Model 97 Winchester

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  Saturday, at a local gun show I picked up a nice model 97 12ga. made in the 1950's...the blue is very good, and the gun shows little wear... coming home, I tried a few shots with AA's that have been reloaded several times...had trouble with one or two chambering, but not ejecting..have any of you folks shot plastic ammo in your 97's? How about reloads??? I am hoping I just had a bum reload fired and ejected ok, but had trouble getting it chambered...
Also, this gun is checkered...the man I bought if from said that checking was an option at the time the gun was built..it isn/t a trap model, and shoots fine, checking and stock look original...thanks

[Swampman]

Is it chambered for 2 1/2" shells?  Some older shotguns have short ejection ports and do not eject some brands of plastic star crimped hulls very well.  They were designed to shoot paper hulls.
 

[spruce]

If it was made in the 50's it would have a standard 2 3/4" chamber.  Not sure if U.S. made 12 gauges were ever made with shorter chambers???  16 gauges from the 30's and earlier are quite commonly found with shorter chambers.
 
Nice find - apparently the cowboy action shooters haven't cut the barrels off all of them yet!

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  No it has  a 2 3/4 inch chamber...the barrel is marked that...could have just been an over used hull...
I was glad to get my fingers on this one..will do some shooting with it maybe tomorrow...shot maybe 8 rounds...all but one or so functioned ok..shoots where it looks..had a chance at a similar one 10 years ago, but the entire patten shot way below the point of aim..on this fellow the stock is perfect for my face, although a bit long...thanks for the help...

[Swampman]

My friends Model 12 won't eject some brands of shells.  The crimp sticks out too far for them to get out of the port.

[milespb]

Are you saying that the extractor is pulling it from the chamber but it is not ejecting the spent casing? If that is the case it could be the ejector that is held into the receiver on the left side by a small screw. I have had to replace them from time to time, they are just a small piece of spring steel. I've had a half dozen of them and never had issues with plastic or paper shells. All 97's are 2 3/4 chambers the 93's I believe were 2 5/8.

[LONGTOM]

I can't help you with any info on yours but my best friend just gave me one this weekend.
I haven't picked it up yet but I did look at it a few weeks ago.
It has a 30" mod barrel and takes 2.75" shells.
The gun is very tight with a great lock up but a good part of the bluing is worn off and the stock is a piece of crap.
The gun was carried a lot in the duck blinds but not shot that much.
It is a takedown model.
It has one major flaw.
The guy that gave it to my friend had set it against the back of his truck and then forgot it was there.
Backed the tire over it and the barrel has a nice bow in it now.
Still shots and works fine, just need to point about 5" to the right at about 30 yds.
The bow starts just ahead of the front mounting ring so I think it can be cut off right at the end of the tube for a nice short (19") home defence or 4 wheeler/Tractor gun.
Worth a try.
Not like it cost me anything, we'll see!
 
 
LONGTOM

[LONGTOM]

Update.
Picked the gun up from my friend last night.
Forget cutting the barrel.
To get past where the bow starts it would only be about 17"
I guess I will be looking for another barrel for this one.
 
 
LONGTOM

[Swampman]

Update.
Picked the gun up from my friend last night.
Forget cutting the barrel.
To get past where the bow starts it would only be about 17"
I guess I will be looking for another barrel for this one.
 
 
LONGTOM

You could put a Poly-Choke on it.

[LONGTOM]

Yea, but those things sure are ugly!
 
 
LONGTOM

[Keith L]

Nasty to stand next to on the line when trap shooting too!

[cwlongshot]

Tom,
The barrel Bent once, it can bend again!!

I have had a nice '97 too, mine now has a 20" barrel as the last 10" of mine was very badly rusted/pitted. I pruned it off and added a big brass bead and it shoots everything great!! A good friend talked me out of it about five years ago with a blood promice to sell it back if he was to part with it. 

I have even took some Chinese Chickens with it!! (YES, as a cyl bore!)



CW

[pastorp]

My 97 pump is a 50s 12 ga. And it shoots and cycles factory plastic shells just fine. I bet it's your reloads. Try some factory loads.
The gun is not old enough to have short chambers. I love the 97 pumps.

Regards,

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  Pastorp, it must have been a bum reload...ran a box or so though the gun since then with out a hitch..
shoots perfect...would make a great pheasant gun, except it is a 30 " full...checking the patterns it is tight, and I hate to mess with it...may try it on spring gobblers, and duck with bismuth loads...love it..have been looking for a nice 97 for years...it is the best I have seen for under say 1200$  Need a model 37 Ithaca to complete my pump gun line up...have of course mulitple 870's, model 12, model 31, and the 97.....The 97 is a classic, but none can match the action of the model 31......

[Bitterroot Bob]

Just a suggestion:
If you load your own, try building spreader loads. Ballistic products, Gamaliel, etc carry star-shaped wad inserts that will make a Full pattern like an Improved. Or, you can make them yourself using card-stock and a pair of scissors. Make 5/8" squares, cut slits halfway down the center of them, and slide them together to make a "x" 5/8" x 5/8". This goes in the shotcup and the shot goes around and over it.
Congrats on true Classic!
 
Bitterroot

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  Have heard of this...may give it a try...I do load most of my shotgun ammo...as well as pistol and rifle..thanks...

[LONGTOM]

Bought a 30" full barrel on another site tonight.
It is a little rough bluing wise (should match the rest of the gun).
Cost a little more than I was wanting to give but at least I have a straight one now.
 
 
LONGTOM

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  Hope yours shoots as well as mine...they are fun guns...

[LONGTOM]

97 update x2.

Not only did I pick up a 30" full barrel but managed to pick up a decent 19" takedown barrel asm. along with a new replacement butt stock for the old Savage one (that's right, I said Savage) that was on it.
Had to adjust the thread ring a little to get the barrel to fit.
Took it out to shot it the other day.
Grabbed some Win Super X High Brass #6 shells and out the door I went.
First shot was held out to my side to make sure everything was in working order before I stuck it up in front of my face.
Worked fine so on to the next shot.
Not bad, a little kick from the plastic butt plate.
Third shot and what a suprise, man did that one kick and the action was locked up.
After a bit of work it came open but the shell would not eject.
Had to pry it out with my knife and the suprise was revealed.
Some how a 3" Win. Super X red #6 had found its way into the box of 2&3/4" ones.
I must have drooped it in there at somepoint long ago.
All is fine with the gun and it wouldn't have been so bad had I know it was a 3" as I would have had a better grip on it and held it tighter against my shoulder.
My youngest son was watching through the window.
He opened the window and said (" what's the matter Pop, why did you take a step back") then starting laughing.
So did I !!!
My fault for not checking my shells first.
At least I know the gun is in shooting order now.
I took it over to my GS to have it taken apart and cleaned & oiled and to have a screw in choke installed along with a Limb Saver recoil pad.
He said he could straighten the old barrel also.
Should have it back in a week or so.
It will make a neat, quick truck gun along with a fine home defence weapon.
 
 
LONGTOM