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Now put aside nostalgia, fond memories, and the need to possibly restore it to its former glory. For $150 are they worth the money as a constant shooter of 12G buck and shot? Will it handle modern loads or would it be better just to get something more modern
They hold up well. The ejector is about the most fragile part of the 97. It is it's own spring and is attached thru the left side of the receiver with a screw. Easy to replace and aftermarket ejectors are available inexpensively.
Some actions are a bit stiff to operate and can stand some work to ease that.
The mainspring can be lightened some and that helps a great deal in relieving the hammer pressure upward on the withdrawn bolt.
You most likely have a complete different barrel and forend assembly from another 97,,not original to the receiver. The bbl itself can be changed out with the right tools but that'd leave the #'d extension the same.
Not uncommon to see at all on any of the TD Winchester shotgun models.
97 take down models have the standard method for taking up looseness in the bbl/receiver joint as it occurs over time.
Riot guns came in both TD and non-TD actions. Trench guns were Non-TD only IIRC.
$150 is a great price for a fine condition 97 dispite the non-matching ser# I believe.
The CYL marked bbl is a plus on todays market especially if resale is in the future plans.,,most are mearly cut down FULL or MOD bbls (check the choke marking carefully for a re-mark).
There are inexpensive finished field grade aftermarket stocks available for the 97 from places like Boyds that are bolt on replacement.
I have a 3 97's,,they all see a great deal of use. One gets shot over 5000 rds a year and has done so for the last 8 years or so. The others not quite as much.
I've had a couple of ejectors break, no other parts loss. One had firing pin disconnector problems,but was just dirt & crud caked inside the bolt parts.
Mine are all mfg 1905 and before. But they were continuously mfg till 1957.
Keep them clean and lubed. Lots of cams surfaces and springs inside.
An 870, Ithaca 37, or any number of more modern design pump guns will serve you just as well. Perhaps even better if it comes to repairs (can be expensive on the older, complicated 97) and the fact that some people just have a tough time shooting them as the retracting bolt seems to rake over the knuckle of their right thumb. I've never had the problem, but some folks do.
Thought it worth mentioning. No nostalgia there..
