New factory M97 ejector tab for 3.5" barrels that clears cylinder pin

[RMF]

I have a 22lr/22M. M97 with a 3.5 inch barrel and when taking off my ejector housing I mistakenly bent the ejector rod  

I gave FA a call and talked to 'gunsmith" John who sent me a new ejector rod cut specifically for my 3.5" barrel. In addition I ordered a new ejector tab (thinking that the ejector tab might have permanent loctite on it and might be hard to remove).  John was great to work with as he cut the new ejector rod and sent it to me that same day. He also told me how they remove the ejector housing on 3.5 inch guns; unscrewing the housing screw, hold the ejector housing and tap the barrel with a small rubber mallet to separate the two. Finally he told me that they use green loctite on the ejector tab and then take a pliers and give it a slight tighten.  




Two days later the new ejector rod and ejector tab show up and I notice that the "ejector tab" is a different profile than the original one that was on my M97.  I do the comparison and the new one has a cut out to clear the cylinder pin. The new housing also allows the user to eject empty shells a little further as it is not inhibited by the cylinder pin.






Perhaps this new ejector tab is standard on all 3.5 inch guns now but mine didn't have it.  Anyway...just wanted to let the M97 3.5" owners know that a new ejector tab is avaiable and that we can say 'goodbye' to having to take the ejector housing off everytime to clean your gun or change cylinders.

[picturerock]

Nice.

[paul105]

Thanks for the post -- I'll be ordering one Monday.

Paul

[suba]

Just curious, is that brass. Are all 97's brass. How about 83's. My 83 looks like stainless.

[Ken ONeill]

No, it's the standard stainless, just hogged out a bit to clear the cylinder axis pin.

[RMF]

Both my original ejector rod and the new one are brass (confirmed by FA gunsmith John), and as Ken mentioned the ejector tab is SS. This is the only 97 I own so not sure if all 97's have brass ejector rods or just the 3.5..or just 22lr's

[suba]

i should have been more clear. i was referring to the rod. That's why I asked if other 97's are also brass. I've got an older 83 and wondered if the new rods are brass or stainless. I can't see much of a savings going to brass....

[paul105]

suba,

My .22/.22Mag M97 has a brass ejector rod -- all my center fire M97s have stainless steel ejector rods.

Paul

[Ken ONeill]

Well I'll be darned. All 3 of my 97's ( .45, .32, and .22LR) have stainless steel rods. All 3 were built between 2001-2004.

[doghawg]

 Both of my 97's have stainless ejector rods...a 1998 made .357 and a 2008 made .44 spl.

[paul105]

I ordered the modified ejector/tab right after RMFs original post.  What a simple and effective solution for better ejection and easy cylinder removal on the M97 3 1/2" bbl models.

Boge Quinn (Gunblast) did a nice write up on this modification:

http://gunblast.com/Boge_Freedom97.htm

Paul

[RMF]

Glad you like it...  it really is a great mod for all 3.5".  I'm glad that FA started to offer this. Everyone who has a 3.5" bbl should know about this $15 item.

BTW- Just got a new M97 .44 spl and it has a stainless ejector rod