Win 94 30-30 excess headspace?

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muskwa

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My lever .30-30 is pushing the primers out of the cartridges by about .050". How does one tighten the headspace? Do you have to screw the barrel in one turn and re-ream the chamber or is there an easier way? Is it worth doing or just ignore it and watch the brass for stretching?

TIA

Gavin
 
I had a Marlin 336 do the same thing, only about 0.030" the smith I took it to said it wasn't an issue. If it was to start showing signs of leakage then you have an issue.

Because of the sight on the barrel and the slot under the barrel for the mag tube it has to be turned in one full turn as you thought. The cost at that time was near $150.

Get a pro to give you their opinion on just how far the primer can back out and still be safe, and a quote on a fix. The money saved based on a web opinion (mine!!), isn't worth any possible injury should one come out.
 
Because of the low pressure of the 30-30 the brass is not forced back against the bolt face hard enough during firing to keep the primer from poping out.
If you loaded a 30-06, or anything else, to equaly low pressures it could show the same problem.

Every 30-30 I have shot had primers that came out a little. That is not to say that you do not have head space issues. The only way to know is to get a gun smith to throw a gauge in and test it.
 
"...a shim on the bolt face..." That does nothing.
Muskwa. What ammo are you using? Have the headspace checked anyway, but primers backing out can also be caused by very hot loads. If you're not seeing any other indications of excessive headspace, it's more likely to be ammo related.
"...how far the primer can back out and still be safe..." None.
 
Projecting primers are very common with the Winchester Models 1894 and 94. The weak rear locking action coupled with the relatively low pressure 30-30 cartridge account for this. Excessive head-space is seldom a problem but a dirty chamber can exaberate the condition.
 
sunray said:
"...a shim on the bolt face..." That does nothing.
Muskwa. What ammo are you using? Have the headspace checked anyway, but primers backing out can also be caused by very hot loads. If you're not seeing any other indications of excessive headspace, it's more likely to be ammo related.
"...how far the primer can back out and still be safe..." None.
Click to expand...

I have had gunsmiths do the shim on the boltface on 94 Win's before, works like a charm.
Try posting when you actually have the knowledge of what you're talking about.
 
sunray said:
"...a shim on the bolt face..." That does nothing.
Muskwa. What ammo are you using? Have the headspace checked anyway, but primers backing out can also be caused by very hot loads. If you're not seeing any other indications of excessive headspace, it's more likely to be ammo related.
"...how far the primer can back out and still be safe..." None.
Click to expand...

It would be like changing the bolthead on a 303 enfield from a #1 to a #2 by adding the shim to the win94 bolt.Same result,less headspace.
(#2 bolthead is longer in length)
 
Last edited:
sunray said:
"...a shim on the bolt face..." That does nothing.
Muskwa. What ammo are you using? Have the headspace checked anyway, but primers backing out can also be caused by very hot loads. If you're not seeing any other indications of excessive headspace, it's more likely to be ammo related.
"...how far the primer can back out and still be safe..." None.
Click to expand...

Sorry, you are mistaken about this matter on both counts. The shim DOES remedy IF a bit of excessive headspace is there. And Primer backing out is never caused by Hot loads. The Primer may be excessively flattened by hot loads, and if the load is really hot, the primer pocket will expand to the point that the primer will fall out of the fired case when the action is opened. Primers backing out a bit on these lever rifles is almost always caused by mild loads, which includes most factory ammo since it is loaded to take into consideration some of the older rifles around that are still in service. Regards, Eagleye.
 
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