Get 1937 Model 97 cleaned or leave well enough alone?

[bushmaster1313]

Traded a Model 88 for a 1937 Model 97 riot.

It feeds and ejects snap caps properly.

Should I get it professionally cleaned and lubed, or if I find that it operates properly with live shells should I leave well enough alone.leave well enough alone?

My main concern is the possibility of rust in the magazine and condition of the magazine spring.

 

[Owen Sparks]

Can you not clean it yourself?

As long as you don't alter it by refinishing the stock or rebluing, cleaning and oiling it is a good idea. Modern shotshells are non-corrosive but the gunk that they leave behind can attract and hold moisture from humid air and that moisture promotes rust which is like cancer to metal and should be removed. Magazine tubes are especially prone to rust.

 

[bushmaster1313]

I am not prepared to take it apart my self.
Question is whether to let it be or get it taken apart and cleaned by a professional who has the right screwdrivers and will not leave any parts on the bench after they are done

 

[pikid89]

theres no better way to really learn how your gun works than to take it apart and really get to know the guts

http://marauder.homestead.com/files/Model97down.html

 

[bushmaster1313]

theres no better way to really learn how your gun works than to take it apart and really get to know the guts

I have gotten the bolt and trigger group out of and back into the following shotguns:

Remington 31 (trigger group was numbered to gun)
High Standard Flight King
Mossberg 500
Remington 870
Ithaca 37


But, the Model 97 is a JBM design

Taking apart a clunker Model 97 would probably be fun.

 

[Germster]

Open the bolt and put some gun grease on the sliding parts. All you've got to do is to remove the barrel and clearn it. No need to take it down any farther than that. Your gun looks clean and I'll bet it's been well taken care of. Don't squire WD 40 in there. Rem Oil is fine and use it.

Your guns are self defense guns, so you won't be shooting them often, so take them out and plink with them, then clean them, oil them properly and put them away. Then after a few years, do it again.

 

[bushmaster1313]

Solid frame 97 so barrel stays on

 

[Rshooter]

Take it to a gunsmith if you are not comfortable fully disassembling and most importantly reassembling the gun. Ask if you can watch.

 

[Germster]

Beautiful collection of old Winchester riot guns. Congratulations!

When working the action of your 97 remember to keep your hand well back on the wrist. If you let your hand slide forward on the grip that bolt can remove skin.

 

[Red Cent]

I would guess you are not going to shoot a couple hundred rounds a month.

After each cowboy match, I spray clean mine with RemOil. Open the action and liberally spray inside the receiver, bolt, mag tube opening, and barrel. Prop up barrel down with the barrel on a soak 'em up rag. Go drink a beer or a cup of coffee. Or both. Spray/rinse liberally again. I use an "artist" paint brush for stuuborn stuff. The Remoil will dissolve the black stuff.

I have a couple air compressors but I usually use the portable one. I firmly believe they come hand in hand with gun cleaning. If you do not have one, prop the shotgun barrel down again and let drain over night. Wipe down.

I have been doing this for years. Once in a great while, I will totally dis-assemble the working parts of the '97.

 

[Rodman579]

thats a beauty of a 97 you got there. if you ever part with it let me know. if you are going to shoot the gun make sure you have the chamber and forcing cone lenghtened. they are great guns i have many of them. good luck with it.

 

[JohnBT]

Why would a 1937 gun need the chamber lengthened? The Model 1897 got a 2.75" chamber in 1912 according to everything I've ever read.

That gun is so nice I wouldn't worry about the springs or anything else. I'd take it apart anyway for the heck of it.

 

[bushmaster1313]

Gun operated well with Fiochi 12LE00BK (reduced recoil 00 buck)

So much fun I did not notice any recoil even with the hard butt plate.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Great!! Now, go shoot it some more......

 

[Red Cent]

The 2 3/4" chambering in most US shotguns didn't happen untilthe early 30s.

"Early in the century, shotgun chambering lengths were kind of loosey goosey all over the world. lf you own an American shotgun made before the mid-1930's, or a European one made before World War II, it is entirely possible you have a short- chambered shotgun in your gun cabinet. It wasn't until the 1930's that 2-3/4" chambering became the standard in The U.S. The famous Browning "Sweet 16" semi-automatic, for example, was originally chambered for 2-9/16" shells -- and Browning still offers a program to convert these old beauties to accept 2-3/4' shells."

http://www.billhanusbirdguns.com/archive01.html

This is an ongoing discussion. I really do not believe there was certain day they started doing the 2 3/4". You may well have a 2 3/4" or the a shorter one. There is an inexpensive fix with additional benefits. Have someone lengthen the forcing cone. This simply removes the abrupt angle in front of the round and effectively lengthens the chamber. No parts, just labor and, maybe, a little added for wear and tear on the reamer. I am not a professional gunsmith and I have done this to all my '97s. Cutting oil and some patience.
The added benefit: The pressure curve is spread out and "perceived" recoil is diminished. Think of the pressure curva as an upside down V as opposed to an upside down U.

 

[OpticsPlanet]

Clean and lube it as good as you can just like you would any other quality firearm. I would not worry about gunk in the mag tube or the spring too much, since it's a pump and not an auto, it will probably be just fine. That gun is built like a tank! In some parts of the country, they are using old 97's with tight chokes to compete at shooting playing cards at various distances. Clean it, shoot it, enjoy it!

George P.

 

[logjam]

Took my 1923 Model 12 Win to the gunsmith. Asked him to measure the chamber length. He dropped in his gauge and said, "yep, it's short alright. I've never seen a short Model 12 before". I don't think he'd messed with one made in 1923. He lengthened it and eased the forcing cone.

I've got a 97 too and have only shot it a couple of times. Shoot the Model 12 now, which has lost most of its blue, but I like it that way.