1897 Failure to Fire

[Payday Paul]

Howdy all,

I've got an original Winchester '97 which is giving me frequent failures to fire.  If I pump real agressively, it fires most every time near as I can tell.  But if I pump it in anything less than an aggressive manner - using what I would think of as "normal" force - it almost always fails.  The shell's primer gets dimpled, but apparently not hit hard enough to ignite.  If I pull the pump part-way back (not far enough to eject) and then SLAM it forward and pull the trigger, the same shell will almost always fire.

I've tried adjusting the main spring tension, but that seems to have no effect other than making the action tighter when I tighten the screw, and visa-versa.  Maybe I haven't moved it far enough yet.  Any ideas?  Thanks!!!

[Hemlock Mike]

Is the bolt locking into battery ??  I have similar trouble with mine using hand loads if I  have a bulge at the crimp.  They gotta chamber completely - you don't want it to go BOOM when not in battery.

Mike

[Payday Paul]

Thanks for the reply, Mike!

Well, I'll have to give that a look-see.  I thought it was goin' into battery, but now that you mention it, that would account for the symptoms...I think!

I'll post my findings.