US Military Guy Posted September 2, 2020 Share #1 Posted September 2, 2020 Was this shotgun ever used by the US military? It is supposed to be marked "FULL" choke with a 20 1/2" barrel. I have never even seen 16 gauge US military ammunition. Second question which might explain the first question. Can you install a 16 gauge barrel on a 12 gauge receiver on the Model 97? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Flick Posted September 2, 2020 Share #2 Posted September 2, 2020 During the early part of WW2 the Government purchased pretty much every shotgun it could find. There were many 16 gauge shotguns swept up in that blanket procurement program but I can't say if any were Winchester Model 97s. To feed those guns the military purchased 16 gauge ammunition. The 2 pics below illustrate Remington and Western examples. These photos were originally posted elsewhere on the Forum by member RobinB. Regards, Charlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
US Military Guy Posted September 2, 2020 Author Share #3 Posted September 2, 2020 That is great news! Except now I evidently need to be hunting for something else I don't have in The Collection. Thanks a bunch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinb Posted September 2, 2020 Share #4 Posted September 2, 2020 A 20.5" barrel that is also marked FULL has been cut off. To be a riot or trench gun it would be marked CYL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
US Military Guy Posted September 2, 2020 Author Share #5 Posted September 2, 2020 1 hour ago, robinb said: A 20.5" barrel that is also marked FULL has been cut off. To be a riot or trench gun it would be marked CYL. Yes, I thought that was correct. The barrel is too long by 1/2", if provided measurements are correct and never marked "FULL". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
US Military Guy Posted September 2, 2020 Author Share #6 Posted September 2, 2020 Another possibility on the barrel markings and length - Is it possible the original gun (not initially manufactured for the US military - but accepted at a later date) was built with a longer barrel and then the US military cut it off? I know I am grasping at straws here, but other than the obvious (somebody stamped the ordnance bomb on a civilian barrel) why does the excessively long and "FULL" marked barrel have an ordnance bomb? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinb Posted September 2, 2020 Share #7 Posted September 2, 2020 I have a model 12 Winchester that has the FULL lined out and restamped CYL and the barrel cut off by the military. But it's in 12 gage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
US Military Guy Posted September 2, 2020 Author Share #8 Posted September 2, 2020 4 hours ago, robinb said: I have a model 12 Winchester that has the FULL lined out and restamped CYL and the barrel cut off by the military. But it's in 12 gage. So it is possible. Has the barrel also got the ordnance bomb stamp? I don't suppose your barrel is cut to 20 1/2 inches? Maybe the guy at the shop that day had a bad tape measure and forgot to line out FULL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinb Posted September 3, 2020 Share #9 Posted September 3, 2020 In my opinion, that 16 gage gun is not military. At least not a military riot gun conversion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
US Military Guy Posted September 3, 2020 Author Share #10 Posted September 3, 2020 6 hours ago, robinb said: In my opinion, that 16 gage gun is not military. At least not a military riot gun conversion. I agree. I don't think the buyer is going to like that, but I still agree. On another note, at least I learned I need to keep my eyes open for a box of that ammo. Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
everforward Posted September 3, 2020 Share #11 Posted September 3, 2020 16 hours ago, US Military Guy said: Another possibility on the barrel markings and length - Is it possible the original gun (not initially manufactured for the US military - but accepted at a later date) was built with a longer barrel and then the US military cut it off? I know I am grasping at straws here, but other than the obvious (somebody stamped the ordnance bomb on a civilian barrel) why does the excessively long and "FULL" marked barrel have an ordnance bomb? I’m pretty sure that the Air Corps used long-barreled shotguns for training leading and trailIng fire in Anti-Aircraft training.....I will have to review Canfields book but I believe he mentions them, some of them being made under contract IIRC........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
US Military Guy Posted September 3, 2020 Author Share #12 Posted September 3, 2020 12 minutes ago, everforward said: I’m pretty sure that the Air Corps used long-barreled shotguns for training leading and trailIng fire in Anti-Aircraft training.....I will have to review Canfields book but I believe he mentions them, some of them being made under contract IIRC........ I have a Savage 720. The barrel is marked FULL, but at one time someone installed a "corn cob" adjustable choke on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now