I have a 12" Chiappa TD in.357 and find it harder to load than my Marlin 1894. In the latter the rounds just slip into the tube, but in the 92 they want to back out. The first two or three aren't much of a problem, but as the spring compresses, the last round (#5) especially doesn't want to slip behind the loading gate. I've heard that the 92 action is easier to load if each round itn't fully inserted, which does seem to be true with this one, but the last round is still pretty ornery. Has anyone else had this problem and found a solution? It hasn't been shot a great deal, so possibly the spring will ease up a bit with use. I've heard of cutting a coil or two off the spring, but given the difficulrty of getting replacements, I'm very leery of doing this unless I have a spare!
Chiappa 92 action loading question
- Thread starter josquin
- Start date
Use a cartridge to push it in, and then remove the cartridge you used to push. Or, make a little tool, such was with an antler tine, and use that to do the final push.
Fully agree with the previous comments; I have been using the partial push when loading my Rossi 92s, and my Winchester 94s.
Fully agree with the previous comments; I have been using the partial push when loading my Rossi 92s, and my Winchester 94s.
The short magazine tube that goes with a 12" barrel is likely the issue. The spring is short so the load will build up sooner.
Or... if the last round cannot be pushed fairly deeply in and past the gate then it may be that your magazine spring is coil binding. That'll make things super stiff in the blink of an eye. If this is the case you could start with a shorter bullet so the stack length of the ammo isn't as high. Or you could in fact clip a turn or two off the spring so you have that extra millimeter that you can push the last round.
I find on my lever guns that once they are half way loaded I have to stop the partially inserted rounds with my other hand. You can't just let go of it or the magazine spring will spit it back out at us. So if it's just a case of you can't stick it in halfway and let go then that's totally normal.
Or... if the last round cannot be pushed fairly deeply in and past the gate then it may be that your magazine spring is coil binding. That'll make things super stiff in the blink of an eye. If this is the case you could start with a shorter bullet so the stack length of the ammo isn't as high. Or you could in fact clip a turn or two off the spring so you have that extra millimeter that you can push the last round.
I find on my lever guns that once they are half way loaded I have to stop the partially inserted rounds with my other hand. You can't just let go of it or the magazine spring will spit it back out at us. So if it's just a case of you can't stick it in halfway and let go then that's totally normal.
That does seem to be the way to go, except for the last round. I find it hard to believe that a venerable action such as this requires the use of special tools to load, although I feel very uneasy indeed criticizing the great John Browning (!!)
I was just looking at this a short time ago and it seems that the loading gate is a tad too long- although it obviously fits the cutout perfectly. If it were shorter, the rim of the cartridge could catch on it before my finger gets stopped by the cutout in the frame. I am still inclined to think that a shorter mag tube spring might ease the problem but being in Canada, getting a replacement spring to experiment with in less than 6 months is likely near to impossible. I wonder how "standard" these springs are? I doubt anyone orders regularly from Chiappa/Taylor's, and Rossi parts are apparently unobtanium- even for dealers, but I wonder if something from a Winchester or Marlin would work?
I have a 12'' Alaskan in .44 mag, I have no issues loading all the cartridges in smoothly. Spring tension is the same on the first round as it is on the fifth. Is it possible you have the mag tube threaded in 1 or 2 turns past where it should be? I know the TD lever on mine will close in a couple different spots on the threads.
I'm pretty sure the mag tube is screwed in corrrectly. It stops about 1/2 turn past where the locking lever is at 6 o'clock and will fold down. Interesting that the spring tension remains constant on yours, as it should increase a bit as it is compressed. I wonder if the fact that you're loading a larger dia. cartridge affects how it feels to load?
In the meantime, maybe I'll make up a short, tapered plug from a hardwood dowel and put it on a plastic or elastic tab of some sort.
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I'm sure the tension increases but not enough that I notice when loading up. Could the follower be binding up in the tube?
