1903 winchester 1894

[mj30wilson]

I have a winchester 1894 rifle and after I shoot a factory 30-30 win cartridge out of it, the case will have the primer popped out about .050. Is this because the factory load is too hot?

 

[DrMike]

I would suspect that your loads are fine. The Model 94 has a good deal of "spring" to it, and the primer tends to walk out. I see this on occasion on each of the Model 94s that I shoot. Admittedly, none of these are chambered in 30-30 (.356 (X3) and .375). At that age, the action will be quite limber, I should imagine.

 

[JD338]

I have seen the same thing too, its the action. The factory ammunition is fine.

JD338

 

[BK]

Is it on every case? If so, you may have a headspace issue. Might want to have a 'smith look at it.

 

[mj30wilson]

Yes every single one.

If it is a headspace issue what would a gunsmith do to fix this?

I still want it to look like it was made in 1903. Any surgury must be invisible.

 

[BK]

I honestly have no idea. On a bolt rifle the 'smith would pull the barrel, shave a bit off the back of the barrel, and maybe run a reamer into the chamber to clean it up. On a lever, maybe the same thing? Might not be noticeable.

 

[DrMike]

I doubt it is an issue with head space as it is so commonly encountered in that particular action.

 

[filmjunkie4ever]

Had this same thing happening years back to my 99 Savage which is vintage 1940. It was only doing it with certain loads but still even slightly on my handloads which were not too hot. My gunsmith took off the barrel and cut a thread off and then re-cut the chamber. Because of the way the 99 is designed I then had to mill a custom forend stud so that the forend screw hole would still line up. I may some day just replace the forend.

You will be fine as long as you dont try to hot rod any of your handloads. If you do get it fixed I suspect your gunsmith will have to do the same thing as was done to my rifle. He will also have to shorten the magazine tube a bit on the breech end to match it. Still, to the untrained eye, no one will notice.

 

[mj30wilson]

Does it hurt anything? Should I get it fixed a.s.a.p?

 

[DrMike]

I wouldn't be concerned. I'd likely continue shooting factory ammunition without undue concern. Again, I doubt that there is a "fix" for the situation as it is design and age. That happens to a lot of us. :lol:

 

[SJB358]

Okay, I have nothing to add other than, WHERE ARE THE PICTURES! That sounds like a sweet heart of a M94... Scotty

 

[mj30wilson]

I am tryig to work up light deer loads for this that will be easier on the action. I was thinking a 150gr bullet. The reloading manuals only go down to 1900fps. Ultramax has cowboy loads down to around 1170fps. Is that black powder loads? Is their any loads lower that the reloading manual that I can try?

 

[mj30wilson]

Sorry tried to post pics and they just turn up some jumbled text code. Go figure :?

 

[SJB358]

I am tryig to work up light deer loads for this that will be easier on the action. I was thinking a 150gr bullet. The reloading manuals only go down to 1900fps. Ultramax has cowboy loads down to around 1170fps. Is that black powder loads? Is their any loads lower that the reloading manual that I can try?

A 150 at around 1900 should be pretty gentle. I think full house 30-30 loads are only around 35K PSI.. Someone correct me though. I would think some H4895 or something along there would get you the speed you want while still having a serviceable deer load. Scotty

 

[FOTIS]

Get it checked by a gunsmith. Can not hurt.

:wink:

 

[mj30wilson]

Got it checked and gunsmith told me not to mess with it just to shoot it. OKKKKK. But when it is fired it tries to open the lever. I have to hold the gun tight which keeps the lever tight to the stock undercarriage. The local gunsmith is more a pistol smith I ues he really did not want to mess with it for fear of screwing up the value. I would guess it needs new pins and possibley a locking block. Any ideas?

 

[SJB358]

How is the accuracy on the rifle? Seems like a really nice old rifle that has probably seen a ton of use. You could probably have a good smith go through it to tighten everything up and replace worn parts, but the collectors value might tank. If you don't care about that aspect, I would just have it gone through and tightened up. I don't collect rifles to look at, so getting them to function well would be my goal, but I don't have a 1903 Vintage Winchester either! Scotty