Cheap, Good Or Both?
Century's PW87 And JW-2000 Offer A
Lot Of Scattergun Bang For The Buck
Century Arms International’s JW-2000 Coach Gun side-by-side (top) and the PW87, a replica hybrid of the Winchester 1887 and 1901 lever-action shotguns.
We boomers were fortunate to experience the tail end of the golden age. Westerns featuring John Wayne were regularly shown on TV. For most “wannabe” cowboys, this was our first exposure to shotguns.
It was in these movies we first heard the term “ridin’ shotgun.” The brandisher of the ol’ scattergun was usually a colorful sidekick of a character, and he sat next to the stagecoach driver, the guy holding the horse teams’ reins. Besides sitting next to the driver, you carried one of the best deterrents, the most devastating weapons of not only the Wild West days, but also today!
You were security for the stagecoach, its passengers, and all their property when you were “ridin’ shotgun.” You also guarded any property the stage line might be delivering. This was usually a payroll in the form of a chest full of gold coins, or paper money.
But how about buying one of these classic shotguns from that era today? Have a lot of money burning a hole in your pocket? I figured not. So, for those of us on a realistic budget, what are our options? Well, thanks to Century Arms, we’ve got two affordable options in the PW87 lever-action shotgun and the JW-2000 side-by-side coach gun.
Subtle enough for ya? Made in China, these guns aren’t shy showing
where they came from with their lasered billboards on the sides.
That Terminator 2 Gun …
John Browning is credited with inventing the Winchester 1887 lever-action shotgun at the insistence of Winchester management. Browning’s wisdom had him pushing for a pump action-style repeater, but management stated Winchester was known for lever-action rifles and they wanted shotguns of this type, too, for brand recognition.
Browning begrudgingly responded with a breech loading, rolling block, lever-action shotgun we all know as the model 1887. Shotgun shells at the time were loaded with low-pressure black powder and the 1887 was designed for these low-pressure shells, strengthwise. The 1887 was chambered in both 10 and 12 gauges. Demand was high for a repeating shotgun in those days, as double-barreled shotguns only afforded two shots before reloading was necessary. A 1901 version of the design was offered strengthened for use with higher-pressure smokeless powder shells.
Arnold Schwarzenegger probably did more for today’s revitalization of the Winchester 1887 than anybody. Arnold reintroduced the forgotten lever-action shotgun, complete in chopped-down form, in the 1991 movie, “Terminator 2.” His portrayal as a motorcycle riding, shotgun twirling, time-traveling cyborg created a cult status for both Arnold and the Model 1887 shotgun. The movie got gun enthusiasts curious and demand was generated for the lever-action Model 1887.
For Winchester 1887 fans, Century Arms International imports a 12-gauge 2 3/4″ replica for us bargain basement kind of guys. While it won’t win any beauty contests, it’s a functional variant of the original, having features of both the Winchester 1887 and later 1901 lever-action shotguns. Coming from the land of China, it’s what is to be expected for the measly MSRP of $379.
Opening the box, I pull out the PW1887 packed in heavy, dried-on grease. After degreasing, I was left with a rough-functioning firearm. However, it cycles shotgun shells and goes bang whenever I pull the trigger. The more I shoot it, the smoother it becomes, to the point I’m really starting to like it. Plus it’s fun to shoot!
Polishing? We don’t need no stinking polishing! Both shotguns sport traditional brass bead front sights over their very roughly hewn barrels.
Details
The buttplate is made of plastic and sports a traditional checkered pattern. Plastic-to-wood fit is good at the bottom and sides, but overlaps the wood, at the top of the stock. The stock itself appears to be made of a hardwood, possibly birch, and is darkly stained, making it look like an original antique Winchester 1887. The stock is pistol grip in design and sports a length of pull of 13 3/8″. Trigger pull averaged 3 lbs., 1 oz. when measured with my Lyman trigger-pull gauge. Not too shabby and a pleasant surprise.
The radiused, spurless hammer follows the contours of the action in traditional Winchester 1887 style. The lever handle ring pivots, allowing it to lock/unlock on a notched stud for safe lock-up. The forearm consists of two pieces of hardwood, again, probably dark-stained birch, screwed together between the barrel and magazine tube.
The barrel is 19″ and cylinder bored. Traditional brass bead front sight is mounted on the barrel.
Shotguns offer versatility by being able to shoot birdshot, buckshot
or rifled slugs. No wonder they’re so popular. Here’s a sample of each,
flanked by some Terminator 2-style sunglasses.
Loading & Shooting
Loading is done when the lever is in the full downward position, with the elevator pushed to bottom position. From here, you’ll see the magazine plug in this position. This is where we load our shells. Pushing the shell 1/2″ farther into the tube holds it there, making the next round easier to load.
The magazine holds five rounds. Leaving a shell on the elevator, and another shell on top, will chamber the top shell when closing the lever. The first shell will sit on the elevator, until the action is cycled. Loaded this way, you’ll have seven rounds at your disposal.
Loading takes time, it’s tricky at best, especially when you have fingers like bratwursts (like me). When carrying loads with an empty chamber, the hammer needs to be at half-cock, or fully down, to cycle a round into the chamber from the magazine tube.
Shooting was done at 10 yards with Tru Shot 17″ targets. Two rounds of 7 1/2 birdshot, followed by two rounds of 00 buckshot, finished with a slug was my approach for testing/targeting. Roughly 98% of the birdshot and all the 00 buckshot were centered on the target. The slug hit the bull’s-eye.
Overall, the PW87 is a very fine-shooting shotgun that’s very fun to shoot. There were no malfunctions with cycling, chambering, extraction or ejection. Arnold would be proud!
Both shotguns patterned nicely, as these targets shot from 10 yards display. Each target received two 7 1/2 birdshot loads, two 00 buckshot loads and one slug. JW-2000 target on top, PW87 one on bottom.
The Coach Gun
Nothing reminds us of the Old West more than a good, old-fashioned double-barrel shotgun. Simple in design and function, what could be easier to operate? Simply pushing the lever latch to the right unlocks the action, allowing access to the chambered barrels, where empties are removed and fresh shells loaded.
Americans have an affinity for double-barreled, side-by-side shotguns, as many are worth thousands of dollars and are greatly adorned with gold inlay, engraving of romantic hunting scenes and sporting exhibition grade wood. This isn’t the case for Century’s JW-2000!
Again, imported from China by Century Arms International, the JW-2000 is a roughhouse of an exposed hammer, double-barrel blaster. But with an MSRP of only $354, what can you expect? Overall fit and finish is on the rough side, so you won’t have to worry about babying this gun! But boy, is it fun to shoot!
Available in either 12 or 20 gauge, my test sample was the former. Chambered for either 2 3/4″ or 3″ shells, this gun can get it done whether cowboy action shooting, taking on farm chores, or having a handy truck gun nearby. Able to shoot birdshot, buckshot or slugs, this gun gives you all the versatility you’ll ever need.
The stock and forearm are stained in walnut color, but in some sort of hardwood. Both are checkered for function and style. A large black rubber buttpad is fitted onto the stock to help absorb recoil. Hammers are traditional rabbit-ear style and must be cocked for shooting. Being double rebounding, the hammer face does not contact the frame-mounted firing pins, giving you an extra measure of safety.
Once cocked, a sliding tang-safety may be used, although it’s best to only cock the hammers prior to shooting. The front trigger is on the right side and fires the right barrel, while the rear trigger is on the left side and fires the left.
Barrels are 20″ in length and aren’t choked. A traditional brass bead front sight is mounted on the barrel rib. Opening of the barreled action is achieved with the checkered lever-latch. Opening the action of this shotgun is very stiff, but the action is tight, strong and a beast, sizewise. Wood-to-metal fit is satisfactorily done. Sling swivels are mounted on the buttstock and barrels for sling carry.
Here’s the Coach Gun loaded with two 12-gauge shotgun shells.
The extractor does just that — it won’t eject. You need to do that part.
Here’s the PW87 with the action opened, showing the elevator,
which lifts a shotgun shell from the magazine to the chamber.
Shooting The Double
The simplicity of a double-barrel shotgun is charming, simple and fun! Shooting a variety of birdshot, buckshot and a few slugs showed excellent patterning for a cylinder bore gun. You’ll be able to accomplish any shotgun needs with this boomer.
For this article I shot targets at 10 yards, about the same distance for most cowboy shoots. The 17″ Pro Shot Products targets captured better than 95% of the birdshot loads, and all the 00 buckshot loads when shot at 10 yards. Slugs were in or near the bull’s-eye. There were no malfunctions with the JW-2000 with firing
or extraction.
The Final Word
While both shotguns are lacking in the final fit and finish department, they are strongly built and a blast to shoot. What better way to enjoy good, wholesome, cheap fun is there?
Their ruggedness combines with their Western flair, and the entry level or bargain hunter who enjoys shooting affordable firearms will appreciate them. You won’t mind roughhousing with these shotguns, as any nicks, bumps, wear and tear will simply add to their rugged looks, making them more yours.
