|
Winchester 1200 12 Gauge Shotgun
|
The Model 1200
and Model 1300 are two pump-action
shotguns that were manufactured by the Winchester-Western
Division of Olin
Corporation. It was produced in 12-, 16- and 20-gauge.
The military version of the 1200 has the ability to have a
bayonet
fixed on the end of the barrel to be used in close
quarters combat (CQC).[2]
History
The Winchester Model
1200 was introduced in 1964 as a low-cost replacement for
the venerable Model
12.[3]
A small number of these weapons were acquired by the United
States Army in 1968 and 1969.[4]
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.[4]
The Model 1200 was succeeded by the Winchester Model 1300
in 1983 when U.S.
Repeating Arms Company became the manufacturer of
Winchester firearms.[2]
Production of the Model 1300 ceased in 2006, when USRAC
went bankrupt.[5]
The model lives on in the Winchester SXP.
Description
The Winchester Model
1200 came in barrel lengths of 30-inch, and 28-inch with a
fixed choke or the Win-choke screw in choke tubes system
and is a 12, 16, or 20-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".[6]
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. The Model 1300
holds 6 2-3/4" shells in the magazine. It has a hammerless
action which means that there is no external hammer spur.
There is an internal hammer which strikes the firing
pin which - in turn - strikes the primer
on the shell to ignite the powder in the round.[7]
The Model 1200 was the
second shotgun to utilize a rotary bolt with four locking
lugs secured within the barrel extension. The AR 17 being
the first to use a rotary bolt. 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.[2]
|
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.[7]
The most commonly used bayonet with the Model 1200 was the M1917
bayonet. After World War I ended, there was a large surplus
of the M1917 bayonets because the Army decided to keep the M1903
Springfield as the standard issued rifle. The M1917 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.[8]
Model 1200 shotguns with bayonet lugs and ventilation ribs were
still in U.S. Army inventories as late as the invasion of Iraq
2003. During the Iraq war the Model 1200 shotguns were phased out
in favor of Mossberg
500 shotguns.
Variants
-
Model 1200: Standard
capacity model with four-shell tubular
magazine
-
Model 1200 Defender:
Increased capacity model with six-shell tubular magazine (Six
3" Shells or seven 2&3/4" Shells).
-
Model 1200 Police:
Increased capacity variant of the Model 1200 Defender with an
electrolysis nickel-plated satin barrel and magazine tube.
-
Model 1200 Marine:
Increased capacity variant of the Model 1200 Defender with an
electrolysis nickel-plated polished barrel and magazine tube.
-
Model 1200 Riot: Standard
capacity model with 18.5" barrel and rifle sights. Blued steel
barrel and magazine. Marked "Riot" on barrel.
-
Ted
Williams Model 200: Standard Model 1200 marketed
by Sears
-
Model 1200 Hunting: 28-inch
barrel with a built-in choke and a five-shell tubular
magazine.
-
Model 1300: Slightly
updated version with up to six-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[9][10]
-
Model 2200: Model 1200 with
full length stock and barrel, produced for the Canadian
firearms market.
-
Model 120: Budget hardwood
stock version marketed at various department stores, such as
K-Mart. Birch stock, fixed choke, etc.
-
Ranger Model 120: Budget hardwood stock version
marketed at sporting goods stores, such as Cabelas &
K-Mart. Plain stock, Winchoke, etc.
|