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Slavia · Moderator

A quick update: at 400 rounds it's a great gun. Spent 12 gauge shells standing up at 50 yards got to be boring, so I started shooting at the round ends. (RWS Superdomes penetrate both sides of the plastic hull at that range.) It's still a little buzzy, but getting better. I think I'll break it in completely before I take it apart.

I like heel rests, as you can see from the photo of my cabinet. It seems like they give more control with less grip pressure, and help to consistently position the trigger finger parallel with the bore. (They are more common on target pistols and AR-type rifles.) Unfortunately they are not something you can just purchase off the shelf. This one is mahogany with red oak stain, Tru-Oil, and paste wax. It is held on with brass machine screw anchors, and the screw cups are .38 SPL shells.

Slavia · Moderator

Nearing 800 rounds, and it's everything I hoped it would be. But of course I couldn't just leave it alone...

I missed having a sling for offhand shots (carry isn't that important to me). The rear sling stud is easy; it just goes into the wood. The front is a little more complicated with the underlever cocking arrangement. Searching the internet I saw some with the sling stud mounted in wood, at the side. Fine for carry, but awkward for shooting. Weakening the cocking linkage by drilling didn't appeal to me, either. Then I discovered that Uncle Mike's once made clamp-on swivels for the cocking arm. Great! Except the only ones I could find cost $50 and were only available from European suppliers. So, I set out to make my own.

Slavia has failed. I just don't have the tools to get the curve right, and even with an enormous amount of torque on the screws it wasn't tight.

Then I found these by Grove Tec. They are advertised for attachment to ramrod ferrules on muzzle loaders, but the size was right at 0.500"-0.550". (The HW97's cocking lever measures 0.547".) They tighten up wonderfully with only a modest amount of torque on the screws. They have to be mounted ahead of the stock, since they are too thick to fit within the cocking slot. Other than that, I would recomment them to anyone.

So now I have my sling. I also decided to paint the grip cap with bedliner and satin acrylic. Did the same to the brown rubber buttpad, and added a white anti-freeze jug spacer.

Alstone · Moderator & Site Supporter

It just gets better. Smile

The swivel clamp is neat as well.

Good stuff.

Al

RinCG · New Member

Slavia · Moderator

Where is "CG"?

RinCG · New Member

South on 13 to the Bend at M'chester and about 6 miles east right at the 35 junction Wink

Slavia · Moderator

Got it. Even closer to the SPAM shrine than I am. For some reason I was thinking Cottage Grove, which would, of course, have been really wrong.

RinCG · New Member

LOL SPAM is that a positive or a negative? Grew up on the stuff. Seems I may have some surplus SPAM from my GrandDads WW1 stash. Should be about right for eating now. Shocked

I guess I hadn't thought of the other CG, so we're even there.
I miss Herter's more than SPAM. Seems ol' George L had a better place than Cabelas or Gander. He left the processed eats to the Austinites preferring more gamey foods.

Slavia · Moderator

I once worked for a Waseca printer that got its start printing Herter's catalogues. I have a Herter's trigger shoe on my Slavia. Great stuff, but if you have ever read his books the guy was nuts. I think the expansion into South Dakota stretched them too thin.

RinCG · New Member

sorry about the timing- I work odd hours.
Brown Printing by chance? T'ja! many have worked there and were quite well known in the printing world. George was eccentric for sure but quite a genius in sales/marketing. You're right about expanding to far too quickly though. At least the decoy business is still operating for the name anyway. Way over in Wisconsin.
In an effort to keep "on topic" - try to store that 97 with the cocking lever unlatched. Doing so seems to save the breech seal from over compressing and premature leakage. Mine was giving me fits every so often until I started leaving it unlatched. No issues since. If you need a spare or two just say so. Seems I may even have a spring or three in a box somewhere.