Winchester 97 16 gauge 2 9/16 question

[rperyam]

My grandson likes the sound of a pump shotgun. So do, but I normally shoot one of my 20 gauge double barreled shotguns. My father-in-law gave me an old Winchester 97 in 16 gauge about 40 years ago. It had a few problems so it has sat in the safe ever since. I took it to our gunsmith to get it shooting and he told me it was for 2 9/16 inch shells. The gun was made in 1903 and is full choke. He said low base 2 3/4 inch shells would be fine in this gun. We would just use it for hand thrown clay pigeons. What do you think? Anything I should watch out for?

 

[troy fairweather]

Never use a longer shell even if lower pressure. Low brass doesn't always mean lower pressure either. I'd have it reamed out for modern plastic shells.

 

[PWC]

If you use paper hulls, watch out for the confetti that will look like bird feathers. When you eject the hull, the first 1/4" will be shreaded; not feathers.

I have personal knowledge /experience (1962) with this from my fathers double barrel 12 ga. Plastic hulls...don't know.

 

[Cokeman]

I used to buy the correct shells at Cabela’s until they stopped stocking them. Mine is a 1927 16 gauge Model 12. You used to be able to find them online.

 

[BigBlue 94]

Ive run 2.75" birdshot shells through my 16ga 1897. Dunno what year it is, but its somewhere around 120 years old. Worked just fine.

 

[Seedy Character]

A gunsmith can cut the chamber from 2 9/16" to 2 3/4" easily.

Works great.

Using longer, modern shells in the short chamber CAN get some dangerous, high pressures.

 

[BigBlue 94]

A gunsmith can cut the chamber from 2 9/16" to 2 3/4" easily.

Works great.

Using longer, modern shells in the short chamber CAN get some dangerous, high pressures.

Understood and agreed. Ive only ran maybe 10-15 shells through it since i bought it about 8 years ago. And they were standard velocity bird shot. I did recently score some solid brass hulls that are 2 9/16" long. Gonna try some holy black in them.

Got the '97 in a package deal with a 1873 Winchester in 32-20. Best deal ive probably ever done. Both function flawlessly and had been in one family since new.