The 97 Winchester was a superb combat shotgun. What I love about it is how size efficient it was for its day. The receiver is thinner and has a lower height than most shotguns built even today. The pistol grip was subtle, and the forend nice and small. So when broken down, it fits in very small packages; which is just "f...ing" awesome!
The 97 was also VERY reliable even under really crappy conditions found in the trenches. Now it wasn't perfect. You had to hold it "just right" so your thumb doesn't get hit by the bolt during cycling, and it wasn't uncommon to have parts breakage after some time in service.
It wasn't created as a combat shotgun, and when you drive them hard, they do break. Top cowboy competitors have several so they're never without while their guns are being fixed. I read once where one of the top cowboy competitors had 6 '97's and a small bucket of spare parts.
Still, where pump action shotguns are concerned; it's a first rate combat shotgun even for today. I would love to have a takedown '97 in good solid mechanical shape just for the fact it can discreetly go almost anywhere. For a home defense shotgun, it would actually be my 3rd choice. My first being a High Standard K-1200, second choice an Ithaca 8 shot DSPS, and then the Winchester '97.
But if I were to find a Winchester '97 in good mechanical condition that was a takedown, I could be content with that as my only combat shotgun for the rest of my days. They're just freaking good!!
The 97 was also VERY reliable even under really crappy conditions found in the trenches. Now it wasn't perfect. You had to hold it "just right" so your thumb doesn't get hit by the bolt during cycling, and it wasn't uncommon to have parts breakage after some time in service.
It wasn't created as a combat shotgun, and when you drive them hard, they do break. Top cowboy competitors have several so they're never without while their guns are being fixed. I read once where one of the top cowboy competitors had 6 '97's and a small bucket of spare parts.
Still, where pump action shotguns are concerned; it's a first rate combat shotgun even for today. I would love to have a takedown '97 in good solid mechanical shape just for the fact it can discreetly go almost anywhere. For a home defense shotgun, it would actually be my 3rd choice. My first being a High Standard K-1200, second choice an Ithaca 8 shot DSPS, and then the Winchester '97.
But if I were to find a Winchester '97 in good mechanical condition that was a takedown, I could be content with that as my only combat shotgun for the rest of my days. They're just freaking good!!
