Winchester 97 vs. Model 11 vs. Norinco 97 trench gun

[thebluemax]

I'm looking for an all around shotgun to use mostly for target shooting/hog hunting and if necessary home defense.. I'm debating which would be a better choice. I had a norinco riot gun without the trench gun mods. I now have a Model 11 Remington that I love. My only complaint on the Rem. is that it's almost a hundred years old and so far hasn't let me down but I don't want to damage the gun shooting buckshot. I've had the short barrel but I'm thinking about finding a 97 with a polychoke and or getting another model 11 with a 28 inch or longer barrel without the choke(my currrent 11 has a polychoke).

What do you guys think would be a better choice?

 

[35Rem]

Nothing wrong with the Model 11. I love em. make sure you set the friction rings properly for the heavy loads. In fact, you can leave it on the heavy setting most of the time, if the gun will cycle your "light" ammo.
http://www.wisnersinc.com/additional_info/remington_11.htm

 

[cpirtle]

Model 11's can be found for much less than a 97. The price on "real" 97's is through the roof in large part because of us damn cowboy shooters. Even the Norinco's have jumped due to supply issues.

I say get the 11 unless you just want a 97, then get one of those, just plan to spend more.

 

[Jack2427]

I have retired my Winchester 97s(3 of em), and now carry one of the Norincos in my squad car. Coyote Cap slicked it up for me and it now cycles better than any of my "real" 97s. Of course the Winchesters were known for being a little stiff for the first 100 years or so.
Why? Because I still carry a revolver, and some of the kids on the job have never seen, much less held a real revolver or a real old time shotgun. I get a kick out of their reactions sometimes.
BTW the slicked up "Chink gun" must have been one of the better ones they made, it really works well. I like it a lot. And I won't cry too much if someone's teeth become embedded in the wood after a butt stroke. If that happend to one of my "real" Winchesters good wood, I would feel really bad (about the wood).

 

[thebluemax]

I know that no gun is maintenance free, but which would be the best for a low maintenance gun that could be repaired with simple hand tools...say in a survival situation. I'm leaning towards the trench gun version.

 

[cpirtle]

Probably none of the above..

The 97 is a pretty complex beast. I have had mine stripped down to every part and while not super complex if I had to bring a shotgun into a situation and field repair was a concern it would be a modern one. Extraction is the achilles heel of the 97 and would be my primary concern.

My first hand experience with an 11 is limited but I would not be suprised to fin out it was almost as complex as a 97.

Keep in mind, these old Winchesters & Remington's were basically hand fitted and built so even when you find replacement parts they are rarely "drop-in's".

Modern guns get the same job done with a lot less moving parts.

 

[thebluemax]

I like the slam fire of the 97 and the handling of the 11. I haven't seen a pump that rivals the 97 and haven't seen any auto's other than a charles daly that went south on my friend.