1897 shortened mag follower

[Blackhawk Bantry]

I'm getting a Norinco 1897 shotgun and I'm making a shortened aluminum magazine follower on the lathe in order to fit 6 rounds instead of 5 (see pictures).

 

I have some questions about the dimensions.

 

1.) As of now, I think the follower is a bit oversized in diameter at 0.96 inches at the thickest places. What's the inside diameter of a Norinco 1897 magazine tube and what would be the optimal diameter for the follower to fit in the tube nicely?

 

2.) Also, about the length, I read somewhere that the follower should be about 3/8 of an inch shorter than the original follower to fit an extra cartridge in the magazine, so I ended up with just below 1.46 inches in length. Is that good or should I turn it shorter?

 

/Blackhawk Bantry

 

 

Edited December 2 by Blackhawk Bantry
typo

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

I can't answer the question. 

But nice work 🙌

[Blackhawk Bantry]

8 minutes ago, Rooster Ron Wayne said:

I can't answer the question. 

But nice work 🙌

Thanks!

[Tex Jones, SASS 2263]

Wouldn't it be easier to cut the magazine spring?

 

[Eyesa Horg]

2 minutes ago, Tex Jones, SASS 2263 said:

Wouldn't it be easier to cut the magazine spring?

 

That's all I did on my Norinco, but don't recall by how much.

[Outlaw Gambler]

I shorten the spring on them. If it is the original Norinco/IAC spring it normally needs 4 - 4 1/2 links removed. Start by clipping 3, and then 1/2 more until it fits 6 in the tube. The follower does not affect how many shells fit the tube. The spring fits inside the follower and it's length determines how many shells the tube holds. 

[Blackhawk Bantry]

50 minutes ago, Tex Jones, SASS 2263 said:

Wouldn't it be easier to cut the magazine spring?

 

I think I read somewhere here that it can be good to do both, that's why I started the project. It's also nice to have a follower that fits perfectly and sheds a little weight.

[Garrison Joe, SASS #60708]

Of course, loading 6 rounds in the magazine is only done for Wild Bunch.  Cowboy is loaded "on the clock" and no more than 2 rounds.  Magazine not used at all by lots of fast cowboy shooters.

 

My guideline is whatever magazine spring is used, open up the magazine end cap, slide the spring into the mag tube allowing it's front end to dangle out the front uncompressed.  Trim off at about the 4" mark from front end of mag tube.  Works even with factory followers - I've never used a shortened follower. I often use a Remington 870 pump shotgun mag spring if I need a replacement spring - it has a suitable matching "spring rate."

 

good luck, GJ

 

Edited December 2 by Garrison Joe, SASS #60708

[Blackhawk Bantry]

Thanks for the replies, everyone. I guess shortening the springs is the most important thing. I'll try my luck with the new follower anyway though and what I really wanted to know was the inside diameter of the mag tube, but I guess I'll just have to measure it myself when I get the gun. 😊

[Garrison Joe, SASS #60708]

Well, one of us has to open up the tube to get the measurement.  Guess it will have to be you. 🙂 I'm fabricating equipment today.   

 

A 12 gauge hull rim is 0.886" max diameter.   A follower for a Winchester 97 that I have in my parts box measures 0.921" OD at the "locating bands" - the largest diameter on the follower.  I'd not go much smaller than that, or the follower may come out into the action.

 

As for length, my used-part follower is 1.828" long roughly.  

 

good luck, GJ

Edited December 2 by Garrison Joe, SASS #60708

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

I know these numbers are probably hard to come by in Sweden.  I do not have a Norinco right now so I measured a solid frame original Winchester as that is what the Norinco is based on.  I even dug out a metric caliper.  The ID of the tube is 23.95.  The OD of the follower is 23.49.  The length of the follower is 31.70.  Beautiful work on your follower but I see a potential problem.  The Winchester and Norinco followers are sheet metal and made so about 30mm of spring fits into the follower.  When compressed a lot of the spring fits into the follower.  Your follower looks like only a few millimeters go into the follower.

 

[KingSnake]

I made thousands of 97 & Model 12 followers for Wild Bodie Tom. 
Follower dimensions:

OD = .920”

ID = .790”

OAL = 1.124”

 

[Blackhawk Bantry]

5 hours ago, Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933 said:

I know these numbers are probably hard to come by in Sweden.  I do not have a Norinco right now so I measured a solid frame original Winchester as that is what the Norinco is based on.  I even dug out a metric caliper.  The ID of the tube is 23.95.  The OD of the follower is 23.49.  The length of the follower is 31.70.  Beautiful work on your follower but I see a potential problem.  The Winchester and Norinco followers are sheet metal and made so about 30mm of spring fits into the follower.  When compressed a lot of the spring fits into the follower.  Your follower looks like only a few millimeters go into the follower.

 

Yes,  I thought about that too. The spring would go about 4mm into the follower as it is now. I might be able to drill and bore it to hollow it out further. 

[Blackhawk Bantry]

11 hours ago, KingSnake said:

I made thousands of 97 & Model 12 followers for Wild Bodie Tom. 
Follower dimensions:

OD = .920”

ID = .790”

OAL = 1.124”

 

 

 

 

Thanks, that helps a lot. For fun I made another one according to your specifications. It turned out much lighter and nicer. Here it is next to the old one:

 

  

[Eyesa Horg]

Nice work there Pard!

[Blackhawk Bantry]

2 minutes ago, Eyesa Horg said:

Nice work there Pard!

Thanks!

[Sedalia Dave]

3 hours ago, Blackhawk Bantry said:

 

 

 

Thanks, that helps a lot. For fun I made another one according to your specifications. It turned out much lighter and nicer. Here it is next to the old one:

 

  

 

Nice work. Are you going to alodine them?

 

Be interested to know how each design works with getting 6 in the tube. 

 

 

 

[Blackhawk Bantry]

3 hours ago, Sedalia Dave said:

 

Nice work. Are you going to alodine them?

 

Be interested to know how each design works with getting 6 in the tube. 

 

 

 

Thanks! That's a great idea. I'll look into that.