How to fit 6 rounds into an original ‘97

[Flaco Joe]

Hey Pards,

 

I picked up a nice old ‘97 at a gun show. It’s an E model, takedown, with a 32” barrel. It’s in original condition. It looks good, functions perfectly, and I got it for a song.

 

The magazine only held 5 shells (after I removed the old, wooden, 2-round, waterfowl plug). I installed one of the 6-round kits that UniqueTek used to sell and I can verify that the kit is for a takedown model. Unfortunately, the kit didn’t help and the tube still only holds five shells. In fact, after the fifth shell, there is barely a quarter inch of space left. There is no way I can get a 6th shell into the magazine. 

 

What can I do to get a 6th round into the magazine?

 

Thanks 

[Seth Bradford]

How much of the spring hangs out of the mag tube? I’ve had to cut a bunch of spring off before. 

[Burn Through]

Turn follower down ? 

[Tye Riverman, SASS #41433]

You may want check the inside of your mag tube for defects that might restricting the rounds movment?

[Johnny Meadows,SASS#28485L]

Wild Body Tom used to make a 6 shot conversion for 97's.  He passed many years ago and I recently found on in the shop. It come with a new spring and follower. If you want it for $40 shipped let me know. Johnny Meadows

[Garrison Joe, SASS #60708]

And, if you don't want to do any work on the gun, use some 2 1/2" 12 gauge shells in it.  Even about 2 in the magazine will make enough room for 4 other 2 3/4" shells to be added. B&P (probably other companies, too) makes light 2 1/2" loads - I used them for WB before I learned how to shorten the mag tube spring.  Now I can run 6 standard length shells easily. 

 

How short is my mag tube spring now?  About 5" longer than what the mag tube is, uncompressed.   I use a Rem 870 mag tube spring so I get "new" levels of spring force, rather than shortening an original 100+ year old 97 spring.  good luck, GJ

Edited April 30 by Garrison Joe, SASS #60708

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

I will never understand the practice of writing stages for the 97 with 6 rounds loaded.   The gun was designed for 5.

 

[Burn Through]

35 minutes ago, H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 said:

I will never understand the practice of writing stages for the 97 with 6 rounds loaded.   The gun was designed for 5.

 

One in the pipe and 5 in the mag ? 

[Cypress Sun]

1 hour ago, H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 said:

I will never understand the practice of writing stages for the 97 with 6 rounds loaded.   The gun was designed for 5.

 

 

What...you've never seen a "Western" movie? All guns will fire WAY over the rated capacity. Check it out, it's a fact!

[Flaco Joe]

3 hours ago, Johnny Meadows,SASS#28485L said:

Wild Body Tom used to make a 6 shot conversion for 97's.  He passed many years ago and I recently found on in the shop. It come with a new spring and follower. If you want it for $40 shipped let me know. Johnny Meadows

The kit I installed is Wild Body Tom’s, but I still can only fit five. 

[Eyesa Horg]

45 minutes ago, Cypress Sun said:

 

What...you've never seen a "Western" movie? All guns will fire WAY over the rated capacity. Check it out, it's a fact!

Yup, many must have an invisible belt feed🤣

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

3 hours ago, Cypress Sun said:

 

What...you've never seen a "Western" movie? All guns will fire WAY over the rated capacity. Check it out, it's a fact!

A yes, but those are those strange, "Made in Hollywierd" knockoffs of real guns.   I've never been able to find one in the used gun shops.

[Three Foot Johnson]

With 5 in the tube, there's only a quarter inch left? Three of my four '97's are barely a quarter inch shy of taking the 6th round, and the fourth even closer. It sounds like there's an obstruction limiting travel of the follower. With only 5 shells + 1/4", even using 2 1/2"ers won't give you the extra room for a sixth round - 5/4ths inch + 1/4" = 1 1/2". Your mag tube appears to be the proper length, and you've replaced the follower and spring with the kit parts with no improvement, so that pretty much narrows it down to something blocking the follower.

Edited April 30 by Three Foot Johnson

[Flaco Joe]

1 hour ago, Three Foot Johnson said:

With 5 in the tube, there's only a quarter inch left? Three of my four '97's are barely a quarter inch shy of taking the 6th round, and the fourth even closer. It sounds like there's an obstruction limiting travel of the follower. With only 5 shells + 1/4", even using 2 1/2"ers won't give you the extra room for a sixth round - 5/4ths inch + 1/4" = 1 1/2". Your mag tube appears to be the proper length, and you've replaced the follower and spring with the kit parts with no improvement, so that pretty much narrows it down to something blocking the follower.

You may be right. I’ll strip it down and inspect the tune closely. Thanks 

[Garrison Joe, SASS #60708]

7 hours ago, Burn Through said:

One in the pipe and 5 in the mag ? 

 

Which would be illegal loading of a 97 when you bring it to the firing line like that.  Chamber has to be empty.   good luck, GJ

[Scarlett]

@Flaco Joe - kingsnake makes a conversion kit for 97s - take downs and regular so that the magazine will hold 6 for Wild Bunch. I had some at eot but sold them. I’ll PM you his information via FB messenger. They really make a difference! 
 

Hugs!!

Scarlett

[Burn Through]

16 hours ago, Garrison Joe, SASS #60708 said:

 

Which would be illegal loading of a 97 when you bring it to the firing line like that.  Chamber has to be empty.   good luck, GJ

I thought we was talking original design … didn’t want J. M. B . To roll in his grave . Fer being accused of only maken it a 5 shooter

[Rough 'N Ready Rob]

Try this, take the follower out and cut down beween the two ridges, use a ballpin hammer putting the ball in the end  and reflairing the end a little.

  This is a good time to clean the mag tube good, put it back together, cut the spring off leaving about 2" out pass the end of the tube, put the cap back on, should be able to get 6 in, works for me.

  PS - put a little lube on the spring.  

[Sgt. Hochbauer, SASS #64409]

I got the one that Scarlet had carried, and it worked perfectly in my takedown. If I recall correctly, it had the follower and magazine spring.

 

 

Hochbauer

[SouthwestShooter]

On 4/29/2026 at 10:41 PM, Flaco Joe said:

Hey Pards,

 

I picked up a nice old ‘97 at a gun show. It’s an E model, takedown, with a 32” barrel. It’s in original condition. It looks good, functions perfectly, and I got it for a song.

 

The magazine only held 5 shells (after I removed the old, wooden, 2-round, waterfowl plug). I installed one of the 6-round kits that UniqueTek used to sell and I can verify that the kit is for a takedown model. Unfortunately, the kit didn’t help and the tube still only holds five shells. In fact, after the fifth shell, there is barely a quarter inch of space left. There is no way I can get a 6th shell into the magazine. 

 

What can I do to get a 6th round into the magazine?

 

Thanks 

Dang fine looking gun.

[watab kid]

my solution would be to shoot the shortys - but hey im not looking to do this yet 

[Boggus Deal #64218]

6 hours ago, watab kid said:

my solution would be to shoot the shortys - but hey im not looking to do this yet 

Typically, it’s a lot easier to make it hold 6 rounds than it is to find short shells in an emergency when you run out or leave yours at home…

[Sedalia Dave]

Only two possibilities...

1. There is a flaw in the mag tube.

2. The spring is WAY too long.

Nothing else makes sense.

 

To get 6 shells into the magazine of an original 97, you only need to free up about 1/4" to 3/8" of additional room. The fact that the 6th shell will just barely fit into the magazine points to one of the above two causes.

[watab kid]

15 hours ago, Boggus Deal #64218 said:

Typically, it’s a lot easier to make it hold 6 rounds than it is to find short shells in an emergency when you run out or leave yours at home…

yes i realize that , i happen to have a good supply of the shorties right now to keep with my shotguns that i might want to run them in , but i also still have my old three gun shotgun with its extended tube that holds 10+1 so im good to go 

[Howlin Mad Murdock SASS #4037]

Easiest way to fit 6 in the mag tube is to buy a spring for the Remington 870 Police Magnum.  Might have to cut a couple coils off.  No need for different follower and only about $10.  I've used those on fixed and takedown, original and reproductions,

[Griff]

11 minutes ago, Howlin Mad Murdock SASS #4037 said:

Easiest way to fit 6 in the mag tube is to buy a spring for the Remington 870 Police Magnum.  Might have to cut a couple coils off.  No need for different follower and only about $10.  I've used those on fixed and takedown, original and reproductions,

Ain't that sorta sacreligious... kinda like putting a Chevy small block inna Ford...  But... hey, I got Ruger parts in my Colts, so I ain't castin' stones!  'Sides, since it's a Remington part... like the other two examples... an overall improvement! 😁

Edited Friday at 04:03 PM by Griff