Action on a '94 Winchester

[Jailhouse Jim, SASS #13104]

Realizing the Winchester 1894 will never be a fast rifle and not beleaguering what everyone thinks is the best rifle for the sport, what if anything can be done to smooth or lighten the action of a '94 Trails End? It will never be a '92 or even close but this is a reliable rifle in every other way.

 

One would naturally consider lightening the hammer spring. Has anyone done this and how much can be cut off? Magazine spring tension ideas? The action is such that little can be done with it so is there anything else I haven't thought of? Sometimes a little can mean a lot once it is all put together.

 

Jailhouse Jim

[Marshal Phil DeGrave SASS #55202]

I cut 4 coils off the mainspring/hammerspring. Another thing I did that made a HUGE difference is to remove (did I say that out load) a little lock pin thingy at the bottom of the receiver. It holds the lever in place when lever is closed. I know this is some kind of safety, but it works fine (so far) with out it. If you don't want to remove this part, rework it so it doesn't have such a sharp end on it.

 

I also stoned most of the moving parts to allow things to move a little more easily.

 

Little Joe Knottright noticed a big diffenrence in my rifle after doing all this. Notice I'm not the one shootin it.

[Grizzly Adams 3674]

Good information and directions can be found at The Mohave Gambler's website. How to tune up a Winchester 94.

[Rowdy Yates, SASS #141]

http://www.hobbygunsmith.com/Archives/May04/Interview.htm

http://www.hobbygunsmith.com/Archives/June04/Interview.htm

[Nota John, SASS #51089L]

I am also not a fast shooter but made my 94AE easier to operate simply by replacing the hammer spring with one from Wolff Springs and replacing the magazine spring with one from Long Hunter. Hope this helps. Nota John

[Blackwater 53393]

Check with Willy McCoy at www.cowboyactionguns.com . He's done a couple for long range rifle caliber that are smooth and fast for that dicipline.

[Nate Kiowa Jones #6765]

There are a few sort of tricks like cutting the rebound legs off the hammer spring strut but For the best setup I convert them back to 1/4 cock guns. This requires some parts like hammer, sears and struts but you end up with an original style action with a 1/4 cock safety.

[Jailhouse Jim, SASS #13104]

Thanks for the information fellas, I'll start digesting it when I get done shootin' tomorrow evening and clean it. I want to get through the Western Regional in November then I will look at tearing it down for real.

 

JJ-D