Winchester 1200 Slide Action Shotgun Instructions Manual

							TO  DISASSEMBLE  TRIGGER  GROUP  FROM  RECEIVER 
1.  Be  sure  gun  is  unloaded.  Close  action,  push 
safety  to  “ON”  position,  turn  gun  until  trigger  guard  is  up  and  push  out  trigger  guard  pin  from  left. 
2.  Lift  trigger  group  out  of  receiver  by  pulling  on 
trigger  guard. 
3.  Do  not  pull  trigger  after  disassembly.  
						

							CARE  OF  YOUR  MODEL  1200 Your  WINCHESTER  Model  1200  slide  action  shotgun  is  a  fine  shooting,  well  balanced,  sporting  firearm 
built  of  the  finest  materials  and  to  the  strictest 
precision  manufacturing  specifications  with  engine 
turned  bolt  for  added  beauty.  It  has  a  total  capacity  of  five  rounds,  two  in  the  magazine  with  plug  and 
four  without,  and  one  in  the  chamber.  Proper  care  will  assure  its  long  life  and  continuous  smooth, 
efficient  and  safe  operation. 
The  bore  of  your  Model  1200  should  be  wiped  with  an  oily  patch  and  all  exposed  surfaces  covered  with  a 
thin  film  of  gun  oil.  Be  sparing  in  your  use  of  oil,  for  a  little  goes  a  long  way  and  excess  oiling  will 
cause  an  accumulation  of  dust  and  burnt  powder  that 
may  cause  malfunctions.  The  barrel  and  action  should 
be  cleaned  after  exposure  to  rain,  snow,  or  salt  spray. 
When  storing  for  long  periods,  apply  gun  grease  to 
the  metal  parts  and  keep  in  a  dry  place.  Do  not  plug  the  muzzle  with  any  obstruction. 
Before  firing,  be  certain  all  grease  and  oil  is  wiped 
from  the  inside  of  the  barrel  and  chamber. 
Should  your  WINCHESTER  Model  1200  ever  need repairs,  return  it  to  your  closest  Winchester  Warranty 
Gunsmith  or  to  the  Winchester  factory,  where  it  will  receive  the  same  careful  attention  as  used  in  its 
manufacture. 
WM207  PRINTED  IN  U.S.A.  
						

							
You Are Responsible For Firearms Safety. 
 
As a gun owner, you accept a set of demanding responsibilities. How seriously you take these 
responsibilities can mean the difference between life and death. Failure to follow any of thes\
e 
instructions can cause extensive damage to your gun and/or possible serious injury or death to 
yourself and others. There is no excuse for careless or abusive handling of any firearm. At all 
times handle any firearm with intense respect for its power and potential danger. READ AND 
UNDERSTAND all of THE CAUTIONS AND PROPER HANDLING PROCEDURES 
OUTLINED IN THIS BOOKLET BEFORE USING YOUR NEW FIREARM.   
 
1. ALWAYS KEEP THE MUZZLE OF ANY FIREARM POINTED IN A SAFE DIRECTION.  
Do this even though you are certain the firearm is unloaded. Never point any firearm at 
anything you do not intend to shoot. Be extremely alert and aware of all persons and property 
within the range of your ammunition.    
 
2.   NEVER RELY TOTALLY ON YOUR SHOTGUNS MECHANICAL SAFETY DEVICE. 
Always assume that your gun can be fired at any time, even with all the safety mechanism 
engaged. The word safety describes a guns trigger block mechanism, sear block mechanism, 
hammer block mechanism or firing pin block mechanism. These mechanical devices are 
designed to place your gun in a  SAFER status. No guarantee can be made that the gun will not 
fire even if the safety is in the on safe position. See  Operation of the Safety in your 
owner’s manual for instructions on operation of your guns safety. 
 
3. LIKE ANY MECHANICAL DEVICE, A SAFET Y CAN SOMETIMES FAIL; IT CAN BE 
JARRED OR INADVERTENTLY MANIPU LATED INTO AN UNSAFE CONDITION. 
Mechanical safeties merely aid safe gun handling and are no excuse for pointing your 
shotguns muzzle in an unsafe direction. 
While it is a good idea to test your shotguns mechanical safeties periodically for proper 
function, never test them while your firearm is lo aded or pointed in an unsafe direction. Safe 
gun handling does not stop with your guns mechanical safety devices -- it starts there. 
Always treat this shotgun with the respect a loaded, ready-to-fire firea\
rm. 
NEVER TEST THE 
MECHANISM OF ANY FIREARM WHILE IT IS LO ADED OR POINTED IN AN UNSAFE DIRECTION.
 
 
4.  WHENEVER YOU HANDLE A FIREARM, OR HAND IT TO SOMEONE MAKE SURE IT IS 
COMPLETELY UNLOADED.
  
Always open the action immediately and visually check the chamber magazine. Make certain 
the chamber does not inadvertently contain any ammunition.  Always keep the chamber empty 
and the safety in the on safe position unless shooting is imminent. 
  
5.   DO NOT TRANSPORT ANY FIREARM LOADED. KEEP ALL FIREARMS UNLOADED 
DURING TRANSPORT, WHETHER IN A SCABBARD,  GUN CASE, OR OTHER CONTAINER.
 
 
6.  HUNTING FROM ELEVATED SURFACES SUCH AS TREE STANDS IS DANGEROUS.  
Doing so may increase the risk of handling a firearm. The following rules should always be 
observed by you and those you hunt with:  Always make certain that the stand being used is 
safe and stable.  Always make certain that your firearm is unloaded when it is being taken up 
and down from the stand.  Always make certain that your firearm is not dropped from the stand, 
or dropped while it is being taken up or down from the stand.  Remember, a loaded firearm 
may discharge when dropped, even with the safety in the on safe position\
. 
 
 
 
 
  
						

							
7.  BEWARE OF BARREL OBSTRUCTION. 
Do this for the safety of both your gun and yourself. Mud, snow, and an \
infinite variety of 
other objects may inadvertently lodge in a barrel bore. It takes only one small obstruction to 
cause dangerously increased pressures that can ruin (swell or rupture)\
 the finest shotgun barrel.
 
BEFORE CHECKING FOR A BARREL OBSTRUCTION,  BE CERTAIN YOUR FIREARM IS FULLY 
UNLOADED.
 
Make sure no live rounds are in the chamber. Place the safety in the on safe position, open 
the breech or action and look through the barrel to be sure it is clear \
of any obstruction. If an 
obstruction is seen, no matter how small it may be, clean the bore with a cleaning rod and 
patch as instructed for your particular firearm.  Before the first firing, clean the bore with a 
cleaning rod and patch, and wipe away any anti-rust compounds in the action/chamber areas.  
 
8.   ALWAYS UNLOAD ALL FIREARMS WHEN NOT IN USE. 
As a safety precaution, it is preferable to disassemble your gun for storage. Your 
responsibilities do not end when your firearm is unattended. Store your gun and ammunition 
separately -- well beyond the reach of children. Take all safeguards to \
ensure your firearm does 
not become available to untrained, inexperienced or unwelcome hands. 
 
9.   USE THE PROPER  AMMUNITION. 
The barrel and action of all Browning firearms have been made with substantial safety margins 
over the pressures developed by established American commercial loads. Nevertheless, 
Browning assumes no liability for incidents which occur through the use of cartridges \
of 
nonstandard dimensions which develop pressures in excess of commercially available 
ammunition with standards established by the Sporting Arms and Ammunitions Manufacturers 
Institute (SAAMI). 
BE ALERT TO THE SIGNS OF AMMUNITION MALFUNCTION. 
If you detect an off sound or light recoil when ammunition is fired, DO NOT LOAD MORE 
AMMUNITION INTO THE CHAMBER. 
Open the action and remove all ammunition from the 
chamber. With the action open, glance down the barrel to make sure that a wad or other 
obstruction does not remain in the barrel. If there is an obstruction, completely clear the barrel 
before loading and firing again. Failure to follow these instructions ca\
n cause extensive 
damage to your gun and possible serious injury to yourself and others. 
  
10. MAKE SURE OF ADEQUATE VENTILATION IN THE AREA THAT YOU  
DISCHARGE A FIREARM. WASH HANDS THOROUGH LY AFTER EXPOSURE TO AMMUNITION 
OR CLEANING A FIREARM. 
  Lead exposure can be obtained from discharging firearms in poorly ventilated areas, 
cleaning firearms or handling ammunition. Lead is  
a substance that has been known to cause birth defects, reproductive har\
m and other serious 
injury.  
 
11. 
NEVER INSERT A SHELL OF THE I NCORRECT GAUGE IN ANY SHOTGUN. The gauge of 
your shotgun is marked on the side of the barrel. Store all shells of different gauges in\
 
completely separate and well-marked containers. Never store shells of mixed gauges in a 
common container or in your pockets.  
 EXAMINE EVERY SHELL YOU PUT IN YOUR G UN. NEVER PUT A 20 GAUGE SHELL IN A 
12 GAUGE GUN.  
The most common way to bulge or rupture a shotgun barrel is to drop a 20 
gauge shell into a 12 gauge chamber. The 20 gauge shell, unfortunately, will not fall 
completely through the barrel; its rim is caught by the front of a 12 gauge chamber. Your gun 
will misfire (with the chamber appearing to be empty). It is then possible to load a 12 gauge 
shell behind the 20 gauge shell. If the 12 gauge shell is then fired, the result will be a so-called 
“12-20 burst” which can cause extensive damage to your gun and possible serious injury to 
you and others.  
						

							
  
12. USE SHELLS OF CORRECT LENGTH. 
The size of the chamber is inscribed, along with gauge and choke designations, on the side o\
f 
the barrel.  Do not use 31/2 shotgun shells in a shotgun or barrel with\
 a 2 3/4 chamber or 3 
chamber.  Do not use 3 shells in a shotgun chambered for a 2 3/4 shells. Doing so can result 
in a build-up of dangerously high pressures that may damage your gun and possibly cause 
serious injury to yourself or others. 
 
13. DO NOT SNAP THE FIRING PIN ON AN EMPTY CHAMBER -- THE CHAMBER MAY NOT 
BE EMPTY! 
Treat every gun with the respect due a loaded gun, even though you are c\
ertain the gun is 
unloaded. 
 
14. KEEP YOUR FINGERS AWAY FROM THE TRIGGER WHILE LOADING AND UNLOADING 
UNTIL YOU ARE READY TO SHOOT. 
 
15. BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET AND BACKSTOP. Particularly during low light periods. 
Know the range of your ammunition. Never shoot at water or hard objects. 
 
16.  ALWAYS UNLOAD THE CHAMBER AND MAGAZINE OF ANY FIREARM BEFORE 
CROSSING A FENCE, CLIMBING A TREE, JU MPING A DITCH OR NEGOTIATING OTHER 
OBSTACLES. 
Never lean or place your loaded shotgun on or against a fence, tree, car\
 or other similar object. 
 
17. WEAR EYE AND EAR PROTECTION WHEN SHOOTING. Unprotected, repeated exposure 
to gunfire can cause hearing damage. Wear ear protectors (shooting earplugs or muffs) to 
guard against such damage. Wear shooting glasses to protect your eyes from flying particles. 
Always keep a safe distance between the muzzle of your firearm and any persons nearby, as 
muzzle blast, debris and ejecting shells could inflict serious injury. Als\
o, wear eye protection 
when disassembling and cleaning all firearms to prevent the possibility of springs, spring-
tensioned parts, solvents or other agents from contacting your eyes. 
 
18.  DROPPING A LOADED GUN CAN CAU SE AN ACCIDENTAL DISCHARGE. 
This can occur even with the safety in the on safe position. Be extr\
emely careful while 
hunting or during any shooting activity to avoid dropping any firearm. 
 
19.  IF ANY FIREARM FAILS TO FIRE, KEEP THE  MUZZLE POINTED IN A SAFE DIRECTION. 
Hold this position for a minimum of 30 seconds. Carefully open the action and remove the 
shell. If the primer is indented, the shell should be disposed of in a way that cannot cau\
se harm. 
If the primer is not indented, your firearm should be examined by a qualified gunsmith and the 
cause of the malfunction should be corrected before further use.  
 
 
20.  BE DEFENSIVE AND ON GUARD AGAI NST UNSAFE GUN HANDLING AROUND YOU 
AND OTHERS
. Don’t be timid when it comes to gun safety. If you observe other shooters 
violating any of these safety precautions, politely suggest safer handli\
ng practices. 
 
21.  BE CERTAIN YOUR SHOTGUN IS UNLOADED BEFORE CLEANING.  
Because so many accidents occur when a firearm is being cleaned, special and extreme care 
should be taken to be sure your gun is unloade d before disassembly, cleaning and reassembly. 
Keep ammunition away from the cleaning location. Never test the mechanical function of any 
firearm with live ammunition. 
  
						

							
22. SUPERVISE AND TEACH FIREARMS SAFETY TO ALL MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILY -- 
ESPECIALLY TO CHILDREN AND NONSHOOTERS. 
Closely supervise newcomers to the shooting sports. Encourage enrollment in hunting/shooting 
safety courses. 
 
23.  NEVER DRINK ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES OR TAKE ANY TYPE OF DRUGS BEFORE OR 
DURING SHOOTING. 
Your vision and judgment could be dangerously impaired, making your gun handling unsafe to 
you and to others. 
 
24.  PERFORM PERIODIC MAINTENANCE -- AVOID UNAUTHORIZED SERVICING. 
Your firearm is a mechanical device which will not last forever, and as such, is subject to wear 
and requires periodic inspection, adjustment and service. Browning firearms should be 
serviced by a Browning Recommended Service Center or by Brownings service facility in 
Arnold, Missouri. Browning cannot assume any responsibility for injuries suffered or caused 
by unauthorized servicing, alterations or  modifications of Browning firearms. 
 
25.  READ AND HEED ALL WARNINGS in these instructions, on ammunition boxes and with 
all accessories that you install on your firearm. It is your responsibility to secure the most up-
to-date information on the safe handling pro cedures of your Browning gun. Browning assumes 
no liability for incidents which occur when unsafe or improper gun accessories or ammunition 
combinations are used.  
 
26.  Browning reserves the right to refuse service on firearms that have been altered, added 
to or substantially changed. Removal of metal from barrel(s), or modification of the firing 
mechanism and/or operating parts may lead to Browning’s refusal of service on such firearms. 
Browning will charge the owner for parts and labor to return the firearm to original Browning 
specifications. 
 
  
DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, ALTER THE TRIGGER, SAFETY OR 
OTHER PARTS OF THE FIRING MECHANISM OF THIS OR ANY OTHER 
FIREARM. FAILURE TO OBEY THIS  WARNING MAY RESULT IN INJURY OR 
DEATH TO YOURSELF OR OTHERS. 
 
BE CAREFUL!