24-Sep-2026
Winchester is a name that carries more weight than almost any other in firearms, and yet British shooters often know it better from history than from the gun rack. That is changing. Interest in Winchester shotguns on Rightgun.uk has risen sharply in recent weeks, driven above all by the Model 23, a gun that has quietly become one of the most searched-for classics on the site.
This guide walks the Winchester shotgun range as UK buyers encounter it: the collectable side-by-sides and over-and-unders, the semi-autos that still do serious work in British fields, and what to look for when buying used. Browse the current Winchester shotgun listings to see what is available.
Why Winchester shotguns appeal to British buyers
Two things drive Winchester interest in the UK, and they pull in different directions.
The first is heritage. Winchester’s name is bound up with the history of American firearms, and models such as the Model 21 and Model 23 are collected as much as they are shot. For British buyers, these represent a route into a high-quality gun with genuine provenance, often at less than an equivalent English name would cost.
The second is practical value. Winchester’s modern semi-automatics are capable working guns that compete directly with Beretta and Browning, and the Browning connection is not accidental, given the long-standing relationship between the two marques.
The Model 23: The collector’s choice
The Winchester Model 23 is currently the most searched Winchester on Rightgun.uk by a considerable margin, and our Winchester Model 23 guide is among the best-read pieces on the site.
The 23 is a boxlock side-by-side produced in the late twentieth century, and it occupies an interesting niche: a genuine quality side-by-side with a recognisable name, at a price well below the English makers. Various grades and configurations exist, including the Pigeon and Golden Quail variants that collectors chase, and condition varies enormously.
If you are considering one, buy on condition and originality rather than grade alone. Refinished stocks and replaced furniture materially affect value on collectable Winchesters.
The Model 101: The over-and-under
The Winchester Model 101 is the marque’s best-known over-and-under and the model with the deepest UK following after the 23. Originally produced in Japan, the 101 earned a reputation for durability that has kept examples in service for decades, and it turns up regularly on the British used market at sensible money.
Later revivals of the 101 name brought the model up to date, so when reading a listing it is worth establishing which era of gun you are looking at; the differences in handling and value are significant. Our Winchester 101 buyer’s guide covers what to look for.
For anyone cross-shopping, the 101 competes most directly with the Browning B525 and the Beretta 686, both covered in our guide to the B525 and B725.
The semi-autos: SX3 and SX4
The Winchester SX3 built a strong reputation among wildfowlers and pigeon shooters for fast cycling and reliability, and it remains a common sight in British hides and on foreshores. The Winchester SX4 is its successor, with revised ergonomics and a lighter feel.
Both are gas-operated, which means the soft-shooting characteristics that draw people to semi-autos in the first place. Our comparison of the SX3 and SX4 covers the differences in more detail, and if you are weighing them against the Italian alternatives, the Beretta A300 and A400 guide sets out the competition.
Select, Supergrade and the rest
The Winchester Select range covers over-and-unders aimed at field and sporting use, and represents some of the better value in the current line-up on the UK used market.
The Winchester Supergrade name appears on higher-specification guns with better wood and finish; the winchester super grade 12 gauge search is one of the more consistent Winchester queries we see, and these guns command a premium accordingly.
Which Winchester is right for you?
For collecting or for a quality side-by-side to shoot occasionally, the Model 23 is the obvious answer, and the reason most people arrive at Winchester in the first place.
For a durable, sensibly priced over-and-under, the Model 101 has decades of evidence behind it and remains one of the more underrated used buys in Britain.
For wildfowling, pigeon shooting and general field work, the SX3 or SX4 will do the job as well as anything at the money, with the SX3 typically the better value used.
For something with a bit more finish, look at the Select and Supergrade guns.
Whichever route you take, read our guide to shotgun fit before you buy; an ill-fitting Winchester will shoot worse than a well-fitting gun of any other make.
Buying a used Winchester in the UK
Winchester’s long production history across multiple factories and countries means provenance matters more than with most makes. Establish where and roughly when the gun was made, since this affects both value and parts availability.
On older guns, check the barrels for pitting and thinning, particularly on side-by-sides that may have seen decades of black powder or corrosive priming early in life. Check chamber length before buying; many older guns have shorter chambers than modern cartridges assume, and our guide to shotgun chamber lengths explains why this is a safety issue rather than a technicality.
Ask about proof. Any gun sold in the UK should be in proof, but on imported and older guns it is worth confirming rather than assuming. If you have any doubt, have a gunsmith look at it before money changes hands.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Winchester Model 23 a good gun? The Model 23 is well regarded as a quality boxlock side-by-side and has a strong following among UK collectors. Condition and originality drive value more than anything else, so buy carefully.
Are Winchester shotguns still made? The Winchester name continues on shotguns produced under licence, with the modern line-up including over-and-unders and semi-automatics. Older models such as the Model 23 are long out of production and available only used.
Winchester SX3 or SX4, which should I buy? The SX4 is the newer gun with revised handling; the SX3 typically represents better value used and retains a strong reputation. Both are gas-operated and soft shooting.
Are Winchester and Browning related? The two marques have a long-standing historical and commercial relationship, which is part of why some Winchester models feel familiar to Browning owners.
Find a Winchester on Rightgun.uk
Winchester shotguns turn over steadily on the UK market, and the collectable models in particular tend to move fast when priced well. Browse the current shotgun listings on Rightgun.uk to see what dealers and private sellers have available, or list your own Winchester and reach buyers actively searching for the marque.
Further reading: The Winchester 101: A UK buyer’s guide to a classic over-and-under, Winchester Model 23: A classic side-by-side and how it compares to the Model 21 & 101, Winchester SX3 vs SX4: Which semi-auto shotgun should you buy?, Best semi-automatic shotguns UK by budget, and Best trap shotguns UK by budget.
