1901 Marlin 1893 headspace fix?

[boxhitch]

I have an old rifle sporting some extra headspace. Its outside the go-nogo tolerances but within the 'field' range
This one also appears to not function the slide to the max travel that it has space for, so just a wag here ...
but assuming the lever is worn on the top tip where it rides in the bolt... ?
Sounds resonable? can this be built up for repair, or is it a case of replacement?

thanks for info

 

[Lee Enfield]

I have an old rifle sporting some extra headspace. Its outside the go-nogo tolerances but within the 'field' range
This one also appears to not function the slide to the max travel that it has space for, so just a wag here ...
but assuming the lever is worn on the top tip where it rides in the bolt... ?
Sounds resonable? can this be built up for repair, or is it a case of replacement?

thanks for info

first question, what cartridge is your rifle chambered for?


does your bolt close fully on the No Go? the Field gauge?

on square bolt Marlins I always check for battering deformation of the bolt where it contacts the locking bolt.

 

[porpoise]

I have a few old 93's, not sure how one knows if the bolt travel is short unless it won't feed a max length cartridge. They all shoot pretty good, I have one with a headspace problem that left primers visibly sticking out , but I solved that by backing off my size die and keeping my 30 30 brass for that rifle separate. I'm not messing with any of them if they shoot good, although I have had a few timing and jamming issues I had to fix. The 93 lever must be pretty hard, ive never seen appreciable wear on any of them

 

[fingers284]

the bolt/lever throw or tip of lever has no bearing on headspace. The headspace is controlled by the internal locking lug that comes up to block movement of the bolt. If your lever tip isnt bringing the bolt far enough ahead then your locking block wouldnt come up behind the bolt ( lever handle wouldnt come up to tang neither).
As porpiose says if your headspace is a little long I basicaly learn to live with it and only use low pressure loads in it ( actually I only use low pressure loads in ALL my old guns).

 

[boxhitch]

All good points, and are what I have also found after some more digging
Part of the ejection issue was my limp-wristing the lever while at the bench with max oal loads, the lead of un-fired rounds would hang up on the breech but soon found that with some more lever-action force would fly free

with 245 gr'ers I did get some primer movement at ~ 1500 fps but have since backed off to near 12-1300 and things look better
still with smokeless, have yet to venture into BP

headspace seems to be right at .006 so should last another couple decades

thanks for the replies