WB
We have an old 1897 WInchester, they made them till 1957
Friday, April 03, 2020, 09:31

Most folks don't know that, the model 12 also was made right along beside it. In fact the front half is not much different on them. Having said that I do not care much for the M97 at all. My thumb gets in the way of the bolt and I can't grasp the hammer too well. I find the M12 far superior and have one of those too. I'd still like to get myself one in 20 ga. The 16 and 20 are on a smaller frame than the 12 ga.

You can adjust a loose M97 with the adjuster ring around the threads on the back of the barrel stub. They are changeable too. Different sizes kind of like the bolt heads on a LEE Enfield. Lots of folks don;t know that. So if you find a loose one you don't have to pass on it, just factor another $50 to get the right ring or maybe the one on it has some adjustment left. Usually it does, BONUS!

All M97's are take down as are M12, but they did make a solid frame M12 sort of, it's called a M25 Winchester and a fine, fine gun. You just can't break it down for storage of cleaning like a M97 or M12.

Shotshells are interesting. Virtually all gauges fir the pellets at exactly the same velocity, no matter a .410 or 8 gauge. The .410 just does not have as many in the charge where the 8 bore has a handful! Where a small bore the fewer pellets mean they are farther apart and less likely to hit vitals, the more dense patters has a better change for a hit in the neck or head! Pellets bounce off a Turkey's feathers from a little ways off but will anchor them with a neck or head shot. Loading shotshells is so different than metallic cartidges that it's an entire different topic. Only the very basics apply, primer, powder, charge. While magnum primers to exist all shotshells domestic use the same #209 primer irregardless of gauge. Really an art, shotshells.