IAC '97 Shotgun?

[Corpral_Agarn]

Hello THR,

There is a used IAC model '97 shotgun (modeled after the old 1897 Winchester) at a local GS for $300.

Does anyone here have any experience with them?
I have never heard of IAC, but after some searching it seems like they had some hit/miss QC.

This one is pretty simple. Wood stock, no heat shields or anything.

Thanks!

 

[Barry the Bear]

Its an import made in China, they seem to be a direct copy of the ole Winchester, they are of hit and miss quality as you stated, I had one for two weeks, when firing some military 00 buck the action it jammed the action up by attempting to double feed, I did what I could (cleaned and lubed it, complete disassembly) and still couldnt get it running, I sold it and never looked back. My advice, unless you want it for cosmetic/historic purposes put that money towards a Remington or Mossberg. You could also just buy an original winchester if you save up your pennies.

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

Thanks, Barry.

I was hoping for a nice opportunity to play with that old design shotgun.

Will have to start with the pennies...

 

[AeroDillo]

Workable but rough seems to be the general consensus in my part of the world. They pop up under a dozen different names, all of which are Norinco products and none - save the earliest - are marked as such. On the upside, the qualify of furniture tends to be pretty good for the past decade or so and quality control (I think) has tightened up some.

It's important to note that discounting stock and forearm wood, original Winchester parts won't necessarily fit.

Lots of fun when they run, though.

 

[Barry the Bear]

Thanks, Barry.

I was hoping for a nice opportunity to play with that old design shotgun.

Will have to start with the pennies...

Don't know if you care about this, but if you do I will say don't be afraid of shooting "old" guns, I have a stevens 520 takedown in 16 ga made in the late 30's to early 40's that still runs like a champ. Provided the firearm was cared for and you aint stuffing down no brenneke black magic magnum elephant killer zombie slayer rounds youll be fine.

 

[rallyhound]

lots of 97 info here
http://coyotecap.com/mod__93-97_wcse.html

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

Don't know if you care about this, but if you do I will say don't be afraid of shooting "old" guns, I have a stevens 520 takedown in 16 ga made in the late 30's to early 40's that still runs like a champ. Provided the firearm was cared for and you aint stuffing down no brenneke black magic magnum elephant killer zombie slayer rounds youll be fine.

Nah, no black magic magnum elephant killer rounds for me!

Love shooting old guns. One of my favorite double action revolvers is circa 1936.

The hard part for me is finding out what to look for with particular models.

lots of 97 info here
http://coyotecap.com/mod__93-97_wcse.html

Checking that out.

Thanks!

 

[dieselchief]

I purchased one of the cap blessed shotguns from ahlmans in mn. good gun. used it a lot for cowboy action. I have a original winchester now.

 

[Bushpilot]

I have had one for several years now with no problems. There is a website for cowboy action shooting and guns that goes into quite a lot of detail regarding the creation and development of the Norinco 97s, including which ones are known to be more problematic or more trouble free and how to tell the difference. I've looked but so far I can't find the web site. It's not the same one rallyhound mentioned but that looks like a good site also. If I do find it I'll pass it along. All I can tell you is that I've shot original Winchester 97s, both very clean ones and very beat up examples and my Norinco 97 functions about the same as the clean old Winchesters do. The only difference is that mine might be a little tighter. Maybe I just got a good one.