Cas City Forum Hall & CAS-L
Special Interests - Groups & Societies => Shotguns => Topic started by: willy on February 07, 2018, 06:44:53 PM
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How many different companies made/make reproductions of the Winchester 97?..And which are the ones to buy,,,and which one should a person avoid?
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I've gotten good service out of my Norinco 97 Trench gun (Wild Bunch) but it's not my main match sg. I switch between a mismatched Winchester 97 and non sass legal Marlins. Don't have any experience with any other 97s.
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I also have a Norinco 97. I only use it for for Wild Bunch matches. After a bit of work by our club's Gunsmith it has been been a reliable firearm.
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Then there is the TTN / Cimarron. A little different than other Chinese guns, has screw-in choke, chrome lined barrel, standard Winchester screw sizes, and a rubber buttpad. They have been made in a couple of different factories. I have a good one (so far) but quality is iffy in general. Some gunsmiths don't want to work on them. They are currently available from Cimarron.
Norinco hasn't been imported for a number of years. Most imports over the last number of years (and currently) are IAC, and that is what a lot of folks are shooting that don't have the older Norinco.
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I haven't personally played with a '97 for about 8 - 10 years. Personal reasons, I just didn't see them as being "Cowboy." Fowling that caveat, the Norinco guns from the last couple of years of their production were pretty good guns. Norinco is now on a federal import ban so there aren't any new guns or parts. IAC marketed nice guns. I haven't any personal experience with the TTN/Cimarron '97 so I won't comment. HOWEVER:
Best bet is an original Winchester that hasn't been buggered up. Winchester only made about a million and a half of them so there are still a bunch still out there hiding in folks closets. Baring that, I'd go with the Cimarron.
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a coupla years ago, I pick up an I.A.C. Trench gun, the idea at the time was venture into Wild Bunch ....
The gun had been purchased buy a Gun Shop partner for his own ,
but he was shortly there after involve in personal domestic litigations.
His collection had to be sold, so the Shop ( my favorite FFL ) put several pieces for the collection on consignment...
I wound up with 3 or four of his unfired acquisitions .... this one for $400 NIB.
I installed a Wild Bodie Tom designed 6-round conversion kit, Per Coffin Maker's suggestion. Inspected and smoothed a few burrs .
Has the desirable 06 serial number.
Works a champ ....and being a Trench gun not legal for CAS ...ain't Cowboy anyway ::)
I did not get hurt ;) even though Wild Bunch went belly up in these parts...
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Thanks for the replies guys. :)