Norinco 97 Trench Gun Takedown?

[Hypnogator]

I am doing some preliminary planning for a motorcycle trip through Canada to Alaska. Since I can't take my Redhawk through Canada, I'm considering a take-down rifle or shotgun for bear medicine when we camp. The Alaskan Copilot Marlin conversion would be great, but $1,800.00 is a bit pricey for a weapon I'm not likely to use often, if ever. I've been considering a Norinco 12-ga trench gun as an alternative, but need something that will break down to fit in the back bag on my bike. Does the Norinco break down like the later Winchester 97's (and my old Model 12 trap gun)? How are they for reliability firing heavy slug loads?

Thanx.

 

[dickwholliday]

Norinco's are not takedown......they seem to give more trouble than the originals....they puke all the time at our cowboy matches.....before i'd bet my butt on one i'd give it one helluva shakedown period....maybe like a year or two.....DICK

 

[Hypnogator]

Thanks, Dick. That's just what I needed to know.

Guess I'll have to look for a reasonably priced original Model 97. If there be such a thing.

 

[Hutch]

Is the re-assembly time an issue? Is it quicker to put '97 into battery than it is to put the barrel back on an 870? I've got a NorChester 97 for cowboying, and <crosses fingers> so far, so good.

 

[dickwholliday]

i should also say that i like the trenchguns enough that i've ordered one to raffle off at our Friends of NRA banquet to be held on 9/13.....can't wait to see how it looks......Dick

 

[FPrice]

There have been a lot of messages posted on the SG forum at Dick Culver's website ( www.jouster.com ) about the Norinco's and most of it has been positive. They seem to be MUCH less expensive than shootable original Model 97's and much easier to find. IIRC most people were finding them for less than $400.

Apparently the earlier models were trouble-prone but later versions seem to be better in that aspect. However, no one will ever mistake them for Reminnton's, Winchesters, or even Mossbergs in the internal fit and finish. They seem to take some breaking in but once done, are pretty reliable.

I have one and am glad I bought it, but I do not have that much experience with it yet, nor am I a SG expert by any means. However I would recommend one of the newer ones as a good SG for Cowboy shooting.

 

[Detritus]

As FPrice says, on the norinco latest edition, GOOD most 99.9% of the design and manufacturing bugs worked out, just needs to be broke in good. now the guns from first 2 or so batches imported, were so bad that you'd put enough into them getting a smith to fix the things that you were within a few dollars of a "shooter" original '97

also it looks likt Norinco may be dumping the "apple crate #3" POS, orange painted, balsa-like stocks for good decent american Walnut on ALL their '97s (haven't seen any reacently that were NOT walnut stocked).

BTW ALL of the trench gun repros are built on the latest "generation" of guns (the one will all the major Snafus worked out) and all that i've seen are stocked with American walnut.

been thinking of getting one of these and a 1917 Enfield Bayonet, and have my own "flanders Frog-gig" (sorry sick joke)