Stinger4me
Member
I looked at a Winchester Model 97 shotgun. The barrel is 18.5 inches long and it might be a home defense gun. Does anybody have one? I think I can get this for about $200.
Mod. 97
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Photog
Member
If it is in 12 gauge, and tight, I would give that without a second thought. I bought one at a gunshow several years ago. Had a shortened stock, and little finish left. Bought it for 175, but the barrel off, replaced buttstock. Great cowboy action shooting gun, great defense gun.
If it is in good shape, go for it!
If it is in good shape, go for it!
OP
Stinger4me
Member
The gun is a 12 gauge and the stock has been refinished. It seems tight, it is an impressive looking gun. I think it was made prior to the 20's.
dennis40x
US Veteran
I thought the minimum barrel length from the Winchester factory was 20". I've had examples of both the 1893 and 1897. The 1897 I had with the trigger depressed fired on closing so manipulating the action in a rapid manner was impressive. We had M97 shotguns in Vietnam and I saw them in our armory at Lejeune also. Decades past I sold both the 1893 and 1897 to a Winchester collector.
Thats a very good price if it is a functional gun. A lot of 97's in use in SASS and the prices are usually higher.
OP
Stinger4me
Member
The data from Proof House shows the gun being made in 1919. Is there a way for me to determine if the chamber is 2.5" or 2.75". Thanks for the help with this.
windjammer
Member
I had a mod.97.. a really nice one. Back at that time, I had to sell a gun or trade to get another. Wished 1000 times, I would have kept the 97.
That's a darn good price. I'd buy it in a heart-beat if I was still able to shoot it.
One note of advise. Keep that left thumb low when racking the slide...
That's a darn good price. I'd buy it in a heart-beat if I was still able to shoot it.
One note of advise. Keep that left thumb low when racking the slide...
One note of advice. Keep that left thumb low when racking the slide...
... and deprive himself of an "M-1 Thumb'-like experience?
If you can run some dummy rounds through it before buying to at least see that it feeds and ejects properly would be a big plus. Live fire even better. They can and do have problems that you can't see by just looking at them and working the action. They are complicated mechanisms with alot of parts that have to all work together perfectly to make for a smoothly timed action.
They're great shotguns when they work correctly, but an expensive pain to repair when they do not. Parts are pricey and most are worn, being salvaged from worn out guns themselves. Several slight changes in the internal parts can make it a challenge to fix sometimes.
They all have the so called 'slam fire' feature which in reality isn't as the bolt is locked before the hammer falls & strikes the fireing pin,,but it is neat feature. M12's and M42's also had it.
The fireing pin can break & the tip jam in the forward position dispite the retraction bar and it can fire upon closing the action without it being locked. It will then fly open causing some damage most likely to the action and the shooter. Not a very common occurance.
I've owned several,,still have 2 of them. Both made in 1903. They have fired several 1000 rounds each by me and other than replaceing the ejector once each with a new repro and a good complete strip/clean every 6 months or so, very little has gone wrong.
I've lightened the mainspring tension to lessen the upward push on the bolt from the hammer when cycling the action. It makes for a really slick working action and reduces the wear on the receiver ways where the bolt rides when fully retracted. Never any misfire problems.
I sold a 12ga full choke, solid frame 97 not too awful long ago. I had bought it for $250 at a show and was suprised no one hadn't grabbed it before me. Had thoughts of Riot Gun for it but got talked out of it and it's still in it's original configuration. I see it almost every week at the skeet range and it really reaches out there!
I too seem to recall that 20" was the shortest they made,, then 26" (Brush gun). Might be wrong,,,maybe some info in one of the big winchester books.
They're great shotguns when they work correctly, but an expensive pain to repair when they do not. Parts are pricey and most are worn, being salvaged from worn out guns themselves. Several slight changes in the internal parts can make it a challenge to fix sometimes.
They all have the so called 'slam fire' feature which in reality isn't as the bolt is locked before the hammer falls & strikes the fireing pin,,but it is neat feature. M12's and M42's also had it.
The fireing pin can break & the tip jam in the forward position dispite the retraction bar and it can fire upon closing the action without it being locked. It will then fly open causing some damage most likely to the action and the shooter. Not a very common occurance.
I've owned several,,still have 2 of them. Both made in 1903. They have fired several 1000 rounds each by me and other than replaceing the ejector once each with a new repro and a good complete strip/clean every 6 months or so, very little has gone wrong.
I've lightened the mainspring tension to lessen the upward push on the bolt from the hammer when cycling the action. It makes for a really slick working action and reduces the wear on the receiver ways where the bolt rides when fully retracted. Never any misfire problems.
I sold a 12ga full choke, solid frame 97 not too awful long ago. I had bought it for $250 at a show and was suprised no one hadn't grabbed it before me. Had thoughts of Riot Gun for it but got talked out of it and it's still in it's original configuration. I see it almost every week at the skeet range and it really reaches out there!
I too seem to recall that 20" was the shortest they made,, then 26" (Brush gun). Might be wrong,,,maybe some info in one of the big winchester books.
Andy Griffith
Member
Is it a solid frame or a takedown?
The takedown models are more likely to loosen up faster than their sold frame brothers. Also, the receiver extensions on these guns are the one piece that cannot be replaced (no new reproductions) and if someone that doesn't have the correct "die" to place it in to try to replace the barrel, it will bend and crush. Look for signs of this where the action slide arm goes through the receiver extension- it is thin in this area and may be nearly broken through or filed out if it has been bent and restraitened. It never goes back quite right.
The 1897 is a good working shotgun and is extremely functional if kept maintained and not mistreated. It is a good design and is able to run with any new pump on the market as far as reliability...this is amazing in itself considering that it was really the third mass produced repeating shotgun in its price range. Prior to the '97 was the 1893- which was recalled by Winchester (and was only made for black powder anyway) and the Spencer pump shotgun. The other repeaters on the market such as the 1887 Winchester and the Burgess were much more expensive and somewhat overpriced to fit the common man's budget in those days.
Also, earlier solid frame guns will have the choke stamped on the bottom of the barrel, especially the "brush" guns. The later ones have the choke stamped on the top of the barrel.
I sincerely doubt that 18.5" is factory...but that is a good price for it even if it is cut off and works well. Most of the ones I've seen around here have been priced @ $600 or so for worn out ones. I didn't say they were selling for that, but priced that- big difference.
The takedown models are more likely to loosen up faster than their sold frame brothers. Also, the receiver extensions on these guns are the one piece that cannot be replaced (no new reproductions) and if someone that doesn't have the correct "die" to place it in to try to replace the barrel, it will bend and crush. Look for signs of this where the action slide arm goes through the receiver extension- it is thin in this area and may be nearly broken through or filed out if it has been bent and restraitened. It never goes back quite right.
The 1897 is a good working shotgun and is extremely functional if kept maintained and not mistreated. It is a good design and is able to run with any new pump on the market as far as reliability...this is amazing in itself considering that it was really the third mass produced repeating shotgun in its price range. Prior to the '97 was the 1893- which was recalled by Winchester (and was only made for black powder anyway) and the Spencer pump shotgun. The other repeaters on the market such as the 1887 Winchester and the Burgess were much more expensive and somewhat overpriced to fit the common man's budget in those days.
Also, earlier solid frame guns will have the choke stamped on the bottom of the barrel, especially the "brush" guns. The later ones have the choke stamped on the top of the barrel.
I sincerely doubt that 18.5" is factory...but that is a good price for it even if it is cut off and works well. Most of the ones I've seen around here have been priced @ $600 or so for worn out ones. I didn't say they were selling for that, but priced that- big difference.
Spotteddog
Member
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