Winchester 1897 Pump Shotgun Jamming -- Help?

[Flattop5]

The last time I went to use my Winchester model 1897 pump shotgun (made in 1945), it jammed up tighter than a bank vault. Why? I don't know. Here's what I did, and here's what happened:

I put 2 or 3 shells up the magazine tube, then cocked the hammer back (I do that because it makes it much easier to jack the action), then jacked the action (the wood handgrip) down, and then I slammed the action (the wood handgrip again) home. This time, the gun totally locked up. Everything locked up. Nothing would move at all. The gun was locked closed, in the firing mode, with the hammer back, but the gun would not fire. Finally, I had to take the gun apart to uncock/unload it.

Here's what I'm wondering: maybe I should NOT cock the hammer back before jacking the action open anymore? Or does that cocking have any bearing on the matter? Maybe it doesn't?

Thanks.


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[chief38]

Start with good cleaning and lubrication. Then cycle it with DUMMY ROUNDS and watch closely as you operate it. If all seems good, then try firing it with live ammo out at a Range - see what happens.

It could be many things and I would not venture a guess without even seeing it or shooting it.

 

[2152hq]

Could be a number of things and a hands on exam is really needed.

About the only things I can think of from a distant view would be to ask if factory ammo was used or if possibly reloads were involved.
Some reloaded ammo may not be sized enough and can stick in the chamber. Then you can't extract the chambered round and you are stuck with a loaded shotgun that you can't cycle the action.

Also,,The fact that you cock the hammer first to avoid a heavy cycling effort should make no difference in the way the action functions.
But,,I would only say that once you FIRST cock the hammer,,AND THEN TRY TO CYCLE the ACTION,,,,you should NOT be able to cycle the action (loading the first round for instance) with out first depressing the slide/action release on the side of the frame.

If you can cycle the action with the hammer at full cock but WITHOUT depressing the slide/action release button first,,then there is something mechanically wrong. It's not locking properly.
It should be look at by someone who understands the mechanism.

 

[growr]

ask the same question in the SASS wire.....many VERY knowledgeable "97 smiths on there......Johnny Meadows is one of the very top shotgun smiths in the world of SASS.

Randy
AKA Bugler

 

[bushmaster1313]

Is the hammer half back as a safety like the 1894 Did you try pulling the hammer back

Did you try cycling while depressing the slide release

I would never pump with the hammer back unless I had the slide release depressed. The pump handle is not supposed to operate with the hammer cocked