1897 pump shotgun

[Strawberry Bill]

Which clones are best, Norinco, EMF or TTN International

[sweettooth]

 Short Answer
  I.A.C. Norinco  serial # begining 04 or 06. Make sure it is an I.A.C. Norinco Not just a norinco.
  They are getting hard to find I believe . there was one on guns america  not sure of the ser #. and pricey compared to last year.
Non on gunbroker. 
    Might try Outlaw Gambler , he knows what a good shotgun is. And a good reputation.
     Your milage may vary of course. I am no shotgun expert , just listened to a few.
                 
            H.C. Sweettooth   

[Deadguy]

I have a C.A.I. 1897 replica made in Commie Chinna (I know, bad, bad, but where the heck else are you going to get them???) and it had never let me down, not even with blackpowder loads.

[Marauder]

Another vote for the IAC and late Norinco imports (Same manufacturer, just changed importers.)

IAC guns have better quality control, although not perfect.  The others make some that work well, but the quality varies much more.  Some of the C.A.I. guns work, others are really poor.  So it is best to buy from someone you can trust - and hopefully you can handle before you buy.  Or have a 3 day inspection - let someone knowledgeable check it out and return it if it isn't right.

[Bulls Head Bill]

Stay with the I.A.C. shotguns.

I.A.C. has done it's homework well!!!

http://iacshotguns.com/97w.html

Other Chinese 97's are NOT TOO GOOD! 

[Captain Bob Masterson]

6th generation IAC serial # begining in 06 by all means. Here's a link to my evaluation of my own 6th generation IAC 97 I did in December of 2006: http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,12503.0.html
Hope this helps.

Captain Bob Masterson

[Outlaw Gambler]

  Having dealt with most all makes and models of the 97, here is how I would rank them.
1. Original Winchester
2. IAC
3. Cimarron
4. TTN
I used to think the TTN was really a #2 or #3 but can't get parts for them and they are very scarce.  For some reason some 97 gunsmiths won't work on them at all.  The Cimarron is an excellent choice, made by Polytech.  It comes standard with hard chrome bore and chamber which should make black powder shooter very happy, choke tubes, #5 brass bead sight, 1" rubber butt pad cut with bottom cut at negative angle so it won't catch and hang up on your clothing when putting on or taking off of your shoulder.  NOTE:  very few, if any, replica's are ready to go to a match right out of the box.  If you want them smooth you have to have some action work done to them.   You can get started with any of the above four 97's for about $400 to $450 without action work and some originals will already be smooth for that price.

[Three Fingered Fred]

Want to slick up that '97?  Unwind the screw on the carrier, it regulates the hammer tension.

I guess I lucked out, my '97 is a 2nd gen IAC(norinco) w/a modified choke and never misses a lick. 

[Texas Lawdog]

I like my Norinco 97 just fine. I had the action smoothed up a little. My only complaint is the color of the stock and forehand.

[boot strap jack]

I have a CAI 97, it worked, but not smooth. Sent it to Coyote Cap, Now is one fine gun. He did some welding and machining to make it right.
BSJ

EDIT go with IAC
BSJ

[Pancho Peacemaker]

Coyote Cap offered his own modified IAC 97.  It was model number 97wcse-18. (Not to be confused with the current 93/97 he offers).

He stopped offering these back in 06 or 07.  This model bares his engraved signature.

These are IAC's that have an action job, 4 degree cut buttstock with pad, barrel cut to 18.5" with win choke system installed and a big #4 brass bead.  These shotguns are strong and run like the wind.  Cycling one of these next to a stock IAC is like night and day.  They are hard to find, but you do see them on SASS wire and on gunbroker once in a while.  If you find one, I'd snatch it up quick.

I think Cap will still take a stock IAC and do a great action job for you.

Pancho