My current "Putter Project" is a type 3 Winchester 1890 conversion to Center fire and .25ACP cartridge use.
The 'donor' is a hodge-podge of used parts mostly purchased off Ebay over Months.
I first bought a Front housing, a Stripped Bolt, and a used Firing pin with spring to see if the rifle would lend itself to such a conversion. Machined an Aluminum Alloy slug to fit the Barrel spigot threads and center drilled it to guide a 3/16" Transfer punch concentric with the intended barrel bore.
The transfer punch marked the Bolt Body where the CF firing Pin Tip would need to appear. Inspecting the Bolt Face it seemed the Tip was close enough to the Center of the Original firing pin body to be feasible, so the original tip hole was filled with a steel rivet, the existing tip ground off the Firing pin, and a 5/64" hole was drilled in the bolt face and supported Firing Pin body with the Bolt held aligned in a Machinist vise.
Success!
The hole in the Firing Pin end was clear of the side wall so a 5/64"x1/2" Dowel Pin was Pressed into the Firing Pin body hole; then tried in the Bolt body. It fit but too tight for proper use so the Bolt face hole was opened out one Number Size to give a little clearance.
Now the Extended new 'tip' was way too long so it was rough trimmed using a 'Dremel' thin abrasive Cut Off Wheel.
The 'dowel' Firing Pin Tip is still slightly too long but will be left as is until final fitting time.
Next is the Magazine; a Replacement ".22WRF" magazine tube set (inner and outer) was purchased and a .25ACP cartridge tried in both tubes. The Cartridge would clear the constriction holding the spring follower in it, Great! the Loading port in the Side of the outer tube was long enough but needed widening to clear the Cartridge's larger Bullet, Body, and Rim diameters. The 'Dremel' was used again.
A Winchester 1890 Rear, trigger, Housing complete with a 'S-L-LR' capable cartridge lifter assembly, hammer, trigger, and Springs was found and purchased off Ebay. The adjustable length take scare of the cartridge length.
The Diameter of the Carrier "bore" will need to be opened out to fit the larger diameter of the .25ACP rim with some clearance for free movement.
- This work is still to be done.
Next, a Model 62 Operating Slide, Forearm Wood, Screws and Escutcheons, and a Slide Retainer Cover with screw were Purchased off Ebay, again patience wins.
The Cover was found NOT to fit the Forward Housing dove tail due to the edges of the Screw rebate intersecting the dovetail being 'peened' down enough to block the cover entry.
- This will be reworked later, possibly with the careful use of a cold chisel with a 60 Degree included angle edge to carefully lift the 'Peened' corners up again.
The next major part is a Barrel; and a 'cheap' candidate was found on Ebay as a cut down '.22WRF Barrel with a Bad bore slightly longer than 20 inches overall with apparently rusty, but complete, Threads and repairable dovetail slots for sights and Magazine retainer rings. It was Purchased for $20.00 Plus shipping.
Now I needed it fitted with a Liner (previous purchase from "Track of The Wolfe" (TOTW) a couple of years earlier. it is a .25ACP sized (.250" Groove/.243"+ bore) 1:14 inch twist 6 land/groove 'hammer forged' reportedly made by T.J.s Liners for TOTW.
John Taylor (Taylor Machine of Puyallup, WA was contacted and Agreed to do the Liner installation. In the 'excitement' of packaging the Liner and donor barrel for shipment I accidentally sent the wrong barrel soo I had to send the correct donor barrel in a following mailing. John agreed to also get another T.J.'s Liner for .25ACP and line BOTH donor barrels.
I now have the two back vary beautifully lined and awaiting final work, such as Chambers and extractor cuts to be done later. John did chase the threads on the Winchester Barrel so they are clean and screwed smoothly into the front Housing nicely.
THANK YOU, John Taylor!
- Still to be done: order a REVOLVER style .25ACP Finish Chamber Reamer, with replaceable pilot bushings, to cut the chamber as a parallel Straight walled one.
I have found, to my sorrow, that a 'Standard .25ACP Semi-Auto" chamber's taper allows the Case Body ahead of the Case Web to 'bulge' in a ring on fired cartridges. Not Good for Long Case life in Reloading.
From previously purchased items, I have both Buttstock and Buttplate to use on this 'Putter Project'.
Now to wait 'Patiently' for money to order the reamer and for it to be made.
Best Regards,
Chev. William