The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post

zmopar1 · May 20, 2007, 10:29 AM

Hi,
I have owned an operated a 120 for about 21 years and they are awesome very dependable shotguns. I purchased mine from Smoke and Gun in Waukegan Illinois in 1986 for the upcoming deer season. They are exactly the same gun as the model 1300 only the stock and foregrip are made of hardwood and the 1300 had Birch or Walnut or a Synthetic stock. As far as a manual the manual that came with mine was a 1300 Manual and you can get one form WWW.Reapeatingarms.com for free. It takes about 2 weeks for them to get it to you. The 28 inch vent ribbed barrel was a standard barrel for the 120 although most were sold as combos that came with a smoothbore slug barrel with rifled sights. To shoot slugs in the 28 inch barrel use rifled slugs or Foster slugs as they are known and use the Improved Cylinder choke in the barrel. Never try a tighter choke than the improved cylinder. For about $45.00 you can purchase a rifled choke tube from WWW.WHOLESALEHUNTER.COM and then you can shoot Sabot slugs. But remember your barrel is smoothbore and only the 2 3/4 inch slug tube is rifiled. You will get better accuracy from a slug tube than a smoothbore but not as good a a fully rifled barrel. Speaking of barrels a 120 or a 1300 barrel will fit each other plus a 1200 however a 1200 barrel only fits another 1200. And the 1300 model defender 18 inch barrels will fit only a defender due tho the magazine length. If you look on ebay it is still possible to get a rifled slug barrel from some dealers for as low a $250.00 although before I would buy one I would buy a 5 inch slug tube from hastings for about $60.00 and use it. There is also a nice 24" turkey barrel avalible for the 1300 that will fit. The 120 I own has been flawless I have take more deer than the number of years I have owned it. I sold an 870 in order to buy it because the 870 had a problem with differnt types of shells. Some would work perfect and some were horrible in the 870. The Winchester 120 is the fastest pump I have ever seen and works well with everything brand of shell I ever tried. I have used in snow and rain and even carried it out of a muddy field or two and when I got home I cleaned it and it still looks great. Always clean the barrel with the slug tube in it the soft bristles can come off and lodge in the threads. And always make sure your choke is in tight before using it. If you dont you could damage the barrel because this is the most thin part of the barrel. Many of my friends have switched to the 1300 after trying the 120 out. If you have any other questions about the 120 email me at [email protected] my name is Pete and I will try to get you an answer. Good luck you have a fine shotgun!

May 20, 2007, 10:29 AM	#5
zmopar1 Junior Member Join Date: April 21, 2007 Posts: 7	120 answers Hi, I have owned an operated a 120 for about 21 years and they are awesome very dependable shotguns. I purchased mine from Smoke and Gun in Waukegan Illinois in 1986 for the upcoming deer season. They are exactly the same gun as the model 1300 only the stock and foregrip are made of hardwood and the 1300 had Birch or Walnut or a Synthetic stock. As far as a manual the manual that came with mine was a 1300 Manual and you can get one form WWW.Reapeatingarms.com for free. It takes about 2 weeks for them to get it to you. The 28 inch vent ribbed barrel was a standard barrel for the 120 although most were sold as combos that came with a smoothbore slug barrel with rifled sights. To shoot slugs in the 28 inch barrel use rifled slugs or Foster slugs as they are known and use the Improved Cylinder choke in the barrel. Never try a tighter choke than the improved cylinder. For about $45.00 you can purchase a rifled choke tube from WWW.WHOLESALEHUNTER.COM and then you can shoot Sabot slugs. But remember your barrel is smoothbore and only the 2 3/4 inch slug tube is rifiled. You will get better accuracy from a slug tube than a smoothbore but not as good a a fully rifled barrel. Speaking of barrels a 120 or a 1300 barrel will fit each other plus a 1200 however a 1200 barrel only fits another 1200. And the 1300 model defender 18 inch barrels will fit only a defender due tho the magazine length. If you look on ebay it is still possible to get a rifled slug barrel from some dealers for as low a $250.00 although before I would buy one I would buy a 5 inch slug tube from hastings for about $60.00 and use it. There is also a nice 24" turkey barrel avalible for the 1300 that will fit. The 120 I own has been flawless I have take more deer than the number of years I have owned it. I sold an 870 in order to buy it because the 870 had a problem with differnt types of shells. Some would work perfect and some were horrible in the 870. The Winchester 120 is the fastest pump I have ever seen and works well with everything brand of shell I ever tried. I have used in snow and rain and even carried it out of a muddy field or two and when I got home I cleaned it and it still looks great. Always clean the barrel with the slug tube in it the soft bristles can come off and lodge in the threads. And always make sure your choke is in tight before using it. If you dont you could damage the barrel because this is the most thin part of the barrel. Many of my friends have switched to the 1300 after trying the 120 out. If you have any other questions about the 120 email me at [email protected] my name is Pete and I will try to get you an answer. Good luck you have a fine shotgun!