How hard would it be to convert a winchester 1895 to 7.62x54r I have been really wanting a "russian" military 1895 but being they're so rare over here (5k+) in bad shape. And I can buy a donor 1895 for 900 or so bucks how hard would it be to rebarrel (rechamber) plus the bolt face and magazine work. Thank you for your time.
Rechambering/rebarreling/converting a winchester 1895 to 7.62x54r
- Thread starter Cowboyhelltown
- Start date
You would have to get the barrel set back as the 7.62x54R is shorter at the shoulder and overall length than the two next most suitable chamberings, 303Brit and 30-40 Krag.
After that's done, the fore end may be a bit sloppy as well as the band.
It's doable and would likely be cheaper that picking up a milsurp 1895 Russian Contract.
IMHO, just get a new barrel and have it fitted. If you stick with milsurp ammo, you won't have any issues with a .308 bore diameter and if you handload, you can always use .308 projectiles which are much more readily available with a good variety by several makers.
After that's done, the fore end may be a bit sloppy as well as the band.
It's doable and would likely be cheaper that picking up a milsurp 1895 Russian Contract.
IMHO, just get a new barrel and have it fitted. If you stick with milsurp ammo, you won't have any issues with a .308 bore diameter and if you handload, you can always use .308 projectiles which are much more readily available with a good variety by several makers.
I have rebarreled a M95. Machining and installing a new barrel is straightforward. So that part is doable.
Bolt face and extractor would need to be reworked.
No idea about the magazine alterations.
Were you wanting to duplicate the military appearance with long forend and bands?
Might be an interesting project for a do it yourself.
If you are going to be paying a 'smith to do it, the cost could be pretty stiff.
Not many gunsmiths are going to have a 7.62x54R reamer. Might have to add that to the total. Couple of hundred right there.
A Lee Enfield barrel could be adapted. Bore size is OK, there is enough shank to set the barrel back, recut the threads, and rechamber.
As Bearhunter mentioned, using a .30 barrel makes a lot of good bullets available.
Bolt face and extractor would need to be reworked.
No idea about the magazine alterations.
Were you wanting to duplicate the military appearance with long forend and bands?
Might be an interesting project for a do it yourself.
If you are going to be paying a 'smith to do it, the cost could be pretty stiff.
Not many gunsmiths are going to have a 7.62x54R reamer. Might have to add that to the total. Couple of hundred right there.
A Lee Enfield barrel could be adapted. Bore size is OK, there is enough shank to set the barrel back, recut the threads, and rechamber.
As Bearhunter mentioned, using a .30 barrel makes a lot of good bullets available.
He could come up with something reasonably close and doable from a converted sporting rifle, IF he stayed with a Carbine configuration.
One of the major jobs would be making up a ''charger bridge'' to span the receiver.
I may be wrong but I believe Sarco/Numrich and a couple of other importers in the US had stripped receivers and a few bolts from the Russian Model 95s.
The rest of the parts would be interchangeable with those from a donor rifle.
Hard to say what the OP's priorities are. How original does he want it to look????
One of the major jobs would be making up a ''charger bridge'' to span the receiver.
I may be wrong but I believe Sarco/Numrich and a couple of other importers in the US had stripped receivers and a few bolts from the Russian Model 95s.
The rest of the parts would be interchangeable with those from a donor rifle.
Hard to say what the OP's priorities are. How original does he want it to look????
That was quite a while back.
In those days no one really bothered or or worried about a bore that was a few thousanths of an inch small or large, other than a few match type shooters and a few that were aware of how much bore diameter has an effect on accuracy.
There was a time when you could buy jacketed 30 cal bullets from CIL in diameters ranging from .300 up to .340 in .001 increments.
In those days no one really bothered or or worried about a bore that was a few thousanths of an inch small or large, other than a few match type shooters and a few that were aware of how much bore diameter has an effect on accuracy.
There was a time when you could buy jacketed 30 cal bullets from CIL in diameters ranging from .300 up to .340 in .001 increments.
