winchester 1897 and ammo types

infidel29

infidel29

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Hey, i have a question for ya shottie guys. Did a 3 year search on this topic but couldnt find the exact answer I was looking for. I bought a really nice refinished example of a 1940 winchester 1897 that came with the 20" barrel plus a 1953 30" barrel. I know they have fixed chokes, and they are older steel. I'm just trying to figure out what ammo types I can shoot through them when i take it out to the range. I'm used to open choke mossbergs and remingtons. I think slugs are a no-no because of the choke? Can I shoot the factory bird and buckshot through them? I know you can get the lead #4 and #6 shot which arent allowed for hunting anymore, and are thus used in CAS tournaments, but I dont know what the 00 or 000 buckshot is, lead or steel? I'd like to find buckshot that I can shoot through it.
Thanks for your help in this matter.
 
A 97 made in 1940 should have a 2 3/4 inch chamber. You can shoot any foster style slug 2 3/4 inch factory load in your 97, the full choke is not an issue. The older style slug loads were made to shoot through a full choke barrel being considerably undersize. Factory bird or buckshot is not an issue either. The newer production 97 shotguns are actually much preferred to the early production guns for shooting, better steel and not short chambered. I think your 20 inch barrel if factory is probably cylinder bore anyway and if marked full choke it is probably a 30 inch full cut off and has no choke anyway. As far as I know Winchester never made a 20 inch full choke barrel.
 
Any buck shot should work just fine out of a 97 with a modified choke. That's what the U.S. military used. Wouldn't use steel bird shot though. You only need steel for migratory birds unless you come hunting in Ontario. Like Mike says, slugs won't hurt a full choked shotgun. The slug just gets swaged a bit.
Your's a commercial model or a milsurp? The milsurp will have a bayonet lug(As daft as it is. Fun though. Takes an M1 Rifle bayonet, as I recall.) and is worth a fair bunch of money depending on condition.
 
no, its either the riot model or the trench. cant remember which. Doesnt have the bayonet lug or heat shield. Was completely rebuilt with new parts scrounged around, reblued as well, so not really a collectors piece as it isnt in original condition.
 
A 97 riot gun would have cyl. bore so I would say blast away with any 2 3/4 inch factory loads including slugs. Won't hurt anything except your shoulder.
 
Back in the day the 1897 could be special ordered with a 20", 26", 28" or 30" barrel with any choke combination the buyer was willing to pay for. Your 20" barrel could have very easily left the factory with a modified choke...and it could easily be a regular production 28" modified choke barrel that got cut back! Either way it's safe to shoot any 2 3/4" lead load thru it, including the rifled slugs.
 
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