Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns Anybody Hunt with a Winchester 1897?

Just what it says, does anybody still hunt with a Winchester '97? I've always had a hankering for a nice one in 16ga. Ideally, I'd like to have a late production one with modified choke. It's hard to find a 97 that isn't beat to hell and/or butchered with crappy recoil pads and what-not. I do have a opportunity at one made in 1926 in really nice unaltered condition, but being a '26, it will be short chambered. It is also factory cylinder bore. I think it is a genuine "Brush Gun" but I haven't seen it in 5 years. Now that RST is starting to get in limited quantities of 2.5" shells again, I'm thinking about getting it. The cylinder bore and short chamber isn't ideal, but it might be fun for opening day doves or "kick bird" quail. Just curious if anybody still hunts with one in 2023...

I hunt a '51 12ga with a full choke at least once a year, heavy shot for ducks and geese. Reaches way out there with authority.

It is my late wife's great-grandfather's gun passed to me several years ago to be used. Hope someday to pass it on to a son-in-law or grandson, my daughters are not fond of a heavy 12 gauge.

I always wonder if this year will be the year it cuts the crap out of my right hand while shucking it, that cocking mechanism is sharp as hell.

The 1897 is a good field gun for me, in either 12 or 16 gauge flavor.

They are my SASS guns and are familiar tools, but they are not restricted to poppers and fliers. They do a great job on doves and turkeys when the time is right. Threading them for chokes has made them even more versatile and practical.

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