What is the year the Winchester model 120 ranger 12 ga pump made with a mod barrel?

Answer 1

The Model 120 Winchester was a varient of the model 1200 and was made just prior to the model 1300. They were aimed at Government sells to the military and the police departments. Although many of the sold in local gun stores and discount stores such as Durnams and Walmarts. There were only 5000 made in 10,12,16 and 20 ga. models. The models in 10 and 16 ga. are the rarest and are looked at as a great prize. Most were offered in a combo unit which had a 28 inch vent ribbed barrel and a smooth bore slug barrel which was 22 inches long and was clylinder bored. The Winchester company supplied the IMP CYL, MOD, and FULL chokes with the shotgun purchase. There were 50 that were made with a smooth bore slug barrels, cylinder bored and taped at the end too except the Sabot choke tube as well as the Turkey choke tube. These were the expermental barrels used to test the up and coming model 1300 Buck and Tom setup. They also came with a free sling in woodland camo. In the beginning they used a lot of barrels which were left overs from the model 1200 which had not been stamped yet and instead of a 1200 being stamped they simply stamped the 120 on them. The years of production were from 1984 thru 1986 for this shotgun. I would guess yours had to be one of the first ones. This information was all given to me buy an ex-employee who worked on these shotguns during production. Since this was an entry level gun and not many were made most books do not show it. And most of the technical people at Winchester know very little or nothing about it. The original manual I have also shows the 1200 and the 1300 models on the cover. I guess it was cheaper to just make a manual which would cover the three models. The barrels and stocks are the same on all three models. Only the 18 inch barrel made for the defenders will not work due to the magazine being longer. However the 1200 and the 120 have a shorter set of breach slides and the fore grips are cut differently then that of a 1300 model. Value wise they are going up all the time I have read articles that say they are worth as much as $2000.00 in great shape. However I feel they are only worth what the buying is willing to pay and Winchesters are an underdog. Most shotgun owners prefer the 870 to the Winchester model pump. Myself I love my shotgun and it has served me far better than my 870 did and that's why I still have it and the 870 is gone.