Whitey James Posted November 6 Share Posted November 6 I took my "new" '97 down and gave her a good cleaning and shot a few rounds to test function. I can only get 5 in the tube. The 6th one is about a quarter inch or so shy of going in. Other than snipping some of the spring, is buying a Wolff spring a better way to go? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garrison Joe Posted November 6 Share Posted November 6 (edited) Wolff most likely has to be snipped too to make 6 rounds fit. There are kits available with a replacement follower which is shorter than the Winchester (or Chinese) original. Those help, but they also replace the spring with a shorter length, IIRC. I've got 3 of the IAC 97 clones which will take 6 rounds in mag AND feed perfectly well with only a spring cut back to be 5" longer than the total magazine tube (that is, with all the guts out of the magazine, action closed, the forward end of the uncompressed spring is 5" longer than the mag tube body itself). That includes the factory follower being used. Snipping a spring is free - the 6 shot conversion last time I looked is about $40. If you make a mistake, order a new 12 gauge spring for a Rem 870. Same diameter and strength, and easily available. $7 last time I bought one. good luck, GJ Edited November 6 by Garrison Joe 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey James Posted November 7 Author Share Posted November 7 23 hours ago, Garrison Joe said: Wolff most likely has to be snipped too to make 6 rounds fit. There are kits available with a replacement follower which is shorter than the Winchester (or Chinese) original. Those help, but they also replace the spring with a shorter length, IIRC. I've got 3 of the IAC 97 clones which will take 6 rounds in mag AND feed perfectly well with only a spring cut back to be 5" longer than the total magazine tube (that is, with all the guts out of the magazine, action closed, the forward end of the uncompressed spring is 5" longer than the mag tube body itself). That includes the factory follower being used. Snipping a spring is free - the 6 shot conversion last time I looked is about $40. If you make a mistake, order a new 12 gauge spring for a Rem 870. Same diameter and strength, and easily available. $7 last time I bought one. good luck, GJ Yeah, I saw the mag follower/spring kits on eBay last night and it was just shy of $40. Guess it would be a better idea to buy the 870 spring and start trimming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey James Posted November 11 Author Share Posted November 11 (edited) I ordered the aftermarket follower/spring. I'll let you know how it goes. The buttstock has cracks on either side where it connects to the receiver. Anyone tried the Boyd's stocks? Mine is currently wearing a set of the synthetic 3D printed "wood" furniture and I really want real wood. Edited November 11 by Deplorable Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boggus Deal Posted November 11 Share Posted November 11 33 minutes ago, Deplorable Dan said: I ordered the aftermarket follower/spring. I'll let you know how it goes. The buttstock has cracks on either side where it connects to the receiver. Anyone tried the Boyd's stocks? Mine is currently wearing a set of the synthetic 3D printed "wood" furniture and I really want real wood. Your stock can be fixed as long as it’s all there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey James Posted November 11 Author Share Posted November 11 The previous owner glued it on both sides but the crack is still very visible. Not sure how well it will hold up. I have the original corn cob forend but not exactly sure how to replace it. can't really find much info on the interwebs for that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boggus Deal Posted November 11 Share Posted November 11 I have a way of repairing the stock that you will break other parts before it will break again. Does the fore end have three screws holding it on or is the nose cap slotted? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey James Posted November 11 Author Share Posted November 11 there are small slots on either side at the top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garrison Joe Posted November 11 Share Posted November 11 (edited) Slots in the retaining cap (at forward end of the slide handle) for the action slide, it sounds like. I have successfully used the Boyd's 97 fore-end wood to replace a real Winchester 97 fore-end which used that slotted retainer cap. Brownells had a spanner wrench that I bought 10 years ago for Winchester 12 and 97 model fore-end retainers. Works well. With some care, though, a flat end punch will USUALLY let you CAREFULLY drive the cap around far enough to let you unscrew the rest of the way by hand. Slightly different design than the one I have: https://www.brownells.com/tools-cleaning/gun-tools/shotgun-tools/winchester-model-12-double-ended-forend-wrench/ Midway shows this wrench out of stock now. But by the time you order wood, it might be back in stock. https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1007012423?srsltid=AfmBOopPuDQdLydQsJJEt2SOwaPprUHov0RHSBofymO8N2ECiBD0HozD&pid=976945 good luck, GJ Edited November 11 by Garrison Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey James Posted November 12 Author Share Posted November 12 so the cap unscrews? is it clockwise or counter? lefty loosely? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boggus Deal Posted November 12 Share Posted November 12 4 minutes ago, Deplorable Dan said: so the cap unscrews? is it clockwise or counter? lefty loosely? Yes, the cap unscrews. They can be VERY tight. I use a system engineered by the Winchester service department. It helps prevent slippage of the wrench and splitting of the fore end. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boggus Deal Posted November 12 Share Posted November 12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey James Posted November 12 Author Share Posted November 12 Just ordered the tool from Numrich Gun Parts Corporation Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey James Posted Tuesday at 05:50 PM Author Share Posted Tuesday at 05:50 PM I installed the new Boyd's hardwood stock and it looks great! no fitting needed. I am going to keep the original one but I threw the ugly synthetic 3D printed junk in the trash. The foregrip was a breeze with the tool 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deacon KC Posted 5 hours ago Share Posted 5 hours ago Boyd's makes good stuff! Looks good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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