Winchester Trapper barrel band question

bgcameron

bgcameron

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Hey,

I just picked up a nice 1980 winchester 1894 trapper (30-30). Last night I disassembled the forend and mag tube for cleaning and oiling. I noticed something strange about the front barrel band, and it seems different from standard 1894's.

The screw has a tapered head, which doesnt snug up to the band. The taper sits in the hole between the barrel and mag tube. As I tighten the screw, the tapered head spreads the barrel and mag tube apart to a point- and obviously only as far as the band will allow. I am not sure how far to tighten the screw without wrecking anything, or putting too much pressure on the barrel and throwing off accuracy.

I find it strange that no matter how much you tighten that screw, it would seem to put uneven pressure on the barrel. I have yet to go shoot it, which should answer a lot of questions, but any insight that could save me ammo would be appreciated!
 
Something's messed up, the unthreaded section of the band screw on mine are straight (no taper).

Might be someone lost the screw and replaced it with something else, you may want to spend $5 and grab a spare off the EE
 
cody c said:
Something's messed up, the unthreaded section of the band screw on mine are straight (no taper).

Might be someone lost the screw and replaced it with something else, you may want to spend $5 and grab a spare off the EE
Click to expand...

I think he meant just the head is tapered not the grip (un threaded portion) of the screw.

I'm thinking the countersink in the band is too large for the screw head and the screw is sitting too deep and spreading the barrel and mag tube.

We need a picture.
 
Yes, pictures would help. I will try to get some tonight. I honestly thing it was designed this way. The screw looks a lot like this:
4ta43l.jpg

Notice the funny size of the head, its not just my poor drawing skills lol
The hole in the band is not countersunk, so the screw head moves right through it.
 
07blackwater said:
I think he meant just the head is tapered not the grip (un threaded portion) of the screw.

I'm thinking the countersink in the band is too large for the screw head and the screw is sitting too deep and spreading the barrel and mag tube.

We need a picture.
Click to expand...

Oh, that makes more sense, as said above, use loctite on the thread, and just tighten till snug. I have my old barrel bands off my post 64, if you want to replace yours feel free to PM me.
 
Either that's a bad drawing or the wrong screw, the band screws in my post 94 have a shorter taper, and the head isnt like that.

Edit: should look like these:



 
It might be the wrong one, but it seems odd that the band isnt countersunk.

Found on lever guns forum...

"In the late 70s they came out with one that had a thicker threaded shank with a larger tapered end towards the screw head. My 1980 Trapper has one like that. All my others have the regular looking screw that appears to be the same diameter but only varies in how much of the screw is threaded."

Winchester also lists a different band for the trapper as well as a "cone shaped head" screw.
 
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Well, maybe they changed it, but now your confusing me. First you say it seems like the wrong screw and it's wedging the barrel and magazine apart, now you say it could be the right screw according to some info on another forum.

Ok, sure, there is no problem. What is it you would like to accomplish, please clarify?
 
I am not sure how far to tighten the screw without wrecking anything, or putting too much pressure on the barrel and throwing off accuracy. It still seems odd to me that it would be built that way.

Does anyone else here have a trapper like this?
 
You can change out the band and screw so it looks like the normal trapper with the screw that cody c shows or tighten the one you have to just snug with a drop of loctite on the threads. As for accuracy, it is a trapper, the best I find with my trappers is 1 moa repeatably, the barrel band tightness didn't change the results. The trapper front bands are different then the carbine becuase of the barrel diameter at the spot where it is is larger. A carbine one will work but it takes a bit of messing around.
 
Well Ill be, just like the drawing.

Loctite the bolt threads so it will not come loose if you dont tighten the bolt right up, then tighten the screw till its just snug touching the barrel and magazine, just enough so it wont rattle and wont rattle around during recoil. With that taper I think they designed it to snug the two up give some lateral stability to the barrel.

Or I have some barrel bands that arent finished tapped yet, but that probably isnt what your looking for.

 
Tightening it up until there is no play in the band or mag tube results in the mag tube being cocked over to one side. I will give it a try with it "just" snug. The taper in the screw really makes a wide range of snug, no matter how far it screws in. Its a little annoying!
 
You make it sound like a bad design, is the magazine or barrel larger then the earlier carbines? Swapping to an earlier band could be an upgrade.
 
cody c said:
You make it sound like a bad design, is the magazine or barrel larger then the earlier carbines? Swapping to an earlier band could be an upgrade.
Click to expand...

To the op,
Your barrel could be 0.021" thicker than the carbines at the barrel band point or it could be the same, I measured a few of my trappers and they are either the same as the carbines or 0.021" thicker. A carbine band will fit with a bit of messing around.
 
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