Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors Winchester M 101

Got the itch for a Winchester M 101,does anyone here have one and what do you think of it?

Also,there is a Winchester O/U at a LGS that's a Select Energy Sporting,what are your opinions on it?

I believe the Winchester 101 original was the best O&U Winchester shotgun ever sold. I now have the Select Energy Sporting and it is a Beautiful Shotgun and handles extremely well, but i still like the Original 101 the best and it was my go to shotguns in the 70 and 80's should never have parted with them .

My first O/U was a Winchester 101 in 12 gauge with french walnut stocks. Winchester offered more embellishment on the 101 guns than Browning did the early years of the Citori. I would like to have 28 gauge pigeon grade but find the prices for 101 28 gauge skeet guns ridiculously expensive.

Someone sold a Winchester 101 20 gauge with 30 inch barrels(rare barrel length) here on the fire about 5 years ago. A 20 gauge with 30 in barrels would make a superb target gun. I with I had bought it... but I did not know I needed it then.

Doc

So,in your opinion I should get a 101 made in the 60's to the early 80's?

yes , The Pigeon Grade 101 20 ga is the ultimate O&U in the Winchester line. My favorite O&U today is my Beretta 686 in 20 ga and 28 ga.

Like bea said, they're great. Have owned a bunch of O/Us and ended up with a 20gs Pigeon Grade and an early model 12ga mod/full. I'm finished trading. Love them 101s.

elk, if you want a 20 or 28, the older 101 will serve you well. Try for one with choke tubes.

If you are going for a 12 to harass your blue quail, I would recommend a Beretta 687 with a few years on it. Supposedly better than the new ones. I owned at least 6-8 Browning Superposed, Citori, and 101 12 ga guns before I finally got a Beretta SP IV and it stuck. Lighter and shallower receiver, beautiful wood. Works well on blues in the Trans-Pecos.

My favorite 20 is a Browning Superposed Pigeon Grade from 1963 that I have been shooting for over thirty years. Next to the Superposed 20s would be a 101. Just an old guys opinion.

BTW, the old Browning Superposed barrels are a little soft for steel shot. Zero experience with the Select Energy. Also, I still have that just about mint Prestige, two bbls, two saddle mounts, factory case set.

Jack

Looking to get a 12 ga,have a Remington 1100 20 ga that I've had for 30+ years that use for quail. Have 2 O/U but they are CZ's and I'm wanting to upgrade. The 101 is a shotgun I've always wanted.

Have zero interest in a 28 ga as I have reloading equipment for a 12/20 gauges.

I have more SXS now than O&U's but my favorite O&U for Ringnecks in SD is my Remington 3200 with 26 inch tubes , IC&M

All the bird hunting I do now is for dove. Quail/Waterfowl is no good because of the drought.

The 101 is a well made shotgun and I always felt they were better looking than the Citoris. I have had several and finally got a matched pair of Pigeon Featherweights in 12 and 20. I also like the English grip for both looks and weight. These have no chokes, which is another preference of mine with no bulges at the end of the barrels to accept the tubes...

I had four Pigeon Grades and sold them all when i purchased my Beretta's

When Winchester stopped making the 101 another group made them for awhile under the name "classic doubles". They were identical, and some are of the opinion they were even better, especially with regards the barrels.

Classic Doubles also made what was known as the Model 201 and it was a really nice sxs. Their models were all made in the same Japanese facility that made the Winchester 101. The company only lasted a few years and then folded.


http://www.gunsamerica.com/934746244/CLASSIC_DOUBLES_Model_201_SIDE_x_SIDE.htm#

Seen some of those on gunsinternational website,going to go look at those again.

I sold a Classic Doubles 20 gauge a good while back. It was a really nice shotgun.

I looked and they are very nice,but,a bit pricey.

Got a question what is the difference between Skeet 1 & 2 and Improved Cylinder? Is Skeet more "open" or what? Is the Skeet choke good for Dove & Quail hunting?

The question is open to anybody.

Lovely 101's there Shrapnel.

Here is a quick reference chart:

Shotgun Choke Yardage Shotgun Choke Restriction
Diameter difference between bore and shotgun choke
Cylinder < 20 0
Skeet 22.5 .005 of an inch
Improved Cylinder 25 .010
Light Modified 30 .015
Modified 32.5 .020
Improved Modified 35 .025
Light Full 37.5 .030
Full 40 or More .035
Extra Full 40 or More .040

I prefer shotguns without choke tubes as they have a more classic look. Modified and improved cylinder work for almost everything. If you can't hit them with those chokes, you might want to practice more...

Yes they are. However, one thing to consider if it is important, is that the Classic Doubles usually had much better wood than the Winchester 101s. Time to buy them was when they went out of business. Jacqua's in Ohio was practically giving them away and they had more than a few. Same with the Parker Reproduction when they went out of business. I bought two for around $1700 each.

One of them. I hunted the heck out of it and the case hardening is gone and eventually had it refinished. Picked up an extra set of barrels for this one in 16Gauge. Krieghoff made the extra barrel sets for the Parker Repos.



Skeet 1 and 2: Skeet 2 is what we call today a light mod at 15thou constriction.

From the "Tru Lock" web page:

http://www.trulockchokes.com/faqs.php


Skeet wouldn't be my first choice for Quail or Doves. Doves coming into a roast tree perhaps. Doves on the wing at 30-40 I'd like a Mod.

Wild Quail are a different bird than the stocked ones and move out. Again, skeet wouldn't be a first choice for myself.