I have two Winchester 94 BB's that have a real problem. Sometimes, the cartridge in the tube slips out before it should, leaving it underneath the lifter and jamming the gun. The .356 does this quite often, and if you work the lever to chamber a round, then work the lever slowly back and forth without actually closing it, it'll always do it. The .444 has only done it once, but at the worst possible time, when I needed a quick follow up shot. My .307 and .375 have never done this, and cannot be made to do it even deliberatly. I believe it is the cartridge stop at fault, but how do I fix that? Are they interchangeble between calibers, or calibre specific. I've tried to take them out, been having some trouble though. Any advice in this matter would be great. Thanks.
Help on 94 BB
- Thread starter xxclaro
- Start date
gunrunner100
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- NW Ontario
Sounds like it's the cartridge link. If you take the action apart (completely) according to the takedown instructions, the link will have a small tip that the cartridge head rests against. On yours it sounds like the tip is worn or sheared. Sometimes they can be peened otherwise they will need replacement. This seems to be a common occurrence in the Post 64, not so in the Pre. Parts should be common, although at this point in Winchester's dynasty, they may have to be used parts.
That sounds right. Strange thing is, the .444 is brand new, and the .356 had a few rounds through it when I got it, several hundred now. This link, are they the same from caliber to calibre, or must I get specific ones? Where might they be found? Thanks for the help.
94 cartridge stop
I f you look at the bottom of the action the long rectangular piece that the lever passes through at the rear is the piece in question. On it's forward end on the inner side there is a little metal extension that acts as the cartridge stop. You can see the extension when you look down into an open action and through the slot in the cartridge carrier. Later (post 64) rifles seem prone to this piece wearing out rather quickly. most gunsmiths will build the extension up with weld and reshape it by hand filing. I recently had to do the same with my near 65 year old 32 special. Not a big job if you are careful and it helps if you have an undamaged one to use as a pattern. The cartridge stop on the pre 64 rifles is much more substantial than late production rifles, but they can wear down too.
I f you look at the bottom of the action the long rectangular piece that the lever passes through at the rear is the piece in question. On it's forward end on the inner side there is a little metal extension that acts as the cartridge stop. You can see the extension when you look down into an open action and through the slot in the cartridge carrier. Later (post 64) rifles seem prone to this piece wearing out rather quickly. most gunsmiths will build the extension up with weld and reshape it by hand filing. I recently had to do the same with my near 65 year old 32 special. Not a big job if you are careful and it helps if you have an undamaged one to use as a pattern. The cartridge stop on the pre 64 rifles is much more substantial than late production rifles, but they can wear down too.
Well this morning I went ahead and welded up the top of the cartridge stop, and filed it to form. i measured the height of the one on my .307 for reference. Once I got close, I started testing. At first, it was a bit too high, and cartridges got stuck about halfway out of the tube, and needed a little jiggle to pop out. A little more filing with a diamond hone, and now she's working. I tested it against my other 3, to see at what point it releases it's cartridges when closinf the lever. Right now, it seems to be about 1/2 in before lock-up, similar to the .307, after the .444, before the .375. The .375 doesn't release a cartrigde until the lever is almost locked, which I assume is the best case scenario. I'll test it further, and if all is well, I may try to do the .444 as well, though I think it needs less adjustment, and can maybe just squeeze or peen it. Thanks for the help guys.
