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Does new Win 101= old Win 101

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21K views 33 replies 15 participants last post by  hbracerx  
#1 ·
Back in the 70s, I owned a Winchester 101 O/U. It was made in Japan . It kicked harder than any shotgun I've ever fired.

Nowadays I believe Winchester is owned by FN, and the 101 is made in Belgium.

I shouldered a 101 Pigeon at my LGS , and have to say it was quite nice. I was only 16 when I had the old 101.

Does anyone know if the new 101 is the same gun as the old one of the 70s, or if some redesign has taken place under the influence of perhaps Browning or FN? It would be a great buy if the new model had resolved the punishment issues.

Thank you for any insights
 
#13 ·
I think the new 101 is livig off the old 101 reputation of being a work horse. For the price of a new 101 you could buy an older pigeon grade/diamond grade and still have money left over. I don't think the new 101's will hold up to the clay target repetitive shooting like the old Japanese made winchesters.


Jason in PA
 
#14 ·
I inherited a Diamond Grade unsingle, I am the 4th owner, hard to tell how many rounds through it. Lever was close to center so I took it Roger Eubanks. He polished and tweeked and worked his magic..... Beautiful gun ready now for 4 or more later owners...... by the way. It fits........ pleasure to shoot. Larry
 
#15 ·
I shoot a diamond grade for Singles and HDCP. 34 unsingle. Love it! After I started shooting this gun my average went from a low B average to an A average borderin on AA. That's with holding my gun tight and keeping my head down in the stock. Still shoot the pigeon grade for DBLS cause I can't shoot the Diamond grade O/U. Great guns!!!!


Jason in PA
 
#16 ·
Thanks to everyone for their replies. I liked the new 101 quite a bit. I remember the old one being a bit more chunky. I'm at best a once a week shooter from spring through fall, so it is pretty unlikely I'll wear this gun out.

I think I am going to wait to see if I can find a Browning CXT for comparison.

When I bought my Maxus Sporting Clays, there was a lot of buzz on the Browning website about it being "back bored with lengthened forcing cones." I know there is some dispute as to whether these features actually do anything to improve patterns or reduce recoil felt. But I do know my Maxus patterns are better than any other shotgun I own.

I have read where the Winchester 101 are back bored with lengthened forcing cones, however I have not read this to be a feature on the Browning CX or CXT. In fact, I'm having a hard time finding mention of it at all on the Browning web site. Do all Brownings have these features now? Or is it just marketing hype that has fizzled and burned itself out.

Thanks

Jeff
 
#17 ·
BadaBing11 said:
I hear ya. Mine was very sharp recoil as I remember . Fit has surely got something to do with it. That is part of why I asked if they were the same .

And yes, I just looked at one again today and it had the Belgium / Portugal reference

MBM, what is it about the older ones that you find preferable to the new ones? Is it more than Japan is known for higher quality than Portugal?

To everyone, is it worth saving the extra money and going for the new Browning CX, or CXT?
Thank you ,

Jeff
Click to expand...
The new 101's are good quality guns. If it seems I am implying they are inferior I apologize. When they 1st showed up 10 years ago named the Select or
Supreme there were issues with wood to metal fit and barrel regulation. However ,in the time since then the quality of these guns have improved.
I held a 101 at the range last night and was impressed with how good the gun looked and felt.
The old Kodensha guns were very high quality at a reasonable price with several higher grades like the Diamond offered.
In the 50 years I have known about these Kodensha guns I cannot remember any quality or reliability issues with them.
The biggest complaint one hears about them is they kick too hard.
For people looking to get into an inexpensive O/U I try to steer them toward one of these older Kodensha's , a Miroku or something similar and away from Turk double guns.
 
#21 ·
MBM1565 said:
The new 101's are good quality guns. If it seems I am implying they are inferior I apologize. When they 1st showed up 10 years ago named the Select or
Supreme there were issues with wood to metal fit and barrel regulation. However ,in the time since then the quality of these guns have improved.
I held a 101 at the range last night and was impressed with how good the gun looked and felt.
The old Kodensha guns were very high quality at a reasonable price with several higher grades like the Diamond offered.
In the 50 years I have known about these Kodensha guns I cannot remember any quality or reliability issues with them.
The biggest complaint one hears about them is they kick too hard.
For people looking to get into an inexpensive O/U I try to steer them toward one of these older Kodensha's , a Miroku or something similar and away from Turk double guns.
Click to expand...
Thanks MB.

That makes sense.

Just for background on my interest in the subject: I am pretty recoil sensitive . I'm shooting a Maxus Sporting Clays gas operated semi auto with 7/8 oz loads . I have a Soft Touch recoil reducer, adjustable comb and adjustable butt plate on it so I have it fitting great. I can easily shoot 1 1/8 loads with this setup, but the gun was made as part of a quest to get me back into the game ( 4 lower back surgeries and multiple herniations in the neck made it a real challenge)

I love how soft the Maxus shoots, but I really miss the feel of an O/U . I'm gaining confidence that with the right load I might be able to get back into one.

I'm in the process of loading up some 3/4 oz loads. I'm going to dust off an old Charles Daly field O/U which is the gun I grew up with.

If I can shoot the light loads, I would like to get back into an O/U made for trap. I'm sure I could shoot one with a soft touch installed. But that gets pricey .
Anyway, I saw the 101 trap model and it was priced at about $1600 which is about what I can afford .

My old 101 from the 70s was built for bear. It was extremely well made but it just kicked very hard. Most likely reason is poor fit like many of the posts above state.

The new 101 at my lgs is priced right and actually fits me better than a Citori trap. The Browning is about a pound heavier and it also has a ramped rib that I like a lot .

So the obsession begins. That Winchester is calling my name . It is a beautiful gun. But I've always lusted for a Browning . The heavier Citori may save me the cost of adding a Soft Touch.

My head is spinning in the subject.

I appreciate all the feedback. From everyone . thanks to all

Jeff
 
L
#19 ·
yellowlab said:
I would always check the box on where these are made. Last few I have come across have been made in Portugal. Could be a little surprise if you got one home thinking it was made in Belgium and found out otherwise.
Click to expand...
FN was farming out the assembly of some of their Belgium made guns to a shop in Portugal over 20 years ago.
 
#25 ·
Well,

I still can't find a Browning CxT. Was it just released this year at Shot Show? I thought it was last year.

The Win 101 has gone up $400 since I posted this. Either that, or there was a misprint where I was looking online. However, My LGS who is usually priced 15% or so over my best online price, is now $200 less than my best online price.

I never noticed before, but perhaps the prices are up prior to spring time when my guess would be when sales are best. It's warm enough to get back out and shoot, and tax refunds show up.

Changing subjects a little, I had a dream last night that I was shooting my Maxus and breaking everything that was on the trap field. As with most dreams there are some odd things I remember clearly. In this instance the trap was throwing targets at me instead of away from me ! HA!
 
#26 ·
The CXT was just announced at the Shot Show this year.It's not in the hands of dealers yet. If it's anything like the release of the Cynergy CX last year it won't be out until June. I've noticed those prices going up on the 101 too. There is also a lot more of them out on the market too. Up until recently it seemed those 101's were just a rumor.
 
C
#28 ·
BadaBing11 said:
Back in the 70s, I owned a Winchester 101 O/U. It was made in Japan . It kicked harder than any shotgun I've ever fired.

Nowadays I believe Winchester is owned by FN, and the 101 is made in Belgium.

I shouldered a 101 Pigeon at my LGS , and have to say it was quite nice. I was only 16 when I had the old 101.

Does anyone know if the new 101 is the same gun as the old one of the 70s, or if some redesign has taken place under the influence of perhaps Browning or FN? It would be a great buy if the new model had resolved the punishment issues.

Thank you for any insights
Click to expand...
There are some differences that might affect recoil in that the back boring has changed. Both Browning and Winchester claims this not only makes them more accurate but also lowers recoil. I have no idea if that is true as I have never fired one of the new guns.

On the other hand, I have a 1966 101 and I have never understood the "kicks like a mule" stories. I don't notice any significant recoil problems with mine, but, it would be very rare for me to shoot more than 100 targets in a day. I also own a Browning Citori that I hunt with and I don't notice any real difference in recoil.
 
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