New Winchester 1892 not feeding properly

[Paul_1982]

I just received a new Winchester 1892 in 44 mag (pic at the bottom just because lol).

It cycles smooth as butter… until there’s ammunition in the magazine tube. About half the time the two locking lugs get caught up just before fully chambering the round, requiring extra pressure to seat the round and lock into place. On two occasions after fully locking into place the trigger wouldn’t work even with the safety off and the hammer back. I’m using S&B .44 Mag 240 grain jsp ammunition.

Is it just going to need time to work itself in? Does it need a polishing? Other thoughts?

 

[Suther]

If you told me you bought a Rossi and it was having issues out of the box like this I'd be willing to think things like maybe it needs a break-in, or a polish internally, but a brand new Winchester I would expect to run without such issues? (Maybe I'm wrong here, but I figured a major reason to spend the money on a Winchester is to avoid these headaches?)

I am assuming you don't have any other ammo to try so we could at least rule out its the ammo thats the issue?

 

[Paul_1982]

I don’t have other ammo available at the moment, but I had considered maybe this ammo was a touch too long?

 

[alpining]

If the retailer is nearby, take it to them. You shouldn't have these kinds of teething problems. If not...

Definitely try different ammunition. The 1892 action was not designed for straight-walled cartridges, so it can struggle with feeding something like the 44 magnum.

I'd measure the length of the cartridges before and after chambering to see if they are getting set back in the process. Depending on how the rifle is throated, the ogive of the bullet could be contacting the rifling early.

Can you post photos of where and how the locking lugs "get caught up"?

And, you said the trigger wouldn't work: Do you mean the trigger wouldn't release the hammer? Or it released the hammer but failed to fire? Have you been able to reproduce the problem with and without a loaded chamber?

 

[dan belisle]

I don’t have other ammo available at the moment, but I had considered maybe this ammo was a touch too long?

That is a safe assumption. I found problems with my modern Winchester 73 feeding, same issue. This was in 45 Colt, but the idea stays the same. - dan

 

[Paul_1982]

So it is an ammunition issue of sorts. I used S&B .44 Mag 240 grain jsp. I’ll measure the OAL of a few that were chambered and ejected and compare to those that were not.

I loaded up some PMC Bronze 180 Gr JHP… and zero issues cycling. Every one was smooth. I’ll have to measure the differences between the two when I get home.

Kind of sucks, as I have 100 rounds of the S&B still… guess I’ll have to put it up on the EE and stick to PMC.

 

[porpoise]

If the cartridge goes into the chamber it's not the O.A.L. it's the bullet ogive. I know on my 44 40 some bullets the Same overall as bullets that chamber fine won't chamber that last bit.the rifling is very close to the chamber mouth

 

[Paul_1982]

If the cartridge goes into the chamber it's not the O.A.L. it's the bullet ogive. I know on my 44 40 some bullets the Same overall as bullets that chamber fine won't chamber that last bit.the rifling is very close to the chamber mouth

Sorry I’m not sure I follow this? Do you mean the width of the bullet itself? Or length of the bullet itself outside of the casing?

 

[old303]

Sorry I’m not sure I follow this? Do you mean the width of the bullet itself? Or length of the bullet itself outside of the casing?

The ogive is the curved shape in the nose profile of the bullet. Some smoothly take the ride from magazine to chamber, some don't so much. The case edge snagging on something can be an issue too (but of course shouldn't).

 

[Paul_1982]

The ogive is the curved shape in the nose profile of the bullet. Some smoothly take the ride from magazine to chamber, some don't so much. The case edge snagging on something can be an issue too (but of course shouldn't).

Ah ok. Cheers.

 

[bush1]

I just went downstairs and put 7 rounds of S&B 44 Mag 240 gr in and it cycled perfectly. But mine were SP rounds it that would make a difference. And mine would be the same rifle, Miroku made Win 92 less than a year old.

 

[porpoise]

Sorry I’m not sure I follow this? Do you mean the width of the bullet itself? Or length of the bullet itself outside of the casing?

The length of the full width part of the bullet outside the case. You know the cartridge swings into the chamber fine but it's likely the rifling stopping the bullet unless your chamber is out of spec or the brass too long. You can put marker on the bullet to see if it's digging into the rifling

 

[Paul_1982]

I will get the calliper out and do some measurements.

 

[porpoise]

I will get the calliper out and do some measurements.

The caliper won't tell you where it's interfering. I would smoke the cartridge and chamber it as far as it will go and look at the marks on it.

 

[rmsg0040]

Possible that your Winchester 1892 is built to tighter tolerances. Worse case, you can single shot the ammo.

I got a Citadel Levtac 357 which is not the highest quality lever (looser tolerances), I have tested a bunch of different bullets types and cartridge types in 38 and 357, some are harder to load into the tube, but once loaded up, they cycle well.

 

[vp6111]

On an unrelated topic, how was recoil on a 6.0lbs gun?

 

[labradort]

My new Winchester 1873 was jamming in the feed path too, with 38 Special. It was specific to Blazer ammunition. Everything else I've tried feeds well, so there is something a little different. Even Winchester bulk 38 Special, which looked the same as the Blazer, fed very well. I sold all my Blazer on ####### and that fixed it.

 

[Paul_1982]

On an unrelated topic, how was recoil on a 6.0lbs gun?

Not bad at all. It was fun to shoot when I have the right ammo.