I have a Winchester Defender 1200 that has not been touched for firing or cleaning or anything else for more than 15 years. It's been lying under the bed during all those years.
What can I do to make it safely usable again?
2007-12-29 05:33:34 · 15 answers · asked by wittycranium 3 in Sports ➔ Outdoor Recreation ➔ Hunting
As a Gunsmith, I can tell you your shotgun was made between 1964-1981. It isn't so old that it wouldn't be able to be used, just the contrary. All it will need is a good cleaning, and if it was in a case underneath the bed, even less work will be involved.
That just isn't enough time since it was inside under controlled temperature conditions that it should have suffered any real damage. As as suggested earlier simply take it to a local Gunsmith and have it safety checked and cleaned. It shouldn't be expensive (I charge $15 in my shops for this service) so I wouldn't worry about the cost. If it is loaded, the chances are the shotgun shells in it are also fine as long as they are plastic hulls and not paper hulls. A through cleaning and some new shells and you will be good to go.Excellent home defense shotgun by the way! Good Luck
2007-12-29 06:35:29 · answer #1 · answered by JD 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
If you are unsure...do not fire it. As long as the barrel is clear, and the gun is in good condition, it would probably be safe to shoot, but it should receive a good cleaning first. Dust and oil can mix and really gum up the works, an obstructed barrel (even partially) could cause an explosive failure. Unless you are very familiar with cleaning and examining firearms, I would recommend taking it to a gunsmith.A qualified gunsmith can give it a good inspection and cleaning for very few $$'s. It is well worth the few bucks for piece of mind.
2007-12-29 06:05:20 · answer #2 · answered by J S 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It should be fine as long as nothing was wrong with it to begin with. First, make sure it is unloaded. Then wipe the entire shotgun down with break free clp. Use more breakfree on a clean patch and run it thru the barrel. do this until it comes out clean. use mre breakfree on qtip swabs and a rag to clean out the receiver etc. make sure you clean all moving parts with it. then wipe it all down with a dry rag, run one last dry patch thru the barrel. Now, inspect every inch of the shotgun. Start with the barrel, look for bulges, cracks etc, run you hand down it lightly, sometimes you can feel a bad spot easier than seeing it. Work the action, is it smooth?, dry fire the shotgun one time to see if everything is working. Check the safety, with it on and the chamber empty, pull the trigger, did the safety work? now release the safety and pull the trigger. go to the range or a safe shooting spot, take a friend, never shoot alone for safety reasons. Load one shell into the mag tube, now chamber the round, with it in a safe direction. Set the safety. shoulder the weapon and release the safety, fire one round down range.eject the empty and re inspect every inch of the shotgun. If all is ok, load two rounds and repeat.
OR, take it to a gunsmith and have him clean and safety check it for you.
2007-12-29 07:21:01 · answer #3 · answered by randy 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Is it safe? Yes.
Will it work? Maybe.
Ammo that is 15 years old is probably OK, but as cheap as shotgun shells are, I would just toss any ammo and start over.
As long as the barrel is not obstructed in any way (with the bolt open, look down the barrel to make sure nothing is in there), it's safe to fire. If you know how (or have the instruction manual) it would probably be a good idea to break the gun down and make sure it's clean inside. It would suck to go hunting or shooting and have a gun that didn't work.
A link to the breakdown instructions is below. Look at pages 10, 11, and 12.
2007-12-29 05:45:13 · answer #4 · answered by quinletc 2 · 4⤊ 1⤋
This is a modern pump action shotgun. It should work fine if there are no obstructions in the barrel.
I would first disassemble it and completely clean it. Make sure the pump action works smoothly.
Last, your shotgun is likely only designed to handle 2-3/4 inch shells. And would have been designed to shoot lead (not steel).
I would NOT shoot steel shot with this gun with out first contacting an expert.
Also, do NOT attempt to shoot the newer 3 inch or larger shells with this gun.
2007-12-29 05:49:11 · answer #5 · answered by WhatWasThatNameAgain? 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
There may be some rust or the oil may have turned to goo, but it shouldn't take much to make it safe. I'm guessing you aren't confident in your home gunsmithing abilities, so it's probably best to take it to a smith for a check and cleaning. Chances are, it will be a good shooter with little or nothing for work.
2007-12-29 05:47:24 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
This is a modern firearm.
And a solid design, at that.
Unless it's been damaged in some way,
or is severely rusted,
it's fine to shoot.
Check that the barrel is un-obstructed,
and go shoot.
2007-12-30 04:45:19 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
should if its cleaned, and nothing is obstructing the barrel. Make sure every works before firing a live round.
2007-12-29 09:16:15 · answer #8 · answered by blah 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The only problem I see is if the hammer is ****** for this duration of time. The the hammer spring may have "set" and needs replacing, otherwise, if the barrel is not obstructed in any way, I think, it will work OK.
2007-12-29 10:06:11 · answer #9 · answered by WC 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
just make sure you don't have any thing in the barrel that might plug it up like dust or lint or something like that but other than that you should be fine to shoot it i would clean it before and after you shoot it
2007-12-29 05:53:10 · answer #10 · answered by chad s 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋