Winchester 6500 Sporter Eastfield Gunroom Review
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- čas přidán 12. 08. 2023
- Our first look at this iconic shotgun manufacturer here on the Eastfield Gunroom channel. Hugely popular throughout the late 1980's on the sporting circuit the 6500 Sporter was the chosen gun of British Shooting Legend A.J 'smoker" Smith.
A gun that despite being a thoroughbred winner and being ahead of it's time spelled the beginning of the end for Winchester here in the UK. In this review Matthew talks about a gun that many UK shooters will have fond memories of. A true winner in every sense of the word and a real Japanese class act. - Sport
You've just reunited me with an old friend! K541671E was my gun for over 30 years and is still shown on my licence. I enjoyed shooting her and did in fact try to buy her back, but I was too late. It's good to see you appreciating an old classic. I never had a problem with the butt-plate Matt! 😊
Thank you for your comment. Wow! The power of CZcams. I am not sure why having owned such a lovely gun for 30 years that you would choose to sell it but still. The new owner (another Peter) will no doubt enjoy the gun for many years to come and at least you have a lasting memory with this review. As for the butt plate I much prefer a nice Kick-Eez😂Kind regards, Matthew
@@eastfieldgunroom I traded the Winchester for a Miroku MK70 Grade 5; which I am, at last, getting used to and breaking clays with. But that Winchester will always have a place in my heart.
Do you happen to know what year the K541xxxE was made?
I'm afraid not@@KimWarberg
Hi Peter, I’ve put the 6500 on guntrader if you’re still interested.
Brings back some memories.Super gun as an allrounder for sporting clay and gameshooting.Sure my 6500 had embellishment on the forward part of the action. My 6500 was actually procured for me by the man himself John A,J. Smoker Smith whom I had got to know well.Hindsight is a wonderful thing but I wanted a B25. A.J. moved on to a Beretta DT10 but he could have shot with a Baikal and still been a champion.Great bloke, unbelievable shot but affairs of the heart put him into a very dark place and we lost him.
Thank you for your comment and for sharing your story. Kind regards, Matthew
I actually bought that gun off Matt, the second one I’ve owned. Shot it this Sunday, as soon as I took it out of the slip everyone commented on its looks and condition. The 6500 shoots as good as any of the modern guns I’ve owned, for a quarter of the price.
I sincerely hope you enjoy shooting her as much as I did. I always liked the simplicity of the plain silver action. I always kept her clean and maintained so she should give you good service. Enjoy!😀
@@peterjohnson724 Hi Peter. The condition of the gun is a credit to you. It won’t be my main gun, I’ll probably only use it once a month or so to hopefully extend its life, though they’re so well made I can see it outlasting me😊.
Best wishes
Thank you for your comment Peter. I am thrilled that you are pleased with the gun and hope to see you again soon for the Beretta we discussed. Kind regards, Matthew
If I spotted this in a gunroom I’d be drawn to it lovely simplistic looking gun i’d imagine if this was sold now it would be popular.
Thank you for your comment. Very sleek lines that you would never think are 35 plus years old. Kind regards, Matthew
Another well researched review, I have owned one since new in 1983, long enough to access the build quality and durability.
Had to replace firing pins & main springs several times, cocking foot repaired, selector toggle tighted(caused double discharge), re-joined now better
than new. I purchased 2 x Carlson extended chokes, pattern a lot better than short taper Winchoke which I don't rate.
The barrels are perfectly regulated for POI. Spare parts are available in Oz.
Thank you for your comment Bruce although I apologise for the ommission regarding the 1st and 2nd gen models. Absolutely great guns and there are still sevefal outlets for spares here in the UK too. Kind regards, Matthew
Great review, actually brought one off the back of this video 👍
Thank you for your comment. I am pleased that you enjoyed the review. Great to here that you managed to get one, they are superb guns. Kind regards, Matthew
@@eastfieldgunroom shooting it on Sunday at Goodwood clay pigeon club for the first time so I’ll let you know 😀
@@eastfieldgunroom pleased to let you know it performed beautifully - 59/80, not the highest score ever but good for me!
Very good review
Thank you for your comment. I am pleased that you enjoyed the video. Kind regards, Matthew
Well…..what can I say, another great review! I am very fond of Japanese shotguns being the owner a Beautiful Miroku MK11.
Thank you,
Michael
Thank you for your comment. I am pleased that you enjoyed the video. Kind regards, Matthew
Thanks Matt. I had one of the early Winchester 101 winchokes, it had 28" barrels and was 3" magnum proofed, a black scroll engraved action. I believe it was the first double barrelled gun available in this country, with choke tubes. Prior to this choke tubes were only available on single barrel guns. I sold the gun in about 1982 to Andy Whitemore, when he was still a motor mechanic !! He sold it on making £50 profit, soon after he founded Avalon Guns.
Thank you for your comment. Yes I believe that Winchester pioneered (ish) the multichoke system before Browning and Beretta caught on around 1984/5. The Miroku 3000 (horrendous gun😂) was the first Browning/Miroku product to use multichokes (Invector). I couldn't comment on the single barrel bit although I know that Winchesters 1400 XTR semi auto was from memory a Winchoke gun and they came out early 1980's.Andy and his team at Avalon are still going strong. Thank you for sharing your story. Kind regards, Matthew
The "looseness" from new was due to a "safety" feature that prevented Winchesters firing unless the top lever was in the closed position. Winchesters always felt "loose" even from new because of this.
Thank you for your comment. I was not aware of the Winchester safety feature but I guess it makes sense. Everyday is a school day. Kind regards, Matthew
Matt you have a mk 1 6500, the mk 2 had floral engraving around the hinge pin area, legend has it potential customers moaned it was a bit plain, hence the MK2.
Thank you for your comment. To be honest I wasn't 100% sure which way round the models were. I have seen a lot of fixed choke guns with the border scroll so presumed these were the first generation guns. Thank you for clearing it up for me though. Kind regards, Matthew
I have the 6500 sporter in 28". It just feels great to shoot. When I use her my confidence is always high!
Thank you for your comment. They are truly a forgotten classic sporter. Kind regards, Matthew
A great review of a classic
Thank you for your comment. I am pleased that you enjoyed the video. Kind regards, Matthew
Fantastic review.
Thank you for your comment. I am glad that you enjoyed the video. Kind regards, Matthew
Lovely review of a real classic gun Matt. The awful butt plate aside, it must be a really forgiving gun to shoot particularly when the standard clay cartridge was 32g at that time! Could be a great buy if parts/spares and servicing was more widely available. Thanks for posting 👍👍
I shot 32gram through her and can't recall any problems with recoil and the hard butt plate.
Thank you for your comment and kind words. As I said in the videos these are superb guns and should not be overlooked.Spares are still available and the build quality is exceptional. Get yourself one bought! Kind regards, Matthew
Another excellent review Matt. There would appear to be many similarities to the Nikko 6000 which in contrast has lovely ornate engraving on the action.
I would love to see your review of the Nikko 6000 if you ever get the opportunity.
Thank you for your comment and kind words. As you say there are certainly similarities between the two. I will put the Nikko 6000 on my list. Kind regards, Matthew
Great review,
Thank you for your comment. I am pleased that you enjoyed the video. Kind regards, Matthew
@@eastfieldgunroom keep up the good work Matthew.
My first gun was a 5000 Field 28” multichoke which I should shoot more . Added a recoil pad to get the stock length right. Bought 2nd hand and would love to know when it was made! Great review 😉
Thank you for your comment. The 5000 would be manufactured around the same time as this 6500 and all the 5000,6000,7000,8000 series guns, so approximately 1987-1989. Kind regards, Matthew
@@eastfieldgunroom thanks so much, I thought it was earlier- I Will appreciate the gun more given the information and background you provided 🙏
Gorgeous, i stand by my statement that the winchester 101 line was the best finished japanese guns of the day, and by todays standards are still hard to beat, they were the best of an amazing bunch of guns from japanese makers, probably not as mechanically hard as a miroku- but better finished
Thank you for your comment. As a huge fan of Mirokus I find your comment about finish and strength interesting. I would not completely disagree with it though. More 101's to come so stay tuned. Kind regards, Matthew
@@eastfieldgunroom keep up the great work Matt, i've never had failures but have seen a number of 101s with hammer sear wear and loose on face, this is probably more owner lack of maintenance that lets them down though, any skb's on horizon?
@@fullchoke01 I have a Grand European Model 501serial K400122. It shot loose as well. I had it rejointed 40 years ago and it has been my goto gun ever since with everything including steel shot. The only problem I have had in that 40 years is a top lever retainer spring break. Certainly are a well finished durable gun
@@geoffroberts5641 truly great guns no doubt about it, if only the plant stayed open can only imagine what they would have produced to date
Are parts still available for this gun?
Thank you for your comment. Parts are absolutely still available. Some are a little trickier than others to source though. Kind regards, Matthew
Aj smoker Smith legend he was on television doing star shot unfortunately he killed himself
Thank you for your comment. Yes a very sad loss for the sport of shooting when we lost A.J. Kind regards, Matthew
@eastfieldgunroom @07:25 You say "Magnum proofed, at 1200 kg". Your serial # is K541xxxx, mine is K542xxxx and is proof stamped 900kg , so I find that odd? Thus I don't shoot steel ammo in it. I would love if you could prove me wrong on this :-)
Thank you for your comment. I can only assume that different models were proof tested at different pressures depending on where they were being exported to. At 900kg you should be able to use standard performance steel providing you use the correct choking. Kind regards, Matthew
I have 7000 filled i never see any in uk
Thank you for your comment. Yes the 7000 field is not common in the UK. I have seen maybe 5 or 6 but rare in this country for sure. Kind regards, Matthew
Viedeň nie je v Portugalsku.
Thank you for your comment. The CZcams subtitles maybe incorrect. The production plant is in Viana Portugal. Kind regards, Matthew