Winchester 1200 Shotgun

The Winchester Model 1200 is a manually operated, repeating shotgun with a slide action (pump gun). It has five rounds capacity, one in the chamber and four in its tubular magazine. There is a slide safety forward of the trigger housing. The basic weight of the gun is 6.5 pounds but the addition of the sling and bayonet with its attachment band brings the weight to 8.5 pounds.

U.S. Army Winchester Model 1200 Shotgun, Vietnam
U.S. Army Winchester Model 1200 Shotgun, Vietnam.

Today in WW II: 16 Jul 1945 Trinity Test at the Alamogordo Test Range, New Mexico, detonates first US atomic bomb creating world's first nuclear explosion.   

Winchester 1200 Combat Shotgun

Shotgun, 12 gauge, Winchester Model 1200
Shotgun, 12 gauge, Winchester Model 1200.

An unknown number of Winchester Model 1200 shotguns were procured by the Army in 1968-1969, with a ventilated handguard, sling attachment swivels, and the bayonet attachment as additions to the civilian Winchester 1200. Small numbers of Winchester shotguns of the 1100 and 1400 series were also procured. The shotguns carry a serial number, found on the bottom of the front end of the receiver.

Characteristics of the U.S. Army Winchester Model 1200 Shotgun

Bore 12 gauge (0.729 inch)
Barrel smooth bored
Action Manual slide (pump gun)
Firing mechanism Hammerless
Magazine Tubular, 4 round capacity
Cooling Air
Length of barrel 20 in.
Length of stock & receiver 20 in.
Length of assembled gun 40 in.
Weight of assembled gun 6.5 pounds
Weight with all attachments 8.5 pounds
Weight of M1917 bayonet 1 lb. 2 oz.

Lengths and weights are approximate.

Army Technical Manual for the Winchester 1200 Shotgun

Department of the Army Technical Manual TM 9-1005-303-14 is the operation and maintenance manual for "Shotgun, 12-Gage, Winchester Model 1200, Riot Type, 20-inch Barrel, W/E (1005-921-5483)". It is dated July 1968. "Gage" is not the standard spelling but is used in the title of this manual.

Bayonet for the Winchester 1200 Shotgun

The Winchester 1200 shotgun has a bayonet stud and locking lug for the M-1917 bayonet. There is an illustration on the linked page of the M1917 bayonet with the Winchester 1200 shotgun.

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