Replace locking bolt on Winchester 94?

TheCoachZed

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
40   0   0
Hey y'all,

I gots a Winchester 94 that I'd like to tighten up the headspace on. It's OK for now - sloppy, but will get me through hunting season, LGS didn't seem the slightest bit concerned when he looked at it, even though he confirmed its size. All he did was tell me how to reload more effectively for it :cool:.

But I am thinking I might tune this rifle up and keep it. I know a source for oversized locking bolts. What I do not know is:

1). How to measure my headspace without any complicated trickery, to know which bolt I need
2). How much hand fitting is required to make the new locking bolt fit. I am handy enough I can re-assemble most guns (except boxlocks ... :mad:) with parts left over and have them work well. Have torn down many shotguns and some rifles sans manual and fixed 'em. I have no experience on the Model 94, though.
 
Hate to sound all second guessy, but what makes you think it has a headspace issue?

1) There are gauges for measuring headspace...I'm thinking that's rim on 30-30, but a lot of people mean from the shoulder.
2)Fitting a bolt properly would require the same gauge in 1). I'm not going to pretend to have changed '94 bolt, so have no clue how much fitting it'll take. That depends on the new bolt, and what you have now.
 
Last edited:
If you have a source for oversize parts, ask the source where to measure to figure out what you can do.

The smart money is on following the advice of the guy that was telling you how to reload for YOUR rifle, in my opinion.

Oh yeah. Headspace gages. Quantify! Some or a little bit, does not count. Put numbers and measurements to it.

Cheers
Trev
 
Have you thought about having an electroplating shop plate the locking bolt to increase the thickness of the plate? Elwood Epps used to do this fifty years ago.

He did it on hundreds of Lee Enfield bolt heads, too.
Ted
 
Back
Top Bottom