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Winchester 97 dis-assembly question

chaz12
I recently bought a Winchester '97 12 ga. at a gun show. The seller told me that it had a wooden dowel inserted in the magazine to limit the capacity to 3 shells (he said it had to do with some hunting regulations) You can hear the dowel slide down the magazine tube when you raise or lower the barrel.

I would like to remove this dowel. I assume the only way to do so would be to get the end cap of the magazine tube off.

I have removed the two screws that are located at the end of the magazine tube and pushed the locking pin out as far as it will go. The end cap still does not want to come off. Is there something else I need to do to get it off? Is this something I should not mess with and maybe let someone more experienced work on it?

Thanks for any help.

Chaz
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Comments

3 comments

Date Votes
  • jnmiller75
    You must pull the locking pin all the way out. It also holds the end cap in place.
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  • only winchesters
    Hello chaz12: Well assuming you had both screws out and the locking pin completely out, the spring should have pushed the mag plug out! There could be a little corrosion build up inside the tube preventing the mag plug from moving. Stand the gun up in the corner, with the barrel on the floor and spray some pentrating oil, or liquid wrench, or gun scrubber etc. into the mag tube and let it set for a couple of days. If that doesn't work go to the hardware store buy a 1/4 in diameter wood dowel, (they are usually 36 in long, then feed it into the tube like you were loading it. Once it bottoms out give it a push or two, or tap the dowel end with a small hammer or mallet, it will come out.

    The seller was correct for waterfowl hunting the mag. capacity had to be reduced to hold no more than 2 shells, (one in the chamber, 2 in the mag, for a total of 3) some states require it for all bird hunting.

    Regards Dave
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  • chaz12
    Thanks very much to everyone who responded. Now I know what to do next.

    Chaz
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