Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors 1897 Pump Shotgun

Does anyone use these guns in the field? I think a 16ga version would be interesting as a hunting gun.

Does anyone know how much one weighs?

I'd guess they weigh a bit less than M12s, probably 7 1/2 lbs. Be aware the 16s may have short chambers. They are slick old guns though. Mine is a 16. Only problem I have is remembering to cock it when the roosters flush.....

Kaiser Norton

JW, I have a 1950's model 97 in 12 ga. that I picked up in Rock Springs at a gun show..Had one 50 years ago not as clean and new, but it had a mod. choke and 28" barrel.. This one is a 30" full..It is a great sage grouse gun for the days when the birds are getting up at long distance..Have some Bismuth, I may try on waterfowl this fall..To me, the old full choke guns shoot very tight..but they are a piece of history..The cowboy action shooters have picked up many of these and cut them off for the games they play..Some are pretty well beat up especially if you move toward te midwest..where bird hunting was more popular..I think mine came out of Cheyenne..I hunt with mine pretty often..but I usually keep a second shotgun with a more open choke in the truck ..some days sage grouse get up pretty far, this old gun is great for that..Plus a guy can wait them out too..Never shot ringnecks with it, but with a bit more open choke it would be great..some of these older shotguns had a lot of drop to the stock, making it difficult to shoot them..

Mine is a 12 Ga take down model,20"bbl (was chopped befor I got it). Made in 1917. I shoot it more thhan any other shotgun I own.
It hits where I point it. If you can find one thats not wore plumb out I think they are great hunting guns. Parts are still easy to find as well.Keep check of all the screws as some are prone to loosen up with a lot of shooting.

I have a 12ga that I squirrel hunt with and will turkey hunt with this year. Love shooting the old pump.

I have a non take down that I bought on here, it has a 30In barrel full choke and weighs 7.8 lbs( supposed to be the light weight HA)I also have my Dads take down that weighs the same. I used it a lot for small game.MY favorit is a mdl 12 16 ga with a short(20in )barrel.

I just handled my GrandDads , I turkey hunt with it , 30" fullchoke , I must see when it was built. sn #334633 maybe a "D' over SN#. killed many a beast and fowl, he ran a county farm with it as well.

I don't these days but in years past when I had need for a shotgun, I used a '97. I had a 16 and a 12. I don't believe I ever put a box of shells through the 12 but the 16 killed a lot of game. I would say the 7 -7 1/2 lb. is close. There's just something special about the smoothness and the sound of that old corn sheller....and I have always loved hammer guns.

just remember to keep your hand out of the way when you rack it! "I know from experience!"

I lumped up a turkey with mine last spring. I loaded up some brass shells with blackpowder and a duplex load of #4 & #6 shot. My buddy said he knew it was me by the sound.

Yup, Turkeys Hate 1897 Winnies.