Olin/Winchester Product Warning: Shotgun Ammunition and Safety Warning

Winchester 1200 Defender

Winchester has published a product warning (not a recall) that reinforces my input of how important it is to use correct ammunition for the firearm you are shooting …

It refers to the Winchester Slide-Action shotguns models 1200, 1300, 120, 2200 as well as the Sears Slide-Action models 200 and Ted Williams 200; Winchester semi-automatic shotgun models 1400, 1500, 140, and 2400; Sears semi-automatic shotgun models 300 and Ted Williams 300.

The warning was issued through Olin Corporation via Winchester.

Olin Corporation, through its Winchester Division, is warning users of the above shotguns to follow owner’s manual instructions to fully open the action before moving the safety to the “ON” position and to only use shotgun shells of 2-3/4 inch or 3 inch length. Under certain conditions it may be possible to move the safety to the “ON” position while the shotgun’s action is partially open, placing the hammer under control of the safety and not the trigger. Operating the safety in this manner is improper and contrary to the instruction manual. It has come to our attention that short length shotgun shells, including those known as “minishells”, can be manually placed in the firearm’s chamber while the action is partially open. With the hammer controlled by the safety and with a shotgun shell in the chamber, closing the action and moving the safety to the “OFF” position may accidentally fire the shotgun without a trigger pull. Accidental firing may result in property damage, serious personal injury or death.

IN THE WINCHESTER AND SEARS SHOTGUNS NAMED ABOVE, PLEASE – 

• FULLY OPEN THE ACTION BEFORE MOVING THE SAFETY TO THE “ON” POSITION,

• ONLY USE SHOTGUN SHELLS OF 2-3/4 INCH OR 3 INCH LENGTH, and

• DO NOT USE “MINISHELLS”.

You can obtain Winchester firearm owner's manuals at: www.winchesterguns.com/customerservice/ownersmanuals