it in really good, can jam it down hard and it will cycle all the way open, slinging it foward hard will cycle another shell...not safe, but good 2 know in combat it have to use it 1 handed. Qualified with a rented one once and considered purchasing. It's very authorative, worked flawless, but kicked like a mule with 00 buckshot. It only had a flat, plastic pad. Install a good vented crush buttplate and save your shoulder-cheap fix. I bought a H&R Pardner Pump 12gu. with 18 1/2" barrel, jet black parkarized w/synthetic stocks for $169. It's heavy (real steel) but viscious on the range. The parts are interchangable (accessorize it) with the Remington 870. I wrote a review, so should be in here somewhere. 1300 is a great gun though and lightweight too. Only easier gun I've seen to cycle was an Ithica police model. Could use the edge of your fingernail, reasonable price, but won't take 3" magnums.

At my department we carry Benelli's and those are some incredible shotguns, but in my home and the trunk of my car is my Winchester. It has always been dependable when just out blowing away some 2-liter coke bottles for practice. It does have some kick, but when you use the tacticle rounds the slugs always fall on target. To me there is something about the Winchester name. It just reminds me of those old west movies. The Defender is the evolution of the old and the new. Very intimidating pulling it out too with it's dull black finish and long magazine tube. I bet those old stage coach riders would have loved to have one of these by their sides.

One of the best Riot guns...I have used one for years now...Tough and dependable

MINE IS A OLDER ONE FROM THE DEPT. BUT IT'S ALWAYS DONE ME FINE. IT SURE BUSTED THE HECK OUT OF A 10-12 FOOT GATOR ONE NIGHT ON DUTY. DON'T WORRY FOLKS IT WAS CLEARED BY FISH AND GAME. IT WASN'T CAUSE I JUST WANTED SOME TAIL. (GATOR TAIL THAT IS, FOR YOU FOLKS THAT HAVE YOUR MINE IN THE GUTTER)

My dept issued me this very wepaon, I like it , except it dosent hold a patternas well as the mossberg.

Have one of my own...great shotgun

while not a 1300, i own and use for duty, a 1200. with a hogue overmolded stock, magazine extender/clamp and 18" barrel, it's a scary thought! 15 yards it will stack slugs, literally. this thing is an awesome shotgun, and mean as hell looking!

Probably the smoothest shotgun I've Ever shot.

I own one and I love it. I don't use it much but when I do it packs a punch.

I have a Model 1300 Stainless Marine version. This particular shotgun has been through three sets of hands in it's 20 year career.

My shotgun is ugly, tarnished and scarred through years of hard use and abuse. The reason I love this shotgun so much is the intimidation factor the looks alone give this weapon. The action is the smoothest of any shotgun I have ever handed and she goes BANG everytime!!!!!

I recommend this weapon to anyone looking for a good defensive shotgun.....

i have a 1300 defender,i have learned to trust it. has never let me down. i fire #4 winchester shot and deer slug. it does however kick the crap out of me every chance it gets. but all,in all she's a fine lady. i always shoot 3" shells. i can put the whole tube down range in a pair of seconds,and it is reasonablely accurate. i have never had a jam. we walk the desert all the time and sometimes a big cat will take a second look,thats when you fire the #4 into the air to scare it away and if that don't work the next round is a deer slug and it will work.

BOUGHT THE 1300 CAMP DEFENDER 4 YEARS AGO. I LIKE IT THAT IT IS SILENT WHEN YOU JIGGLE THE FOREARM. THE 870'S SEEM LOOSE AND NOISY. I ALSO LIKE THE WAY IT FEELS TO POINT AND SHOOT COMPARED TO THE 870. I AM A BOWHUNTER AND DIDN'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT GUNS AT THE TIME I BOUGHT IT. BOUGHT IT FOR HOME DEFENSE AND DEER HUNTING. LIKED IT'S VERSTILITY - HOLDS 8 ROUNDS, SHOOTS SLUGS 00 OR BIRDSHOT AND HAS SCREW IN CHOKE TUBE ABILITY. CONSISTENTLY CAN HIT A 4" TARGET AT 100 YDS WITH VARIOUS RIFLED SLUGS AND THE STOCK IRON SIGHTS. ONLY PROBLEM I HAVE HAD IS THAT A LIVE ROUND CAN GET COUGHT BETWEEN THE BOLT AND THE "LIFTER" (THE THING ON THE BOTTOM OF THE CHAMBER THAT LIFTS THE SHELL UP SO THE BOLT CAN PUSH IT INTO THE BARREL). USUALLY REQUIRES DISSASSEMBLY, WHICH CAN BE DONE WITHOUT TOOLS, TO GET IT LOOSE. WITH PRACTICE, CAN BE DISSASEMBLED AND REASSEBLED IN MINUTES. BUT THIS "TRAPPING" OF THE ROUND INSTEAD OF IT GOING INTO THE CHAMBER WOULD BE DEADLY IN A COMBAT OR SELF DEFENSE SITUATION. HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS PROBLEM? I ALSO HEARD THAT WINCHESTER IS GOING OUT OF BUSINESS OR IS IT JUST THAT THE 1300 IS BEING DISCONTINUED?

Brought this shotgun in 1985 and it has NEVER let me down. I have cleared large crowds just by racking one in the chamber

Bought mine new in 1995 and it has never let me down. Have just recently put a knoxx stock on it and like it even better than before. Also added the the side saddle 6 shell holder and the power pack on the stock which holds 5 shells and with 7 in the tube I feel a lot better now. At least I am not going to get killed for lack of shooting back. Great Shotgun it is just a shame they quit making it.

This weapon has been very dependable and versatile. Most LE acc. will fit the 1300.

I have had my Defender for 14 years now and all I can say is, Good Solid Gun. Hits what it's aimed at, and obliterates it. The assisted action took a little getting used to, but once you do, you'll never let it go.

We had the full stock model with a single bead sight. Recoil was stout and a good recoil pad should be added if you are going to shoot it much. The gun threw even patterns of buck and liked 2 3/4 Wichester slugs, but not any 3" slug. The single bead sight made the gun hard to aim and we added fully adjustable Millet sights to the barrel. The Millets worked OK, but for low light conditions a ghost ring system might have been a better choice. I like the pump mechanism. The bolt lock on the Winchester releases sooner after firing than a Remington or Mossberg so recoil sort of assists the next pump. Unfortunately both of the 1300s we had at work developed cracks at the top of the receaiver within a couple of years. I'll get shotguns with steel receivers from here on out.

FOR CLOSE RANGE INTIMADATION , AND BUSINESS , I RELIE ON THE WINCHESTER MODEL 1300 SHOTGUN . FROM BUCKSHOT TO SLUGS . THIS IS THE NO NONSENSE SHOTGUN. I KEEP ONE FOR PERSONAL UP CLOSE REASONS . I DON'T LIKE TO LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT.

I have carried the 1300 for over ten years, never had a problem, cycles and shoots great, also several after market products available for this weapon. i have put a pistol grip on my 1300 and heat sheild along with a surefire light mount and have used it on several narcotic raids, perfect for CQB. Last but most important it gets quick attention from the bad guys.

since I converted it to a tactical weapon for my home and range shooting it is the best choice I could have ever made. I have other tactical weapons but this is my favorite

I used to carry one; but I do like the 870 better.

love the gun but wouldnt use it in combat im not a shotgun type of person