Howdy,
So I got into cowboy action almost 2 years ago. So did my daughter. My firearm collection shifted rapidly over about 8 months. Not only did I need to finish up my setup, but needed to set up my daughter as well.
Anywho, along the line I picked up a couple 1897s. One is a Winchester 1897 breakdown from around 1907 I think. Good deal from a friend, no finish left, and a cracked forend, but runs really smooth. Has a 30" full chocked barrel. Other is a Marstar 1897 with 20" barrel with chokes and walnut. The Marstar one was too good a deal to pass up.
I have a few questions to ask between the 2.
Anyone know if there is a good user's manual for the 1897? Trying to figure things out with them.
The Win 1897 is mechanically solid, but there is no finish and the wood is nothings special as I already said. Would you cut it down for 20"? Probably would swing well for ducks as is, but is a bit of a PITA to swing from one target to the next at 12 yards, and the barrel can get in the way.
I was reading that the 1897 was made so that you need to pull forward on the forend to get it to cycle. I guess it is supposed to work under recoil. The Winchester cycles purely by pulling the trigger and I guess the normal forward pressure I place on the forend. The Marstar is a determined effort to push forward on to cycle it. I find it so stiff that it may not cycle in a practice stage (have not used either for a match yet). Is there anything wrong with either one? I mean, should the Winchester cycle that easy, and there is something wrong with the Marstar, or vice versa?
So I got into cowboy action almost 2 years ago. So did my daughter. My firearm collection shifted rapidly over about 8 months. Not only did I need to finish up my setup, but needed to set up my daughter as well.
Anywho, along the line I picked up a couple 1897s. One is a Winchester 1897 breakdown from around 1907 I think. Good deal from a friend, no finish left, and a cracked forend, but runs really smooth. Has a 30" full chocked barrel. Other is a Marstar 1897 with 20" barrel with chokes and walnut. The Marstar one was too good a deal to pass up.
I have a few questions to ask between the 2.
Anyone know if there is a good user's manual for the 1897? Trying to figure things out with them.
The Win 1897 is mechanically solid, but there is no finish and the wood is nothings special as I already said. Would you cut it down for 20"? Probably would swing well for ducks as is, but is a bit of a PITA to swing from one target to the next at 12 yards, and the barrel can get in the way.
I was reading that the 1897 was made so that you need to pull forward on the forend to get it to cycle. I guess it is supposed to work under recoil. The Winchester cycles purely by pulling the trigger and I guess the normal forward pressure I place on the forend. The Marstar is a determined effort to push forward on to cycle it. I find it so stiff that it may not cycle in a practice stage (have not used either for a match yet). Is there anything wrong with either one? I mean, should the Winchester cycle that easy, and there is something wrong with the Marstar, or vice versa?
