This is a 1942 gun, caliber 32WS. Seems to function and shoot fine but closing the bolt takes more effort that what I would expect when I close the action slowly. This happens even on an empty case that I can drop or push with little effort into the chamber all the way up to the case rim.
The bolt runs smoothly all the way to the point where the extractor rides over the rim of the case. Moving the extractor over the rim is where the force is required when I close the action slowly. If I run the lever hard, there's no problem- closes right up. Either way, the extractor leaves a light gouge on the rim when the case is extracted.
An empty case drops into the chamber without any resistance. Case length is well within the limits. The milled cutout in the end of the barrel for the extractor is clean. There is no crud under the extractor or on the bolt face. The case rims are clean.
It seems to me the extractor spring is way tougher than it should be. I can't budge it with a finger under the claw, which is very sharp. I can lift it with a wooden dowel under the claw, but it takes force.
The only problem I can imagine is this: if the extractor was replaced at one time with a new one, and If the original factory assembly of the rifle required honing of the extractor claw or spring to make it close smoothly over a case rim, possibly the person who placed a new extractor did not know this and never hand-worked the new extractor before or after installing it,
The above is just a guess.
Incidentally, I am accustomed to years of levering with the Marlin 336, all of which I've owned closed on a loaded round with minimal effort. And I do notice that the extractor spring on my 336's are relatively weak compared to that on this particular Model 94.
So maybe what I'm dealing with here is simply Winchester's reputation of strong extractor springs. I've read an identical concern that another lad posted on The Firing Line years ago with his Win94. Unfortunately he never followed up with the thread.
Any thoughts from you 94 experts on my situation?