Winchester 1200
Encyclopedia
The Model 1200 and Model 1300 were two American
pump-action
shotgun
s that were manufactured by the Winchester-Western Division
of Olin Corporation. It was produced in 12-, 16- and 20-gauge
. The 1200 has the ability to have a bayonet
fixed on the end of the barrel to be used in close quarter combat. It is a takedown type shotgun which means it has the capability of being taken apart for easy transportation and storage.
. A small number of these weapons were acquired by the United States Army
in 1968 and 1969 along with Model 15th century. Even though the Model 1200's service in the military was brief, the Army Commanders had orders[4] regarding what to do with the shotgun in case the weapon were in danger of falling into the enemy's hands. The shotgun was to be scavenged for spare parts and then destroyed in such a manner that it would be rendered useless in combat. The major parts of the shotgun which must be destroyed are the receiver
and magazine group, the barrel
assembly and bayonet
assembly, the breech bolt
group, and the trigger guard
group. The military
style Model 1200 was essentially the same weapon as the civilian version, except it had a ventilated handguard
, sling swivels, and a bayonet lug. The Model 1200 was succeeded by the Winchester Model 1300 in 1983 when U.S. Repeating Arms Company
became the manufacturer of Winchester firearms. Production of the Model 1300 ceased in 2006, when USRAC went bankrupt.
action which means that there is no external hammer spur. There is only a firing pin
which strikes the primer
on the shell to ignite the powder in the round. The Model 1200 is a takedown
type of shotgun; meaning that it can be taken apart for easy storage and transportation.
The Model 1200 was the first shotgun to utilize a rotary bolt with four locking lugs secured within the barrel extension. This design was in an attempt to neutralize any stress on the chamber caused by firing. The 1200 was Winchester's first shotgun to incorporate the company's patented Winchoke system, a quick change tube to allow the easy replacement of chokes.
upon firing. The shotgun should have a light coat of oil placed on the bore
, barrel extension, and external surfaces of the shotgun using appropriate gun oil to ensure that the shotgun does not rust - this also acts as a lubricant
. Wooden parts need to be wiped with a cloth that is slightly oiled to protect the wood and wipe off any foreign objects or materials which should not be there.
. After World War I ended, there was a large surplus of the M-1917 bayonets because the Army decided to keep the M1903 Springfield as the standard issued rifle. The M-1917 bayonet did not fit the Springfield rifles so instead of just getting rid of them, the Army decided to make newer shotguns compatible with the bayonets.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
pump-action
Pump-action
A pump-action rifle or shotgun is one in which the handgrip can be pumped back and forth in order to eject a spent round of ammunition and to chamber a fresh one. It is much faster than a bolt-action and somewhat faster than a lever-action, as it does not require the trigger hand to be removed from...
shotgun
Shotgun
A shotgun is a firearm that is usually designed to be fired from the shoulder, which uses the energy of a fixed shell to fire a number of small spherical pellets called shot, or a solid projectile called a slug...
s that were manufactured by the Winchester-Western Division
Winchester Repeating Arms Company
The Winchester Repeating Arms Company was a prominent American maker of repeating firearms, located in New Haven, Connecticut. The Winchester brand is today used under license by two subsidiaries of the Herstal Group, Fabrique Nationale of Belgium and the Browning Arms Company of Morgan, Utah.-...
of Olin Corporation. It was produced in 12-, 16- and 20-gauge
Gauge (bore diameter)
The gauge of a firearm is a unit of measurement used to express the diameter of the barrel. Gauge is determined from the weight of a solid sphere of lead that will fit the bore of the firearm, and is expressed as the multiplicative inverse of the sphere's weight as a fraction of a pound . Thus...
. The 1200 has the ability to have a bayonet
Bayonet
A bayonet is a knife, dagger, sword, or spike-shaped weapon designed to fit in, on, over or underneath the muzzle of a rifle, musket or similar weapon, effectively turning the gun into a spear...
fixed on the end of the barrel to be used in close quarter combat. It is a takedown type shotgun which means it has the capability of being taken apart for easy transportation and storage.
History
The Winchester Model 1200 was introduced in 1964 as a low-cost replacement for the venerable Model 12Winchester Model 1912
The Winchester Model 1912 is a hammerless slide-action, i.e., pump-action, shotgun with an external tube magazine. Popularly-named the Perfect Repeater at its introduction, it largely set the standard for pump action shotguns over its 51 year high-rate production life...
. A small number of these weapons were acquired by the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
in 1968 and 1969 along with Model 15th century. Even though the Model 1200's service in the military was brief, the Army Commanders had orders[4] regarding what to do with the shotgun in case the weapon were in danger of falling into the enemy's hands. The shotgun was to be scavenged for spare parts and then destroyed in such a manner that it would be rendered useless in combat. The major parts of the shotgun which must be destroyed are the receiver
Receiver (firearms)
In firearms terminology, the receiver is the part of a firearm that houses the operating parts. The receiver usually contains the bolt carrier group, trigger group, and magazine port. In most handguns, the receiver, or frame, holds the magazine well or rotary magazine as well as the trigger mechanism...
and magazine group, the barrel
Gun barrel
A gun barrel is the tube, usually metal, through which a controlled explosion or rapid expansion of gases are released in order to propel a projectile out of the end at a high velocity....
assembly and bayonet
Bayonet
A bayonet is a knife, dagger, sword, or spike-shaped weapon designed to fit in, on, over or underneath the muzzle of a rifle, musket or similar weapon, effectively turning the gun into a spear...
assembly, the breech bolt
Bolt (firearm)
A bolt is a mechanical part of a firearm that blocks the rear of the chamber while the propellant burns.In manually-operated firearms, such as bolt-action, lever-action, and pump-action rifles and shotguns, the bolt is held fixed by its locking lugs during firing, forcing all the expanding gas...
group, and the trigger guard
Trigger guard
A trigger guard is a loop surrounding the trigger of a firearm and protecting it from accidental discharge.Some assault rifles can have their trigger guard removed or positioned as not to impair firing with gloves for example in Arctic conditions....
group. The military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
style Model 1200 was essentially the same weapon as the civilian version, except it had a ventilated handguard
Handguard
A handguard on firearms is a guard attached to the front of a firearm to grip the weapon from the front. It allows the user protection from the barrel, which may become very hot when firing...
, sling swivels, and a bayonet lug. The Model 1200 was succeeded by the Winchester Model 1300 in 1983 when U.S. Repeating Arms Company
U.S. Repeating Arms Company
The U.S. Repeating Arms Company. Inc. is the current business name of the Winchester Repeating Arms Company, famous for making Winchester rifles....
became the manufacturer of Winchester firearms. Production of the Model 1300 ceased in 2006, when USRAC went bankrupt.
Description
The Winchester Model 1200 is a 20-inch, 12-gauge, manually operated, slide action shotgun. The slide action, also known as a pump-action, means that the shotgun has a moving bolt system which is operated by a "wooden or composite slide called the fore-end". The fore-end is located on the underside of the barrel and moves front to back. The weapon can hold a maximum of five rounds total with four in the tubular magazine and one in the chamber. It has a hammerlessHammerless
A hammerless firearm is a firearm that lacks an exposed hammer or hammer spur.In rifles, using a firing-pin rather than a hammer is a substantial improvement because the time from trigger pull to firing can be less...
action which means that there is no external hammer spur. There is only a firing pin
Firing pin
A firing pin or striker is part of the firing mechanism used in a firearm or explosive device e.g. an M14 landmine or bomb fuze. Firing pins may take many forms, though the types used in landmines, bombs, grenade fuzes or other single-use devices generally have a sharpened point...
which strikes the primer
Primer
Primer may refer to:*Primer , a 1995 music album by the musical group Rockapella*Primer *Primer , a 2004 feature film written and directed by Shane Carruth...
on the shell to ignite the powder in the round. The Model 1200 is a takedown
Takedown
Takedown or take down may refer to:*Takedown , a book by John Markoff and Tsutomu Shimomura about the capture of Kevin Mitnick**Track Down, a 2000 film based thereon, known also as Takedown...
type of shotgun; meaning that it can be taken apart for easy storage and transportation.
The Model 1200 was the first shotgun to utilize a rotary bolt with four locking lugs secured within the barrel extension. This design was in an attempt to neutralize any stress on the chamber caused by firing. The 1200 was Winchester's first shotgun to incorporate the company's patented Winchoke system, a quick change tube to allow the easy replacement of chokes.
Cleaning and maintenance
Cleaning and keeping up regular maintenance on the shotgun is vital to ensuring proper function and preventing rust on the weapon. The barrel and action should be cleaned after the shotgun has been exposed to rain, snow, salt spray or after having rounds been discharged from it. It is crucial to make sure all dirt and other material is removed which should not be there, because if it remains, the shotgun can malfunctionFirearm malfunction
A firearm malfunction is the partial or complete failure of a firearm to operate as intended. Malfunctions range from temporary and relatively safe situations, such as a casing that didn't eject, to potentially dangerous occurrences that may permanently damage the gun and cause injury or death...
upon firing. The shotgun should have a light coat of oil placed on the bore
Gauge (bore diameter)
The gauge of a firearm is a unit of measurement used to express the diameter of the barrel. Gauge is determined from the weight of a solid sphere of lead that will fit the bore of the firearm, and is expressed as the multiplicative inverse of the sphere's weight as a fraction of a pound . Thus...
, barrel extension, and external surfaces of the shotgun using appropriate gun oil to ensure that the shotgun does not rust - this also acts as a lubricant
Lubricant
A lubricant is a substance introduced to reduce friction between moving surfaces. It may also have the function of transporting foreign particles and of distributing heat...
. Wooden parts need to be wiped with a cloth that is slightly oiled to protect the wood and wipe off any foreign objects or materials which should not be there.
Bayonet
A bayonet could be attached to the front end of the barrel of the Military version of the Model 1200. The primary uses of the bayonet on the model 1200 are for close combat, guarding prisoners, and riot duty. The most commonly used bayonet with the Model 1200 was the M1917 bayonetM1917 Bayonet
The M1917 bayonet was designed to be used with the US M1917 Enfield .30 caliber rifle, as well as with the Winchester Model 1897 and M12 trench shotguns. The blade was 16 inches long...
. After World War I ended, there was a large surplus of the M-1917 bayonets because the Army decided to keep the M1903 Springfield as the standard issued rifle. The M-1917 bayonet did not fit the Springfield rifles so instead of just getting rid of them, the Army decided to make newer shotguns compatible with the bayonets.
Variants
- Model 1200: Standard capacity model with four-shell tubular magazine
- Model 1200 Defender: Increased capacity model with six-shell tubular magazine
- Ted WilliamsTed WilliamsTheodore Samuel "Ted" Williams was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played his entire 21-year Major League Baseball career as the left fielder for the Boston Red Sox...
Model 200: Standard Model 1200 marketed by SearsSears, Roebuck and CompanySears, officially named Sears, Roebuck and Co., is an American chain of department stores which was founded by Richard Warren Sears and Alvah Curtis Roebuck in the late 19th century... - Model 1200 Hunting: 28-inch barrel with a built-in choke and a five-shell tubular magazine.
- Model 1300: Slightly updated version with five-shell tubular magazine
- Model 1300 Defender: Increased capacity variants of the Model 1300 with a seven-shell tubular magazine.
- Model 1300 Marine: Increased capacity variant of the Model 1300 with an electroless nickel plated barrel and magazine tube.
- Various Model 1300 variants
- Model 2200: Model 1200 with full length stock and barrel, produced for the Canadian firearms market.
- Model 120: "Plain Jane" version marketed at various department stores, such as K-Mart. Birch stock, fixed choke, etc.
Users
- The Model 1300 Defender is used in small numbers by the Czech Armed ForcesMilitary of the Czech RepublicThe Army of the Czech Republic comprise the land forces, the Czech Air Force and support units. From the late 1940s to 1989, the extensive Czechoslovak Armed Forces formed one of the pillars of the Warsaw Pact military alliance...
.