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View Full Version : Winchester 94 chambers?



Canuck Bob
12-09-2011, 07:59 PM
Here is a link to the SAAMI spec Winchester chamber for the 32 Special.

http://www.saami.org/PubResources/CC_Drawings/Rifle/32%20Winchester%20Special.pdf

The 30-30 is the same. Basically the case is .040 shorter than the chamber and there is no ball seat just a 15 degree forcing cone. For the sake of an education in cast rifles and shooting I am wondering about a couple of things based on the following discussion.

http://www.mountainmolds.com/helpRifle.htm

The 38-55 brass can be reworked to fit the chamber better as far as length is concerned. It would require neck reaming and resizing of course. Is the large gap between case and chamber front a problem as reported above for cast and paper patch bullets?

A simple throating job would also present a cast friendly throat for good results with the right bullet. Certainly a proper ball seat is considered the best for an accurate rifle.

I'm hoping to discuss the theory and technology of these ideas and not the economic sense of doing it. Getting too technical with a lever gun is far from sensible and one can spend good money after bad quickly in any rifle customization. Still, as a hardcore lever rifleman I sometimes think we limit ourselves a bit with the attitude its just a rear locking lever deer rifle not a benchrest rifle.

Junior sure got my attention. I really want to develop my lever skills and equipment like this. To rattle off 1 1/2" groups with a peep sighted 94 would be an achievment indeed.

http://www.castbullet.com/shooting/accu.htm

samcolt87
12-24-2011, 05:51 PM
good luck, I also want to shrink my groups with the addition of a peep sight.

35remington
12-24-2011, 11:31 PM
To know what you have in chamber dimensions for sure, I'd certainly strongly recommend a chamber casting. Neck length in levergun chambers has a tendency to be overlong, which also doesn't help anything, as mentioned in the linked website.

The deceptive part of a "simple" throating job is to cut the throat and the leade straight with the chamber. It is worth the peace of mind to make sure the reamer is centered, and that may require the services of a well centered lathe, as opposed to simply hand reaming, unless you take pains to make sure the reamer is straight by some other method.

A throating reamer can be quite easily off centered if done by hand.