How to Hunt With a Winchester Model 1200 Riot Gun
The Winchester Model 1200 is your standard pump-action, or "slide-action," single-barreled shotgun. It was produced by the Winchester company until 1983, when it was replaced with the Winchester Model 1300. Like most shotguns, the Winchester 1200 is primarily used in bird or small-game hunting, as the dispersal pattern of the shot is more effective at taking down fast-moving critters than the heavier slugs of hunting rifles. Before you go hunting with a Winchester 1200, or any type of shotgun, it is essential that you understand how to operate the weapon, and how to use it safely and effectively in the field.
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Instructions
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Basic Operation
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1
Load your Winchester 1200 with standard birdshot, or "small game," shotgun shells. Insert the shells through the loading port underneath the shotgun frame until no more shells will fit into the magazine.
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2
Pull back the slide arm, the "pump" portion of the shotgun, and push it forward again to chamber a shotgun shell.
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3
Raise the shotgun up to shoulder-level and press the butt-plate firmly against your shoulder. Your feet should be a little more than shoulder-width apart to give you a properly grounded stance.
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4
Align the bead sight, if your shotgun is equipped with one, with the rear sights of the shotgun and sight down the barrel at your target. If your shotgun does not come equipped with a bead sight, use the tip of the barrel as an aiming guide.
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5
Squeeze the trigger in a smooth, easy motion to fire the weapon. Try not to jerk the trigger, as that will throw off your aim. Once you have fired, pull back on the slide arm then push it forward to eject the spent shotgun round and chamber another.
Basic Hunting Tips
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6
Attach a sling to your shotgun so you will not have to carry it in your arms for the entire hunting trip. Shotguns may not seem heavy, but after you've walked a few hundred yards, they will start to weigh your arms down, and tired arms do not make for accurate shooting.
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Keep your shotgun pointed at the ground until you are ready to fire it. This will reduce the chance of an accidental firing, and will also allow you to bring the gun up quickly to track in on any birds that might appear.
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8
Raise your shotgun to your shoulder when a bird flushes out of the brush and lock your eyes onto it. Do not let the bird escape your gaze, or you will have a very difficult time acquiring it again.
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9
Settle the sights approximately over the bird and squeeze the trigger. Do not bother trying to get the sights perfectly on the bird, as the rapid dispersion of the shotgun pellets will still hit the bird even if your aim is only "close."
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10
Wear camouflage and move slowly through the hunting grounds so you don't spook birds prematurely. If you do notice a bird coming towards you, do not move until you are ready to fire, as birds are quite good at noticing movement and reacting to it.
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