USAF Shirt
02-17-2013, 11:23 AM
Fellas, I am pulling my hair out with my Winchester 94, .44 mag (centennial model) and could use some help before I wrap it around a tree.
The gun is all but new...perfect through and through...But shoots like garbage. I have tried all manner of loads ranging from the Lee 310, Lee 240 FP, RCBS 250-K, and numerous J-word loads (and factory). All are shooting in the 4-5 inch range at 30 yards at best.
One issue that is obvious is my Mag tube...with the barrel band screw, and magazine cap screw tight, the mag tube has a very noticeable amount of play in it..To the point that I am concerned that repeated recoil may cause the magazine cap screw (that runs into the bottom of the barrel) will enlarge an mess everything up further. I have heard folks getting a dovetail milled for the mag tube/barrel junction, but not sure I want to go to the expense of this if my accuracy stays the same.
I also know some say a loose mag tube is actually good for accuracy, essentially (almost) free floating the barrel, but something has to be causing this thing to shoot like ****, and the tube is way looser than any other lever I have owned or handled.
Anyone have any recommendations? I have even tried electrical tape as a shim around the barrel, under the barrel band, and it tightened up, but no accuracy improvement..
Help!
The gun is all but new...perfect through and through...But shoots like garbage. I have tried all manner of loads ranging from the Lee 310, Lee 240 FP, RCBS 250-K, and numerous J-word loads (and factory). All are shooting in the 4-5 inch range at 30 yards at best.
One issue that is obvious is my Mag tube...with the barrel band screw, and magazine cap screw tight, the mag tube has a very noticeable amount of play in it..To the point that I am concerned that repeated recoil may cause the magazine cap screw (that runs into the bottom of the barrel) will enlarge an mess everything up further. I have heard folks getting a dovetail milled for the mag tube/barrel junction, but not sure I want to go to the expense of this if my accuracy stays the same.
I also know some say a loose mag tube is actually good for accuracy, essentially (almost) free floating the barrel, but something has to be causing this thing to shoot like ****, and the tube is way looser than any other lever I have owned or handled.
Anyone have any recommendations? I have even tried electrical tape as a shim around the barrel, under the barrel band, and it tightened up, but no accuracy improvement..
Help!