Winchester 1200 Action Stuck Open - The Firearms Forum

gnutech · 09-19-2009, 12:20 AM

I was cleaning my Winchester 1200 pump action the other day and when working the oil into the action (pull trigger and move slide) it got stuck in the rear/open position and I am unable to progress it back into the front/closed position.

I did manage to get the trigger group out and the action and slide progress back to the front/closed position; while, the trigger group is removed from the gun. However, if I reinstall the trigger group and slide the action back into the rear/open position it gets stuck, again.

It isn't quite clear what the action is getting stuck on, but it is obviously something with the trigger group.

Has anyone ever encountered this issue before? Any suggestions on how to diagnose and/or remedy the issue?

Thank you for your assistance.

Kind Regards,

Gary

johnlives4christ · 09-19-2009, 12:59 AM

aint got a clue honestly. if i could see the gun i could probably figure out the cause and suggest a remedy.

i expect any gunsmith would be able to do the same. i would also expect that it is something pretty simple

ryan_marine · 09-19-2009, 11:46 PM

Had same problem with 1300 after 3" nitro mags. (gun was chambered for 3.5"). I ended up buying a new one due to cost of used gun vs price of new trigger group.

Ryan

HammondShooter · 09-20-2009, 01:03 AM

You have to make sure the hammer on the trigger group is cocked and then you have to make sure the slide arms are in the cutouts on the bottom of the bolt assembly.

You assemble the trigger group to the receiver by carefully working the front end of the trigger group into the slots at the front end of the receiver. Then gently push the rear end of the trigger group down into position. This should go in easy if everything is lined up--don't force it.

Then install the trigger guard pin from right to left until its flush with the receiver.

I took all the above from the pdf manual I have for the model 1200 that I found online. The pictures would help (page three). I'm looking for a link to the manual and will post it when I find it.

Here, its on page three of the manual: http://gunmanuals.net/Manuals/winchester_1200.pdf

Shane

hugmadat · 09-20-2009, 10:14 PM

Thank you for your information and soon reply to my question.
Very much appreciate your help.
thanks so much for useful info
thanks for your suggestion
I think this is enough .....

HammondShooter · 09-20-2009, 10:53 PM

Let us know if you get it back working again.

Glad my info could help.

Shane

gnutech · 09-22-2009, 12:00 AM

HammondShooter,

Thank you for the link to the manual. I was wondering if it was my hammer. The hammer didn't look like it was in the same position (further forward and sticking up) as the manual suggested it needed to be. However, I don't know that the hammer was the problem as I used some electrical tape to tape the hammer down and then put the trigger group back into the gun. I pulled the slide back and what do you know, the slide and action still got stuck in the rear position.

I'm beginning to wonder if it is the shell ejector mechanism. It appears that when I move the slide to the rear position and then move it forward, again, the shell ejector rotates up and the action bolt seems to pinch on it (unless something further to the rear is pinching and I can't see it).

Even more strange is that the guns safety does not move easily between the on and off position any more.

Suggestions?

Thanks.

Gary

HammondShooter · 09-22-2009, 02:13 PM

I definitely think something else is not lined up or rotated correctly, as the hammer should cock back and stay in position without having to tape it down. All I can say is try to realign whatever the hammer is attaching to or working with so that it will stay cocked back on its own. Whatever is out of alignment is probably effecting the other things you mentioned along with the safety.

Hey, can any gunsmiths on here please chime in? I'm sure one of you has seen this happen before.

Shane

oldogy · 09-22-2009, 04:03 PM

I had it happen to my model 12 12 ga when I loaned it to a guy a few years back to deer hunt. He brought the gun back to me in the condition you described, action open and jammed. Well aware the gun had probably never had the action thoroughly cleaned, I played around and got it disassembled. I removed the stock and trigger group and soaked, washed the entire sections in a home made agitating washer. I inspected the entire assembly for any wear, could find none evident. I lubricated thoroughly, removed excess lubrication and reassemble. Since then I've fired a couple boxes through it with no problems. I have no idea what had happened.
The old boy to whom I had loaned the gun is pretty rough on hardware so I have no idea what he may have done to it. I do believe it was just that the gun needed a good cleaning and lubricating.
oldogy

Helix_FR · 09-22-2009, 04:17 PM

If all is well with the trigger group removed then you isolated your problem.
check your carrier, make sure its not interfering with the slide action and is operating correctly.These SG have a trigger block safety. Your trigger may not be resetting fully causing the sear to not engage the hammer fully.(hence the stiff safety) When this happens the disconnector will stay in the up position and if I remember correctly will lock the slide to prevent a slam fire. Check your hammer housing for cracks, some are made of plastic. (I'm not sure which one you have.)

gnutech · 09-22-2009, 10:39 PM

Helix_FR:

Success! You hit the nail on the head or in this case the hammer on the head.

It turns out that I must have pulled the trigger when the gun was partially disassembled (only the barrel was removed). This released the hammer and the bolt was thus getting pinched on the sprung hammer when moving the slide in the forward direction.

It actually made more sense when I found the following military break down manual:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/8374581/Wi...Shotgun-Manual

Figure 5-7 shows the release of the hammer during trigger group disassembly.

The trigger group came out of the gun with the hammer already released, so I didn't have a point of reference to begin.

I assume this is exactly why the Winchester manual states: Do not pull trigger after disassembly.

I wish they would have also included the resolution for that issue.

Thanks to everyone that assisted in bringing this thread to a successful conclusion.

I now know my Winchester 1200 much better than I ever imagined.

Kind Regards,

Gary

09-19-2009, 12:20 AM	#1
gnutech Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 5	Winchester 1200 Action Stuck Open I was cleaning my Winchester 1200 pump action the other day and when working the oil into the action (pull trigger and move slide) it got stuck in the rear/open position and I am unable to progress it back into the front/closed position. I did manage to get the trigger group out and the action and slide progress back to the front/closed position; while, the trigger group is removed from the gun. However, if I reinstall the trigger group and slide the action back into the rear/open position it gets stuck, again. It isn't quite clear what the action is getting stuck on, but it is obviously something with the trigger group. Has anyone ever encountered this issue before? Any suggestions on how to diagnose and/or remedy the issue? Thank you for your assistance. Kind Regards, Gary -->

09-19-2009, 12:59 AM	#2
johnlives4christ Former Guest Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,828	Re: Winchester 1200 Action Stuck Open aint got a clue honestly. if i could see the gun i could probably figure out the cause and suggest a remedy. i expect any gunsmith would be able to do the same. i would also expect that it is something pretty simple

09-19-2009, 11:46 PM	#3
ryan_marine Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 919	Re: Winchester 1200 Action Stuck Open Had same problem with 1300 after 3" nitro mags. (gun was chambered for 3.5"). I ended up buying a new one due to cost of used gun vs price of new trigger group. Ryan

09-20-2009, 01:03 AM	#4
HammondShooter Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Hammond, Louisiana Posts: 18	Re: Winchester 1200 Action Stuck Open You have to make sure the hammer on the trigger group is cocked and then you have to make sure the slide arms are in the cutouts on the bottom of the bolt assembly. You assemble the trigger group to the receiver by carefully working the front end of the trigger group into the slots at the front end of the receiver. Then gently push the rear end of the trigger group down into position. This should go in easy if everything is lined up--don't force it. Then install the trigger guard pin from right to left until its flush with the receiver. I took all the above from the pdf manual I have for the model 1200 that I found online. The pictures would help (page three). I'm looking for a link to the manual and will post it when I find it. Here, its on page three of the manual: http://gunmanuals.net/Manuals/winchester_1200.pdf Shane Last edited by HammondShooter; 09-20-2009 at 01:05 AM.. Reason: added link

09-20-2009, 10:14 PM	#5
hugmadat Former Guest Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 1	Re: Winchester 1200 Action Stuck Open Thank you for your information and soon reply to my question. Very much appreciate your help. thanks so much for useful info thanks for your suggestion I think this is enough .....

09-20-2009, 10:53 PM	#6
HammondShooter Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Hammond, Louisiana Posts: 18	Re: Winchester 1200 Action Stuck Open Let us know if you get it back working again. Glad my info could help. Shane

09-22-2009, 12:00 AM	#7
gnutech Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 5	Re: Winchester 1200 Action Stuck Open HammondShooter, Thank you for the link to the manual. I was wondering if it was my hammer. The hammer didn't look like it was in the same position (further forward and sticking up) as the manual suggested it needed to be. However, I don't know that the hammer was the problem as I used some electrical tape to tape the hammer down and then put the trigger group back into the gun. I pulled the slide back and what do you know, the slide and action still got stuck in the rear position. I'm beginning to wonder if it is the shell ejector mechanism. It appears that when I move the slide to the rear position and then move it forward, again, the shell ejector rotates up and the action bolt seems to pinch on it (unless something further to the rear is pinching and I can't see it). Even more strange is that the guns safety does not move easily between the on and off position any more. Suggestions? Thanks. Gary

09-22-2009, 02:13 PM	#8
HammondShooter Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Hammond, Louisiana Posts: 18	Re: Winchester 1200 Action Stuck Open I definitely think something else is not lined up or rotated correctly, as the hammer should cock back and stay in position without having to tape it down. All I can say is try to realign whatever the hammer is attaching to or working with so that it will stay cocked back on its own. Whatever is out of alignment is probably effecting the other things you mentioned along with the safety. Hey, can any gunsmiths on here please chime in? I'm sure one of you has seen this happen before. Shane

09-22-2009, 04:03 PM	#9
oldogy V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: East TN Posts: 309	Re: Winchester 1200 Action Stuck Open I had it happen to my model 12 12 ga when I loaned it to a guy a few years back to deer hunt. He brought the gun back to me in the condition you described, action open and jammed. Well aware the gun had probably never had the action thoroughly cleaned, I played around and got it disassembled. I removed the stock and trigger group and soaked, washed the entire sections in a home made agitating washer. I inspected the entire assembly for any wear, could find none evident. I lubricated thoroughly, removed excess lubrication and reassemble. Since then I've fired a couple boxes through it with no problems. I have no idea what had happened. The old boy to whom I had loaned the gun is pretty rough on hardware so I have no idea what he may have done to it. I do believe it was just that the gun needed a good cleaning and lubricating. oldogy __________________ ue"]If gun laws in fact worked, the sponsors of this type of legislation should have no difficulty drawing upon long lists of examples of crime rates reduced by such legislation. That they cannot do so after a century and a half of trying -- " Senator Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah)[/COLOR]

09-22-2009, 04:17 PM	#10
Helix_FR TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Imperial, MO Posts: 3,617	Re: Winchester 1200 Action Stuck Open If all is well with the trigger group removed then you isolated your problem. check your carrier, make sure its not interfering with the slide action and is operating correctly.These SG have a trigger block safety. Your trigger may not be resetting fully causing the sear to not engage the hammer fully.(hence the stiff safety) When this happens the disconnector will stay in the up position and if I remember correctly will lock the slide to prevent a slam fire. Check your hammer housing for cracks, some are made of plastic. (I'm not sure which one you have.) Last edited by Helix_FR; 09-22-2009 at 04:19 PM..

09-22-2009, 10:39 PM	#11
gnutech Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 5	Re: [RESOLVED] Winchester 1200 Action Stuck Open Helix_FR: Success! You hit the nail on the head or in this case the hammer on the head. It turns out that I must have pulled the trigger when the gun was partially disassembled (only the barrel was removed). This released the hammer and the bolt was thus getting pinched on the sprung hammer when moving the slide in the forward direction. It actually made more sense when I found the following military break down manual: http://www.scribd.com/doc/8374581/Wi...Shotgun-Manual Figure 5-7 shows the release of the hammer during trigger group disassembly. The trigger group came out of the gun with the hammer already released, so I didn't have a point of reference to begin. I assume this is exactly why the Winchester manual states: Do not pull trigger after disassembly. I wish they would have also included the resolution for that issue. Thanks to everyone that assisted in bringing this thread to a successful conclusion. I now know my Winchester 1200 much better than I ever imagined. Kind Regards, Gary