Prblems with a Winchester Defender

riartist

July 18, 2012 06:37

Hi all,

This is my first post and I want to say "Thanks" right off the bat for such a great site. I love being a part of the gun community, and I'm really glad to now be a part of Gunbroker.

So, I am planning out my Fall projects and one of them is to turn my Winchester Defender (manufactured back in the mid '80s) into a modern defensive shotgun. But there is a problem with the gun I need to also address. It sometimes skips loading a fresh round when pumped. The problem is not consistent, but sometimes when racking the gun, the spent husk gets ejected but the next one in line doesn't feed at all. I've never experienced a new round jamming or feeding into the chamber improperly, the action just doesn't pick up the fresh round. Does anyone know what I can do to fix this? I didn't want to take it to a gunsmith, if I can help it. I really wanted to see if it's something I can fix myself. I want to fix this before I start changing grips, adding rails, paint, etc. Any suggestions on a fix, or do I need to find a gunsmith here?

Thanks

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  tsr1965

  July 18, 2012 07:26

  riartist,
  
  Hello, and welcome to the forums here on Gunbroker.com.
  
  It sounds like something is sticking on the arm that holds the shell in the magazine tube. It could be a spring out of place too...just depends on how often it does this. This symptom with the 1400, is also a sign of short stroking the action...just enough to eject, but not enough to release the next round.
  
  Best

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  nmyers

  July 18, 2012 07:43

  I'd start troubleshooting by removing the trigger group & check for proper functioning with it out of the receiver. It can be removed with the barrel installed, or not. Be sure the gun is unloaded. Close the action & move the safety to ON. Turn the gun so the trigger guard is UP, & remove the trigger guard pin left to right. Pull up on the trigger guard to remove. Do not pull the trigger unless the hammer is restricted.
  
  Neal

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  charliemeyer007

  July 18, 2012 08:10

  Try some other brand of ammo, wally world cheap stuff can cause problems. +1 for making sure you are cycling the action far enough back every time. Look at part 45 and 46. http://www.gunpartscorp.com/catalog/Products.aspx?catid=14502

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  Hangfire

  July 18, 2012 09:47

  Morning riartist~
  
  First things first..
  
  http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=31872/Product/SHOTGUN-DUMMIES
  
  I'd take it down and do a full cleaning.. Pull the trigger group and check those parts Charlie notes.. Make sure there's free movement.. I'd also replace the magazine spring.. This alone may well be the problem.. I've always considered them very poor, and they often cause the malfunction you're having.. When it leaves the mag tube, the shell must "bump" over the shell stop.. A weak spring won't do it.. It's an inexpensive tune-up in any case.. I'd clip[ it about 4" longer than the factory spring.. It should take some pressure to put it in, using the cap for compressing..
  
  http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=45423/Product/EXTENSION-TUBE-SPRINGS
  
  While it's out, make sure the follower is smooth..

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  Emmett Dunham

  July 18, 2012 17:04

  Check the cartridge stop to see if it is bent or broken or the the stop is not working properly and releasing the shell. and what they said.
  
  
  Emmett

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  riartist

  July 19, 2012 05:35

  Thanks for the great info. I'll take notes here and then get to it when I start the project. I think I need to do a before and after set of pics. Thanks again!

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