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November 7, 2015
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Took my ca 1906 1897 out to the club today; did quite well with it on the trap field until I realized I had a pretty good run going, lol. Seems the ejector spring is either broken or weak, spent shell often stays on the bolt held by the right extractor or drops down on the carrier. If I rack it especially hard it will kick it out at my feet. Brownells site not working well, Homestead doesn’t seem to stock it. Some outfit called “Online Outpost” carries some by “Cowboys and Indian” but it doesn’t appear to be a copy of the original part.
Suggestions?
Mike
March 31, 2009
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Can’t tell you how to fix it but I had a cowboy action shooting gunsmith fix mine. He told me this was a common problem.
November 7, 2015
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Chuck-
Apparenty so, just not sure which internet solution is valid. I generally disassemble, clean and analyze but wanted to do my homework first. I know the cowboy shooters are in love with this gun but I don’t like some of their “solutions”. I just “fixed” a highly regarded SASS ‘smith’s treatment of a couple of Vaqueros. I’m not a gunsmith but when I’m done with a gun, it works. Every time, any ammo. Can’t say that for this SASS ‘smith.
The 1897 action is rumored to be similar to the 1912 but I’m seeing lots of differences so I’m going into this with an open mind. Some of the patents from the 1897 were carried over to the 1912 but I’m inclined to treat them as different designs. I really like the minimalist attitude of this design, I don’t hear or see as many parts moving around in this action as the 1912 or the 500 series Mossberg.
Mike
March 31, 2009
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Mike I wish I could remember what he did to fix it. I want to say it was part of the ejection system inside the receiver on the left side. (DUH) Only cost $35 to repair. I was told he passed away so he can’t be reached. His SASS number was 35 and his handle was Ringo. Anyone in SoCal remember Lee’s Gunsmithing? I remember that he told me that most smiths didn’t know how ti fix this problem. Many, many rounds went through this gun and it never failed.
November 7, 2015
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Thanks, Chuck. I didn’t see anything wrong with the ejector spring (probably what Ringo replaced on your gun) but it may be weak, so I ordered a couple. ($3 ea!) I did finally see that the left extractor is broken so I have a new repro extractor and pin coming on the same order from Numrich. Hard rubber butt plate is cracked so I’ll replace it with a repro and set the well-worn original aside before pieces come up missing.
And I was very wrong about the 1897 being a simple design with fewer parts than the M12. Lots of pins, screws and other shiny bits to keep track of. Come to think of it I haven’t detail stripped an M12 so I am probably wrong about it as well.
Also learned this old gun has a slide release, the things you learn from YouTube videos!
Mike
