Win 1400 Barrel on a 1200 action and subsequent questions.

[Greatguns]

I found a Winchester 1200 20ga candidate yesterday for an SBS project and was working a trade deal on an SKS I have for sale which would give me cash in hand for whatever I needed on the SBS. Communicating with the seller he mentioned having been told from the guy he got it from that it had a barrel from a 1400 20ga. I stated the 1400 was a semi-auto and was of the understanding the barrel would not work on a 1200 and wondered if it was maybe a 1300 barrel. He got home and checked it out, lo and behold...it IS a 1400 barrel. He removed it to check the gas ports and found someone had filled the holes with JB Weld from the mag tube side and then put it on the 1200. SO, apparently, the lock up into the receiver is the same, only the gas ports are the issue??? Oh, the guy also told me that he has shot a a couple boxes of shells from this shotgun with no issues.

I have always been told 1300 barrel can go on a 1200 but not the other way around. Also that the 1400 wouldn't work on a 1200. I even did a search and Winchester's website on interchangeability between the 1200, 1300, 1400, and 1500 series shotguns, said the same thing. But, here you have this set up. Anybody got a definitive answer on this? Should I be steering clear of this or not worry about it? Thoughts?

[running-man]

You already know the answer.  How much trust do you put in JB weld Alan?

[Greatguns]

WEelll, it is only going through 2 little holes that are perpendicular to the barrel and closed off by the 1200 mag tube anyway so, what's it going to do...really?   

I could always make a short barreled shotgun out of it.   

[Greatguns]

Back on this topic... I actually am thinking of making an SBS out of this 1200 if I get it so, the barrel would get cut 1-2" in front of the mag tube ring/gas ports on the barrel. My thinking is that the gas would escape out the muzzle long before there would be any issues from gas through the port holes and it should be fine. Any more thoughts???

[running-man]

Your probably ok either way Alan. Just giving you crap!

Shotguns don't push the pressure limits in general unless you're firing magnum slugs or something. 

Having said that remember that JB weld or any other type of epoxy does degrade over time depending on type and storage conditions. It may be good right now but in five years you may have a jet of gas shoot unexpectedly from one of those ports after shot number 3 that could cause consternation. Just throwing that out there...

[Greatguns]

Yeah, I was thinking maybe clean the JBW out after cutting the barrel down so as to get to it easier, then get it TIG welded since that produces the least amount of heat. Guy I was working the trade with thought I wasn't interested and went and bought a different SKS, but said he'd take $175 cash for the 1200. So, even if I ended up with buying another barrel I'd be okay value-wise.