doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Winchester M97 problems

You all know that I shoot Parkers, however I have a "E" M97 made about 1943 that is near new. I was trying to shoot sporting clays today and my reloads were tough to cycle. Shooting WW AA hulls, 19.5 gr WST and 1 oz loads. Mild stuff @7400 psi and 1150 fps. Obviously there are tricks to the M97 I am not aware of. Any ideas?

Harry

The 97 is a high friction operator compared to other slide action guns. It probably needs cleaning and light oil application on moving surfaces. Your reloads might be a little fat too. Oil it up and try some new shells.

Many moons ago, I had a Pacific 366 loader that made loads that were a bit difficult in a 97. Later, when we went to a PW, the reloads were obviously tapered more and cycled easily.

I ran into the same problem with my 1929 manufactured '97 even though it was in great condition.

I took it apart and cleaned it a bunch to get all the old fouling out of the action. I even dabbed some USGI rifle grease lightly on a few of the mating surfaces. She still requires a bit of arm strength to opperate BUT its a whole lot better than it was and comperable to other M97's i've handled.

Interesting comments on the '97. I've had several of them and they cycled as easy as model 12s for me. You ARE aware that they have Browning's idea of the slide needing to go forward slightly before going to the rear, aren't you? If you hold tension to the rear it will appear hard to cycle. Lighten up on the slide handle and recoil will unlock it. Just a maybe. And of course, keep it clean and properly lubed.

Jim,
I think you hit the nail on the head. It cycles as slick as can be with a little forward motion on the slide. I have shot a lot of slide action shotguns, some in anger, and this is the first one that got my goat. Thanks for confirming my suspicions.

Bill,
I had greased it up a little before going out today and the only thing I accomplished was attracting dirt, fouling and unspent powder. Cleaned her up and followed Jim's advice and things are going great guns.

Thanks to all for the advice,
Harry

Harry I was going to ask if you resized your hulls, but I guess you've got her going.

Harry, I didn't realize that you were having trouble getting it to release after firing. Recoil would usually be sufficient to cause the release just as on the Model 12, but if you hold heavy rearward tension to the rear on the forearm, you can defeat the recoil release. You shouldn't need to consciously push forward on the slide handle. Enjoy your new gun. I don't lubricate mine either. Murphy

Bill,
I have/had Mossberg's, M12's & 1200's, and in Viet Nam we had what I remember to be a Remington. All were easy to operate and the 1200's almost shuck themselves with their rotary bolt. The M97 in question, I suspect, spent most of the last 64 years in a closet. My brother had a M97 40 years ago and I just don't remember how easy or difficult she was to shuck. This gun is tight!

eeb,
I have a MEC Grabber and a 9000 and do pay attention to the resizer. The hulls were not once fired, but were on about their fourth loading. Still they ran smooth as silk through a M12. I bet there was just a loose nut (me) behind the trigger!

Harry

It's the nature of the beast. M97s are not as smooth or slick to pump as the other models you spoke of. If you are not used to them, it takes a little more effort, and attention, to pump them.