'94 rebarreled to .219 zipper

[bensonwe]

Anyone rebarrel a winchester '94 .30-30 into a .219 zipper? if so could i get some direction on how to go about doing this?

[Reg]

Fellow I knew did one many years ago. I think he modified the ctg. guides and cut back the stop on the follower a bit. Worked real well, always wanted to put one togeather for myself but at the current price of 94 action guns it might not happen.

[frank505]

Always wanted one, but the price of an original zipper is stupid thanks to the collectors. A 30/30 with Speer 110 grain HP flat points will do about all you need, I have killed prairie dogs at 200 yards and aperture sights and coyotes all over with the same. Plus the 30 caliber just hit harder.

[joatmon]

I've wondered if you could leave the chamber (eccept neck) intack and line the barrel and neck then cut the proper neck? Doubt I'll ever try but it seems doable. Then you'd have to address the feeding.

Aaron

[bob208]

a .25-35 would be a more fesable converson. but i have never done a conversion to zipper.

[GOPHER SLAYER]

Bensonwe, if you have a model 94 in 30-30 and a 219 zipper cartridge just see if it will cycle thru the action into the barrel. Since the zipper uses the same case the action may not need any work. As I am sure you are aware, you could not use pointed bullets in the '94 which would handicap the round as a varmit cartridge. I once owned a single shot in 219 zipper improved and it was a hot round. It would equal the 22-250. Talk about noise.

[bensonwe]

Gopher Slayer, a .219 zipper will cycle and chamber so all I need is a barrel in .219 zipper? If i can find one is it as simple as twisting the .30-30 barrel off and twisting the .219 on, lining up the sights of coarse?

[John Taylor]

I'm in the proses of doing an extra barrel for a take-down 94 in 219. Any .224 barrel with a 1 in 9 twist or there abouts will work. Head space is set same as 30-30 and the bottom of the barrel needs to have room for the mag tube. Have not checked the feed but it will feed a 25-35, just can't close the action all the way. Hard to fine ammo for checking it out.
Ammo is $79 at Buffalo arms.

[Gtek]

I gave it some thought a while back, thought about it long enough to talk myself out of it. As stated earlier, flat nosed for tube and losing something there. I really looked at velocities, only running 200 or so behind .223. I went leaning toward a single to allow full advantage of projectile configuration in an H&R or something in .223 and cut chamber on the cheap. Then all the brass needs working, like I said, talked myself right off that road. Gtek

[bob208]

i know the 25-35 and the .30-30 will interchange. i have take down rifles in both cal. i swaped the barrels and the cartrages worked throught the actions.

[KCSO]

With the cost of ammo, brass and relaoding equipment the 219 Zipper is a pretty spendy conversion. In addition the last time I checked rent a reamer didn't have 219 reamers on hand. They are a special order from Manson and you would probably have to buy the reamers for your smith. Then you have to decide if you want to load the original Zipper with it's odd bore or a modern Zipper with a standard bore and a lighter bullet. Wea had a boogered 223 O/U Savage that we were going to convert and decided it was to spendy a project.

[exblaster]

I do not think a 219 Zipper reamer will clean up a 223 chamber but you might try a 225 Winchester. Brass and dies are cheaper and about the same velocity as the Zipper.


Exblaster

[gnoahhh]

I would shy away from a .225 Winchester in a M94. That's a pretty hot cartridge for that action. Even though we are astute enough to load it mildly, there will come a time when an unsuspecting soul will feed it factory ammo.

Personally I think a .219 Zipper is great idea, the reamer and loading dies being the only major hurdle to overcome. I think the main reason Winchester dropped it from their lever action lineup was conventional wisdom held that a high velocity centerfire .22 was a varmint round only, and needed to be in a bolt gun or single shot to wring every last bit of performance out of it. (That plus the need to use RN/FN bullets in the tubular magazine.) It's a ballistic twin to the old Savage .22 HiPower, with the advantage of using .224 bullets rather than .228's. The old Savage HP was (and still is, from personal experience) a dandy deer killing machine.

[Bret4207]

With the cost of ammo, brass and relaoding equipment the 219 Zipper is a pretty spendy conversion. In addition the last time I checked rent a reamer didn't have 219 reamers on hand. They are a special order from Manson and you would probably have to buy the reamers for your smith. Then you have to decide if you want to load the original Zipper with it's odd bore or a modern Zipper with a standard bore and a lighter bullet. Wea had a boogered 223 O/U Savage that we were going to convert and decided it was to spendy a project.

I believe the odd bore size you're thinking of is the 22 Savage Hi Power.


I've always lusted after a Zipper in a 94 or Marlin, prefer the Marlin. I've seen exactly one over the years! For a "walking varmint rifle" in a lever gun the 25-35 has a lot going for it, the Ackley version has oodles more going for it! No matter what, it's not going to be cheap or simple.

[Bob Busetti]

I don't have a 94 in 219 Zipper. I do have a hiwall Winchester that was rebarreled to 219 Zipper. What a shooter! I also made cases from 30/30 and 25/35. Way easy to make them is from 25/35. The zipper seems to like 50 grain bullets stoked with 28 grs. 4895 or 4064. I have shot numerous groups under 1/2" at 100 yds. Of course the 14 power Unertil helps alot. I have been shooting gophers and such with it in the high meadows of Co. I have had some people tell me what a bad round the Zipper, but I am happy with it.
Bob

[Catshooter]

A Zipper will not clean up a 223 chamber. Almost, but not quite. The 225 Winchester will clean up in the 223, but I wouldn't chamber a 94 for it. It runs to hot as another poster noted.


Cat

[W.R.Buchanan]

Here's a little tidbit,,, the .225 Win was actually nearly identical to the .219 Ackley Improved Zipper. I remember all the controversy when Winchestter started chambering the M70 in .225 Win and dropped the .220 Swift.

One of my biggest regrets in the gun world is not purchasing the M64 in .219 Zipper from the hardware store in Illinois for the outrageous price of $110! and it was perfect. It was also 1971 and nobody cared..

Maybe that time machine will come about soon.

Randy