IAC Win 1887 clone- Swear by it or swear at it?

[Deadguy]

I saw a new IAC  1887 WInchester clone at a local-ish gun store for less than $500, which is much less than the $1200-$1300+ that many other places want for 1887 clones.  Are these guns OK, or should I just gorget about it?

[Pulp]

I like mine, but I'm not a serious competitor.  They are rough out of the box, but a lot of that can be smoothed up fairly easily. 

If you're thinking about it for Cowboy Action, and you're serious about your scores you'd probably be better off with an "improved model" with the drop two modification.

[Montana Slim]

They don't need much work or mods to have fun. Just a bit of familiarity with the piece shall suffice.
Can't go wrong by dropping 1st round in the chamber, THEN push one down on the carrier. Never have a bobble this way, no fancy modes needed. 'Course you can practice pushing two in together & ensuring the top round chambers as yuo fit them in...again, this won't fail you.

You should already be aware if you want to be the fastest, get a slicked 1897 and single-load. But, these guns have the lowest "style-points", IMHO.

Enjoy the new shotgun

Regards,
Slim

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Hi,

I have a Cap Coyote Norco Model 1887 that I love ... if there are any problems with it, it is from user lack of knowledge.

Cap Coyote 1.)Jewels the action, 2.) installls the 'two feed' system, and in mine at least, I had extensive checkering done.

I have included pics below.

First, 'though, you can actually get a Cap Coyote special sans checkering for about $800.00 ... which you will usually spend in frustratation, gunsmithing and still have a IAC Model 1887 with no credentials.

Or you can go the extra $400.00 and get a completed weapon that is ready to compete with ....

And as many will probably comment about, no matter how soon the gun is promised, figure about six months wait.

(I had an old Baikal SXS that I used 'til the Model 1887 arrived).

[WaddWatsonEllis]

I'm probably beginning to sound like a Cap Coyote commercial, but here is the website;

http://www.coyotecap.com/mod__'87_wcse.htm

It says on the site that he has 20 barrelled models for 724.95....

And again, no matter what is said, I would expect the weapon in about six months ... and if it comes earlier than that, it is a pleasant surprise ....

[Deadguy]

So why are there all those ads in the Cowboy Chronicle advertising 1887 clones for over $1000 if you can get a Coyote Cap ready for serious competition model for under $800?  Are those dealers overestimating demand, or is there another company out there making these at a much higher price?  Anyways, that action jeweling sure is pretty, but does it help with the shooting?

[WaddWatsonEllis]

It's all a matter of what you want in a shotgun, or anything.

If you are a person who likes to tinker and would rather buy something on the cheap side and spend the next six months to a year getting it 'slicked up'; if you receive pleasure from that activity, then the cheap gun is probably what you want.

There is a tremendous feeling of self-satisfaction from taking a rough project and turning it into a 'slicked weapon'. No doubt.

There is also the frustration of going to a meet and being unable to finish it because the weapon you brought is not working.

My preference kinda goes with the old wag that the frustarations of a poorly finished project linger on long after the joy of an inexpensive purchase.

I really like the 'two load' veature he puts in his guns ... namely, one can stack two rounds in one's hand, and one will slide into the chamber and the other will slide into the tube magazine when the lever is closed. I do not believe you will find that on any other Model 87. I haven't researched it, but I believe that is so.

Furthermore, Cap Coyote went to China (where the gun is made), was instrumental in the beginning of the Model '87 program, and changed the manufacturing process to improve the gun.

So the choice is basically yours; you can buy a cheap Model '87 and spend the next six monts to a year fiddling with it (and all the possible gunsmith fees that may entail), or you can get a functional shotgun that fires straight out of the box for about $300 dollars more.

Now take that $300.00 and divide it by the hourly rate a gunsmith charges ... and you might see that buying a weapon with a pedigree and guarantee is not all that bad.

By the way, you might look into the guarantee system that IAC has ... not from IAC, but from people who have had to use them ...

[RRio]

So why are there all those ads in the Cowboy Chronicle advertising 1887 clones for over $1000 if you can get a Coyote Cap ready for serious competition model for under $800?  Are those dealers overestimating demand, or is there another company out there making these at a much higher price?  Anyways, that action jeweling sure is pretty, but does it help with the shooting?

There is another company in Italy, Chiappa that is supposedly importing them. I don't know if they are really available yet or not. Any improvments they have are purely cosmetic.

You cannot go wrong with the Coyote Cap 1887. I have one, and would not trade or sell it for anything!

[Pony Racer]

Pard the more expensive Gun built by Chiappa out of Italy, the cheaper gun is built in China.  I felt the action of a Chiappa gun at a Taylors booth just a few weeks ago and there is no comparison on the smoothness of the action when comparing

Due to waiting period noted in other posts, I got one from a gunstore and sent to my gunsmith that I use out of Surry, VA.  He is a good pard of mine and fellow cowboy shooter and one heck of a gunsmith.

He basically did the same work CC does on the guns and I got mine much quicker.  He shoots an original 1887 and is quite knowledgable on the shotgun.

I ended up very happy at about 550.00.

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Pony Racer,

I am very happy you are pleased with your gun ... as I am pleased with mine.

I think we both got what we asked for, and if that is the worst life dishes out, hey, where's the problem?

Congrats on your 1887...

[44caliberkid]

Deadguy, don't give "under $500" for an IAC.  You should be able to bring one in for closer to $400.  I can get them for $380, sometimes even cheaper at gun shows.  Two years ago they were $280.  So either talk him down or keep looking.

[Bryan Austin]

I like my original made in 1887. $700 already slick with age! Plus my litte drop-two mod  

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Savvy Jack,

Sweet!

Was that the stock length of the barrel or was it shortened at one point?

[Bryan Austin]

Since it was pitted and no longer a collectors item, it was shortened.....so I was told. I love it

[WaddWatsonEllis]

My biggest problem with the gun is that I can't get the lever cocked in time when I have a double target ... some of our targets pop up a clay bird about 20 feet in the air when you shoot the first target ... and it always seems that the clay is just breaking on the ground about the time I get the second shot off ....

But that is operator error and not a fault of the gun.... *S*

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Savvy Jack,

BTW, Cap Coyote (or any other good gunsmith) can put threads in the end of your barrel to place a screw in choke to bring your pattern back in should you ever want to use it for hunting or skeet ....  and then you can buy several chokes to change your pattern according to your needs ...

[Bryan Austin]

Be nice if these replica 87 barrels would fit!

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Savvy Jack,

Send Cap an email and see what he thinks ... I dunno, he might be able to fit a new barrel already threaded for chokes and everything .... perhaps even do some checkering if you wish ....

His email is:

cap@coyotecap.com

[Deadguy]

Ok, IF I decide to buy it, I'll talk him down, or look elsewhere.  I don't mind doing my own gunsmithing, but I'm tempted to just wait a little longer and get the Coyote Cap.  After all, they got us working tons of overtime for the time being, so I might just do that.

[WaddWatsonEllis]

I have written Coyote Cap up so well, I would like to add  a caveat or two.

Coyote Cap does such fantastic work that he is in great demand, both for guns at his shop and to repair guns at the many shows he attends.

He always gives a best-case scenario of when the gun will be ready ... usually around six weeks.

Then a show comes up, some one gets sick, well you get the idea. His best case scenario gets thrown out the window.

I think that the best case is to expect getting the weapon in about six months. If it comes sooner then you are in clover. If it does take six months, that is what you have expected and you have made plans to do without it for that much. So in my case, I bought an old used Baikal SXS that kept me competing, and now that I have the Model 87, the Baikal SXS itself is in the gunsmith's hands being slicked up.

Just a caveat in case you expect the purchase to be instantaneous .... *S*