MN Deer Opener Manyawnah

[stetto]

Wish me luck, boys. I'm goin' in...We have a shiny new hunting road, courtesy the next door neighbor. I plan to use it.

Will report. Stand by...

[stetto]

Well, this morning was a bust, sort of...No deer, though there was plenty of fresh sign. I got started a couple hours late and I'm sure the neighbors spooked what animals were in the area to clear out. But I'll be bahck...

On the bright side, on my way out I checked in with the folks and Thee Olde Man passed on a legacy; He handed me his dad's deer "rifle" (mind you that Dad is 83). It's a Winchester Model 1897 16 gauge takedown, probably from one of the first production years (the 1897 takedown in 16 was made from 1900 to 1931). It was last used in around 1943, when my dad was 13 and on his first hunt. He drew a bead on a "big doe" and the gun wouldn't fire. It hasn't seen a shell since. The butt plate is missing and the thing is dry as all get out, but I'm thinking I can make it work.

[Onepoint]

Wow, those are pretty rare anymore, especially in 16ga.   There are parts available still, some not cheap but the real deal.   http://www.gunpartscorp.com/Manufacturers/Winchester-33573/Shotguns-42603/97Takedown-41826.htm?page=3

The deer around here have been so tame this year you could probably get one with a sharp stick.

[stetto]

The whitetail around here are pretty accustomed to human intrusion too, but shoot just one .300 mag anywhere in their vicinity and they'll scatter like cockroaches.

It took all of 5 minutes to get the Winchester operating like new. A couple drops of Hoppes #9 was all it took. I looked up the serial # and the gun was built in 1907, and knowing my dad's family, was NEVER cleaned since that date. When I first found it wasting away in the folks' attic a few years back it looked like the old unusable display rifle that hangs over a fireplace mantle. She cleans up pretty good, though. there's only the hint of bluing left and a fair amount of pitting on the outside of the barrel/receiver, and unfortunately, a crack runs most of the length of the slide handle.

Nothing on this shotgun is loose. Nothing. It feels as solid as my Benelli (which I heart, btw).

$16 doesn't seem too much for a new butt plate. Thanks much for that link!

[Onepoint]

Heh, I was looking at the 40 dollar ones that were sold out, but for intent and purpose of use the cheap ones will work, but I think they are imported.  China started making knockoffs off the 97s a few years ago.

If its the ribbed slide handle, they have one of those too.

[stetto]

Norinco, right?

Well, the model of shotgun it is takes the bakelite or plastic butt plate, I wouldn't want to have it confused with any of those elite models...

And I saw the ribbed slide handle too. As "sold out" as some of that stuff is, I'd better get on the stick...

So then, did the 97 take 3" or 2&3/4" shells? Pardon my ignernce...

Oh, and another thing. The barrel has "FULL" stamped on it. My (see the above ignernce admission) assumption is that it's a full choke barrel. Aren't those a no-no for slugs?

[Onepoint]

Yeah, it was Norinco.

It should say on the barrel what it takes for shell length, I would imagine its 2 3/4 like the later model 12s and yes the 'full' means its full choke. 

They do have the ribbed handle in stock both the Winchester and Norinco which will fit, or so I have read.

[stetto]

Well, the butt plate is a must, and though it would be kind of cool to restore the old girl to a more respectable grade, it IS a legacy thing, maybe a valuable one in another couple generations, so I won't mess with finish. But I will order a slide handle, for just in case...

But wait--This thing will slam-fire too!! I can get my Chuck Connors on!!

Seven degrees this morning and twenty mph north winds, and me with a good chest cold going on. Terrin won't let me go out today.

[stetto]

Here 'tis







Nowhere does it state what size shell it takes, but if I read correctly on other sites, there used to be 2 & 5/8", 2 & 1/2", maybe more before they standardized to 2 & 3/4". I'm nervous about putting the wrong shell (and load  ) in this gun and ruining something. Dad said he tried to shoot it in '43, were shell sizes standardized by then?

[stetto]

Ok, went to an odd little site called 16ga.com. My gun is short chambered, for 2 & 9/16. I read that some of them will take standard, but I can use 2 & 1/2, yes?

[Onepoint]

Sure, anything shorter works.  Not sure when shell size became standard, not really being a shot gun guy, I always thought they were just even sized  like 2 3/4 or 2 1/2.

I got passed along 2 model 12s which is what replaced the 97, one was dads the other my granddads.  I have them stored away in a closet, though I hunted quite a bit with Dads when I was growing up.

[stetto]

Ah well, the season is over (for me). No deer this time around, though I had one in my sights momentarily yesterday...

There is one day left, today, but I'm done. I think if I go out one more time I'll have the puh-neumonia.

[Onepoint]

Bummer, I am sure if I ever draw for a doe license here I would never see a deer again.  And they are not worth getting new-nemonia or the old one either for that matter.

[stetto]

We have a meat processor friend down the road with 6 kids and a wife, ALL of whom hunt, and the zone they're in allows them two deer each...They almost always fill their tags. When that happens, they look for folks who want or need venison...

So I think one way or another, we'll get our deer...

But when I'm healthy I really enjoy those woods...Except that those woods seem to be getting smaller and smaller. We have neighbors (not just the ones who built a road on Dad's property) who insist on playing without rules or common courtesy. One had his stand planted in the middle of a clearing 150 yards behind the house...I shagged him out by moving up in front of him another 50 and planting myself at the base of a large maple. He was gone in 15 minutes...

[Onepoint]

Someone hunting deer 150 yds from the house here gets return fire.