old 1892 project gun

[pmer]

I happened across a old 1892 receiver with a bad barrel and am wanting to make a shooter out of it. It was originally chambered for 32-20. I picked up 24"octagon barrel that is stamped 25-20 but it has been rebored to 357.
To convert the action to 357 the bolt face and cartridge guides have to be opened up.

My problem is that I'm not sure that I want to change it to 357. How would this old girl be in 357?

And I got a feeling I might be missing out on shooting either the 25-20 or 32-20. How good are these cartridges to load and shoot for?

[Dan Cash]

The .32-20 is a real champion cartridge. I suspect the .25 is too but have never worked with one. My .32-20 is perhaps my most useful and often used rifle.

[adrians]

The .32-20 is a real champion cartridge. I suspect the .25 is too but have never worked with one. My .32-20 is perhaps my most useful and often used rifle.

Yup,^^ I shoot my 32-20 more than any other rifle I have and it's a hoot...[smilie=p:

[snaketail]

My $.02 - go with the 32-20.
M

[fouronesix]

32-20! Did someone say 32-20? :)

[pmer]

Hmm 32-20, would the 357 bore size hamper relining back to 32-20?

[bob208]

I like the .25-20 more it seams to hit harder and shoot flatter. but a .32-20 will do fine also.

[dverna]

It may depend on your intended purpose.

For cheap and easy to reload - I would go with .38/.357. Pistol cases are easy to get, cheap, and allow the use of a carbide sizing die. I have three rifles in .38/.357 and love them all.

Plus if you ever decide to do some Cowboy Action shooting you have the rifle. The 1892 is not the fastest CAS rifle but it will allow you to compete and have fun.

Don Verna

[Dan Cash]

Hmm 32-20, would the 357 bore size hamper relining back to 32-20?
Probably not. Ask John Taylor, a member of this forum. He does first class reline work among other gunsmithing tasks.

[missionary5155]

Greetings
I have a couple 32-20's..
How "bad" is the barrel ? The absolute worse thing is if the muzzle is "wallowed" out from cleaning. If there is rifling.. even interupted rifle like my 1873 it may still shoot OK out to 50 yards. Mine was good enough for minute of groundhog out to 35 yards.
Mike in Peru

[williamwaco]

Many years ago - 1950 to 60 +/- many '92's were converted to .357 Mag.
They would shoot fine but I never saw one that would feed reliably.
I know that would depend on the skill of the gunsmith that converted it but I would recommend you stick with the cartridge that action rails were created for.

[Geppetto]

Boy, sure looks like it would be a fun one in .357. Really cheap and plentiful to feed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFxqbY4nsdQ

[kmag]

Have a '92 that I sent to P. O. Ackley in the '60's. He changed it from 32-20 to 357 mag and opened the rails for the 357. Feeds and shoots every type of round nose flat tip or swc that I have ever tried in it. Both jacketed and cast. I have no ideas how many rounds of 357's and 38 spec. have gone through this gun in the years I have owned it.

Getting old now but will probably have it when I kick the bucket. It is a fun gun. It also has personality, looks old but is in fine shape and works every time I shoot it.

[w30wcf]

Hmm 32-20, would the 357 bore size hamper relining back to 32-20?

pmer,
I acquired an original '92 Winchester that was originally chambered in .25-20 but had been converted to .357. I had it relined back to .25-20. The barrel is drilled out for the liner to fit so going back to .32-20 is not a problem.

w30wcf

[Outpost75]

Probably not. Ask John Taylor, a member of this forum. He does first class reline work among other gunsmithing tasks.

+1 on John Taylor.

[Uncle R.]

Have a '92 that I sent to P. O. Ackley in the '60's. He changed it from 32-20 to 357 mag and opened the rails for the 357. Feeds and shoots every type of round nose flat tip or swc that I have ever tried in it. Both jacketed and cast. I have no ideas how many rounds of 357's and 38 spec. have gone through this gun in the years I have owned it.

Getting old now but will probably have it when I kick the bucket. It is a fun gun. It also has personality, looks old but is in fine shape and works every time I shoot it.

What a fine thing to have!
I'm not surprised to read that it feeds well - if Ackley did the work I'd expect nothing less than perfection. I'm a bit young to have known him or dealt with him but based on much that I've read he's something of a personal hero to me. I'd love to have a rifle with his name stamped on it.
<
The Good Book says "thou shalt not covet" but I confess an Ackley modified '92 incites a bit of that sin in my heart.
Just a bit - I hope.
<
I can see why you would want to hang on to that rifle, but if you ever should consider selling...
[smilie=1:
<
Uncle R.

[Wind]

Hey there pmer -- John Taylor would be an excellent choice to do the reline. http://www.johntaylormachine.com/49.0.html And TJ's would be a great source for liners...

93501

John installed a TJ's liner in my 1893...

93502 93503

Hope this helps. Best regards. Wind

[Iowa Fox]

I'd get a Green Mtn barrel and send it to Mike Hunter and let him roll stamp it, chamber in 32-20. It will be as close to a new old stock barrel as you'll get. Plus the price is reasonable.

[pmer]

Thanks for all the input guys. The barrel has a slight bend to the left and the first third of the rifling is basically gone. It's a 1903 and shows plenty of use. It needs the whole magazine tube assembly & stocks and sights.

So far I have disassembled the receiver for cleaning and put it back together. All the parts look good except for the screw that holds the loading gate in place. Its screw driver slot gave out and I had to use a extractor bit to remove it. I went the way gasoline and tooth brush to clean the parts and coated them with Kroil and used Break Free CLP during assembly.

I got the .357 barrel from Wind, and it is very nice inside and out. The bore is excellent and the chamber is nice and tight compared to fired cases from other .357s I have. I bet it would shoot 358429 170 grain SWCs good because it has a faster twist than my Rossi.

I wonder if something that long would feed through the guides if converted?

Would a gun smith just remove material from the guide on the right side?

[schutzen]

Don't ever return it to .32-20!!! The little Bas____s are extremely addictive. You will wind up buying more and shooting them more. They are the curse of the casting and reloading class. I love all 5 of mine and I'll make it 6 if a good deal comes along. It is a sweet caliber.

[pmer]

Say, will the standard 32-20 mag tube work with the 357/ 38Spl cases? Wondering because the rim is a little bigger.