Can't Remove Magazine Tube Norinco – Winchester M-97 (1897) Clone

[Gibo]

Recently acquired a Norinco – Winchester M-97 (1897) Clone and want to smooth up the action by disassembling the gun but I can not get the magazine tube out. All norinco clones are based off the solid frame Winchester 1897 and from what I have found online to disassemble the gun you:

1. Remove the barrel band
2. Remove the screw in the frame for the mag tub.
3. Then unscrew the Magazine tube.
4. Then remove action slide

But for some reason I can not unscrew the magazine tube for the life of me, are these generally know for being a pain to unscrew?
Most examples of disassembled 1897s are take down versions so it would be a great help if someone could confirm if the mag tube can be removed from these reproductions.

 

[mcpiper]

I know when I removed the mag tube from my Mossberg I had to use a heat gun on it first.

 

[Gibo]

Was able to get the mag tube out by using a bench vice.

1. take out screw on the end of the receiver that secures the mag tube
2. take off mag tube cap and remove mag spring + follower to avoid problems later
3. spray mag tube base with WD-40 and try to get it into the threads as much as possible (wait ~15 minutes)
4. line the walls of your bench vice with either rubber tape or leather to prevent scratches on the mag tube
5. rack the slide back to have more surface area on the mag tube
6. secure the mag tube into the vice (do not clamp the tube too hard, it's made of aluminium and will deform)
7. holding the barrel and stock rotate the firearm to screw off the the mag tube
8. un-clamp and re-clamp the mag tube and continue turning until it can be done by hand
9. before completely removing the mag tube pull the slide to it's most forward position
10. your mag tube and slide bar should come out at the same time

Note the photo and orientation of the firearm in the bench vice, I had to rotate the shotgun towards me to unscrew the mag cap.

 

[svt1940]

Was able to get the mag tube out by using a bench vice.

1. take out screw on the end of the receiver that secures the mag tube
2. take off mag tube cap and remove mag spring + follower to avoid problems later
3. spray mag tube base with WD-40 and try to get it into the threads as much as possible (wait ~15 minutes)
4. line the walls of your bench vice with either rubber tape or leather to prevent scratches on the mag tube
5. rack the slide back to have more surface area on the mag tube
6. secure the mag tube into the vice (do not clamp the tube too hard, it's made of aluminium and will deform)
7. holding the barrel and stock rotate the firearm to screw off the the mag tube
8. un-clamp and re-clamp the mag tube and continue turning until it can be done by hand
9. before completely removing the mag tube pull the slide to it's most forward position
10. your mag tube and slide bar should come out at the same time

Note the photo and orientation of the firearm in the bench vice, I had to rotate the shotgun towards me to unscrew the mag cap.

Are you sure that the magazine tube on your clone is aluminium? I just got a chinese 1897 riot clone on the EE,made in 2019 and i unscrewed the mag tube easily by hand. The tube is steel. I took the shotgun apart for inspection and disassemble exactly like the original winchester. I checked every screws and added blue loctite to every one. The shotgun work perfect and is actually well made. What year is your shotgun?

 

[Gibo]

Are you sure that the magazine tube on your clone is aluminium? I just got a chinese 1897 riot clone on the EE,made in 2019 and i unscrewed the mag tube easily by hand. The tube is steel. I took the shotgun apart for inspection and disassemble exactly like the original winchester. I checked every screws and added blue loctite to every one. The shotgun work perfect and is actually well made. What year is your shotgun?

The one in the picture is a later model that introduced screw in chokes and features a walnut stock to better imitate the riot version of the Winchester 1897.

Mine was second hand and it seems the previous owner took it out in the rain or humid climate and left it un-oiled because it had a good amount of light surface rust on the internal parts, and threads that's why it was very difficult to get the mag tube out and needed a good sprat of WD-40. I am probably wrong in saying the mag tube is aluminium but it is thin steel and can be bent if tightened in a vice hard enough.

The machining on internal parts is definitely better then the earlier models only issue I had was a bure in the chamber causing some shells to not go into battery but that was fixed with some polishing. I also lessened the hammer spring screw to make the action smoother and applied blue Loctite to all visible screws as well.