Winchester SXP Defender 12 Gauge Pump Shotgun, 18 in. Barrel, 5+1

Description

Some shotguns try to do everything. The Winchester SXP Defender keeps it simple and does the important stuff really well. At its heart is Winchester's inertia-assisted slide action, which uses recoil energy to start the forearm rearward for you. In practice that means the pump cycles noticeably faster and smoother than most guns in this class, and quick follow-up shots come easy once you get a few boxes of shells through it. A four-lug rotary bolt locks up tight into the barrel extension, and the crossbolt safety sits right where your trigger finger expects it.

An 18 Inch Barrel Built for Close Quarters

The 18 inch fixed cylinder bore barrel throws wide, consistent patterns with buckshot at household distances, and with no choke constriction it also handles Foster-style rifled slugs surprisingly well. Owners regularly report keeping slugs in tight groups at 50 yards using nothing but the brass bead up front. The chamber and bore are hard chrome plated, so cleaning is easier and corrosion is far less of a worry if the gun spends most of its life in a closet or safe. The 3 inch chamber gives you room for magnum loads, while the magazine holds five 2.75 inch shells plus one in the chamber.

SXP Defender Handling and Build

At roughly 6.5 pounds with a 38.5 inch overall length, this is an easy gun to move through a hallway or carry on a truck rack. The matte black synthetic stock wears textured grip panels, the deeply ribbed forearm gives your support hand real purchase when running the action hard, and the Inflex recoil pad pulls the comb down and away from your cheek to take the sting out of stout loads. An aluminum alloy receiver keeps weight down and comes drilled and tapped, so adding a rail and optic later is a simple job. Toss in a drop-out trigger group for easy maintenance and you have a working shotgun that earns its keep, whether that's bedside duty, multi-gun matches, or just busting clays on the cheap.