Winchester model 1897 12gauge

Your 97 almost certainly is chambered for 2 9/16" shells, not the 2 3/4" shells that are standard today. (That's fired length, not loaded length). Short shells are available, or you can load your own cut down hulls.

I have read that if the SN is below 568841, there is a possibility that the barrel is Damascus Steel. Then you should probably either use Black powder loads or hang the gun on a wall.

As far as the Maglite goes (not a bad idea, I'll have to remember that one), if the gun is choked Full and your others have less constriction, that may be the problem. I don;t know how tight the 97s were choked, but a Full would run about 0.694" at the muzzle.

DC

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