1897 12 ga shotgun at trap last night

[leslie hetrick]

I took one of my Winchester model 1897,s to our bi-weekly trap shoot, a 12 ga made in 1945 with a full choke 32"barrel. the laughs and giggels stopped after I shot two 20-25,s with it(it shoots very flat) I didn,t beat any one, but I did come within two birds of a few of them(22-25,s). I shot a 24-25 with my browning B-100 trap shotgun.

 

[JimP]

I had a chance to purchase one of these way back when I was 16 for $25 US.

I am still kicking myself in the rear for not doing so.

That is the way to show those others that you don't need a $5000 shotgun to bust targets.

 

[Ridge Top Ranch]

I carried one with the riot barrel when I was down on the Mexican border. Worked for the Wild Bunch!

 

[AZDAVE]

Nice job and good shooting. I have my great grandfather 12 ga made in 1911, and have shot more doves, ducks and geese with it than all the other shotguns I have ever owned. and I literately bought a 16 ga today that was made in 1910. Both are in great shape and are just a classic!

 

[BeeMaa]

Nice shooting sir, and a beautiful shotgun.
The one thing I remember about the 1897 is being able to "slam fire" it.
My grandfather had one and showed me how to do it.
Obviously not the best plan when shooting clays, but still fun.

 

[spike.t]

Have you tried it on the isu skeet layout? ....

 

[leslie hetrick]

I have not tried it on skeet, but have used other pumps(rem 870,s-md 12,s at skeet and I,m a touch to slow for the doubles. sundays trap shoot is for old timers and I,m takeing the win 1897 and a browning A-5 and md-12. I don,t think I,ll hurt the bird population too badly.

 

[spike.t]

....learnt many years ago to shoot clays on ISU skeet ....after more years they changed to English skeet as being slower and easier they thought more people would come and take part . ....

 

[leslie hetrick]

I do like a fast course, for skeet-trap-sporting clays, but I have to use my o/u,s or autos to do any good.

 

[spike.t]

Yup I have a love of brownings...got a A1 special skeet ou..can tell you off top of my head the serial number . From bout 1973 or 4.....dad bought for me ....got my son identical one for his bday few years ago....on here on a thread somewhere ....

 

[leslie hetrick]

yesterday we had out trap shoot using older field shoot guns If any one wanted to, I shot a 24-25 with my A-5 browning 12 ga and a 20-25 with a Charles daly double barrel 12 ga and a 22-25 with the 97 Winchester 12 ga. we had a very good time, my friend steve shot a 25-25 with his Remington 1100 in 12 ga.

 

[curtism1234]

That's a lot better looking than my grandpa's 97. Of course he used to wipe the stock down with motor oil

 

[Shootist43]

Slam fire, what's that??? Hold the trigger & pump? As I recall it can be done very quickly

 

[Areaonereal]

The '97 was a popular riot gun for police use, but gainrd said he much attention during WW1 as a trench gun with a bayonet attachment for the "close in " work. I remember used 97 s selling for very little in the 60's when the Remington 870 was in its heyday. That 97 was a very strong well built gun and will surely be around when many others are only a memory.

 

[Joe P]

Just shot trap this weekend myself. My good friend just happened to tell my a story of when he was younger he showed up to a competition and there was an old farmer, wearing his milk boots and overalls, and he was shooting an 1897. My friend brushed him off quickly but it turned out the guy was lethal with that old gun and embarrassed guys with some high dollar guns. Sounds like a similar case of misjudging a book by its cover.

Good work.

 

[barbells.and.arrows]

Just shot trap this weekend myself. My good friend just happened to tell my a story of when he was younger he showed up to a competition and there was an old farmer, wearing his milk boots and overalls, and he was shooting an 1897. My friend brushed him off quickly but it turned out the guy was lethal with that old gun and embarrassed guys with some high dollar guns. Sounds like a similar case of misjudging a book by its cover.

Good work.

Those guys who seem really unassuming are generally far better than they or their guns appear. Mental sandbagging I swear it's a part of trapshooting.

 

[BeeMaa]

Mental sandbagging I swear it's a part of trapshooting.

Yes, yes it is.
A guy I shoot with...kinda big guy and country looking fella, overalls with only one strap buckled, shooting firearms older than he is.
On a bad day he breaks 48 out of 50 at skeet and he doesn't have very many bad days...
Me on the other hand, I break 50 all the time...it just takes me 4 games to do it.

 

[bullseye-69]

Thats a very nice knuckle buster. I have four of them all 12 ga with different length barrels.
I think on is a 30" barrel.

 

[bullseye-69]

yesterday we had out trap shoot using older field shoot guns If any one wanted to, I shot a 24-25 with my A-5 browning 12 ga and a 20-25 with a Charles daly double barrel 12 ga and a 22-25 with the 97 Winchester 12 ga. we had a very good time, my friend steve shot a 25-25 with his Remington 1100 in 12 ga.

View attachment 249948

I have that same SXS but it has choke tubes in it. Is that made by miroku of Japan? If it is thats a Model 500 like mine. My favorite shotgun.

 

[WAB]

The ‘97 is a great firearm. I had an opportunity to buy a ‘97 trench gun. How cool is that, a short bbl ‘97 with a bayonet lug! I’m still kicking myself over that one!