How bad before retiring an old Winchester?

Its a 2 1/2" group at 50y! I'd definitely be changing barrels if I had one open up to 5 moa!

That said, for what it is just shoot it. It'll still take a pop can off a fence post at 50m.

Nope, not 2 1/2". I put the calipers on it. The c/c on the widest pair is 1.66 giving it about 3 1/3 moa. Less than that if you are measuring from the X. I'm going to have to compare it to the other 30/30's in my locker to see which shoots best. I suspect my Savage 99 will win.
 
Why not? That rifle was the Gov's choice to equip the Pacific Coast Militia Rangers to fight off the Japanese during WWII should they invade BC lol.

Lucky fer us, the Japanese were too busy takin' on the Chinese, US, British & French Asian colonies in the Pacific & others to give a fook about our neck of the woods except to pop a shell or two in our general direction to stir the pot a tad.;)
 
If the gun is worth it to you & you wish to keep the same cal. & outside appearance ,,,,, don't forget about
barrel liners . I have had several installed on bad bores . On 1876 , 1895 , 1894 etc. Winchesters.
Savage 1899's too. All shot well or great after. ,,,,,,,,,, Frank
 
I'd give that crawtchity old bore a good dose of Fluid Film and let it set over night.
Take a brush to it to really stir things up in there and proceed with ragging it out.
Might take a while to get the rifling corners to show up, but with 'nuff payshints
the outcome may be rewarding.

Give it a try?
 
Plug the bore and pour boiling hot water down the tube and let it stand a minute or two, Then hit it with a bronze bore brush. Put some dry patches down the bore a couple or so times and repeat until most of the rusty color has gone. THen treat the bore to some heavy duty carbon and copper cleaning. Get it ALL out, then use a patch soaked with SLIP2000 to protect the bore from further rusting. THe next day or so repeat the Slip2000 treat.

Before you shoot I would remove the carbon ring that developes on rifles that have not been cleaned much. Take a mild abrasive like JB Bore Cleaner or better yet, AUtosol (visit Canadian Tire). use an old bronze worn out brush and put some patches on over it until it is going to be snug in the bore then soak it with the JB or Autosol. Use a good bore guide and plastic push the patch in until hitting the end of the chamber right at the lands and push in farther abour three inches and back. Repeat about 20 or 30 times then do the entire bore around 10 or so times being really careful about the muzzle area.
Clean all the abrasive materials from the bore and reapply a light coat of Slip2000.

Check the barrel crown to make sure there is no damage in that area. If so take it to a gunsmith and have him recut the crown.
 
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