Winchester 94 forend screw from hell.

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northern skies

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I took the screw out of a '94. The screw had no wear on it, as if it had never been removed. Now the screw won't thread back in. I've tried everything I can think of:

- The screw seems to line up with opposite-side barrel band hole, occasionally looking off by .025" or so, but generally lined up with the hole.
- The screw will thread straight through the threaded side of the barrel band from the outside with no problems, so I know there are no stripped threads anywhere.
- The screw appears straight and true when rolled across a flat surface, and it does not appear to "wobble" at all when turned in its forend hole.
- I have tried using strong force on the screwdriver to get it to thread in, repeated times, to no avail.
- I have tried pushing and turning the screw while torquing the forend in different directions and putting different pressures on the barrel band, without result.

Am I missing some sort of trick to this?
 
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have you tried to open the barrel band a bit to ensure it's straight on? I've had to do this then the screw will tighten the band.

Pictures might help
 
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I would take the barrel band off then check that the screw threads just on its own just to check it hasn't warped or anything even if it hasn't just repositioning the band can be enough to get screws to align.

One more thing make sure you have proper fitting screwdrivers it's one of the most requested part I get asked for from people who screw up the heads of the screw using a bad fitting screwdriver. That and the magazine end cap screw.
 
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Yes I've had that before. Screw not lining up all thouth it looks like it. Looking through the hole is the barrel to much in the way or the barrel band is spread too far a part. Slightly compress the band while inserting the screw helps, rubber capped woodworking clamps work good. Or a small round file to the bottom of the screw alignment barrel notch, 1 or 2 strokes at a time it don't take much.
 
I had bought a pre-64 Win 94 carbine a few years ago. From pictures, etc. the front band was installed backwards - the screw is apparently supposed to be inserted from the left side. This one had the screw head on the right. Was a major "battle" to get that screw thread to "catch" once I reversed the band - installed so much easier the "wrong way", so before continuing with the above suggestions, just confirm that you have that front band installed with the correct face forward. I never did find what exactly was different, but always suspected that the through hole in the wood may not have been perfectly right angles to the bore line?
 
Those can be a royal pain - all above, check it is going in from the left. it should insert easily all the way through the fore end past the barrel and magazine, you should not have to turn it (there are no threads in there).

0.025" is a huge amount for that particular screw to be out of alignment. it really needs to be exact.

- clean out the end of the receiver, barrel band and (receiver) end of the stock to make sure there is no crap, wood chips etc preventing it from fully seating in the receiver

still no go?

- try to install the screw without the magazine - a bent magazine can bind it up pretty good too.
- you do have the notch in the magazine lined up with the notch in the barrel? and the magazine is fully seated?
- make sure the fore end is fully seated, use a rubber mallet if needed.

still no go?

Particularly rainy you say? maybe the for end swelled some, leave it dry for a bit and see if things change....

still no??

- then you got me.... all I can say is that those holes need to line up exactly. If you try to force the screw to catch, you WILL strip it - so figure out what is not lining up.


Last resort, you can open up the holes in the fore end slightly - though if it was fitting before you probably shouldn't wind up at that point.
 
Isn't there a notch in the barrel for the screw to pass through? Got that lined up?

I have a tap here somewhere for that, you might try and chase the threads. Built some loops a few years ago out of 304SS with a sling loop and bought a tap for it
 
I got my Chapmans out, took a little advise from everyone's post and within 45 minutes I had the screw wound home without damaging the slot. ☺☺☺

Merry Christmas
 
If that thread is still pooched, PM me and I'll mail you the tap to chase the threads, you can send it back after.
 
Good that you got it done...

I have used a good fitting bit in a drill at slow speed with a lot of pressure to get them to catch... some are really hard...
 
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