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I've picked up a lever action Winchester 1892 in 44-40 that is in great condition apart from being that inaccurate that it's not funny.
At 25 meters, it won't hit a meter by meter target.
There's no consistancy just bullets going everywhere.
It's been in the family at least 3 generations and I'm keen to get it working again.
Given its age, (produced somewhere between 1892 and 1945), can these be rebarrelled , or will it remain a historical curiosity?
I'm wondering if the barrel needs a good clean. Were you using factory ammo?
Shooting jacketed closed-base bullets through a worn barrel?
You maybe want soft lead bullets which obturate better.
Explain?Quote:
Originally Posted by Cordite
Have been using factory bullets of unknown age or make, they came with the rifle when my father was given it back in the late 50s.
Probably hasn't been cleaned in the last 60 years, but probably only had a couple of dozen rounds through it as my father prefers duck shooting.
Task one, clean it
Try slugging the barrel?
And adjusting the iron sights?
A recrown would be a good idea at some point
Soft lead bullets can expand into the bore because of the pressure acting behind them.Its also known as "setting up",some early Bullet types had a hollow base to facilitate obturation.However those usually only obturated to the diameter of the cartridge neck and part of the chamber.Quote:
Originally Posted by Max Headroom
A gently pressure curve such as what is developed using Black powder is considered better for "setting up" than a steep pressure curve such as smokeless produces.
I would start by cleaning the bore,then trying some different loads.What looks like a very worn bore in the old guns can shoot surprisingly well with lead bullets.Especially those cast and sized to the correct ,(worn) bore diameter.
44 40 began life as a lead bulleted pistol round. Do as norsk has says clean it is step 1. I would then fire one of those bullets into the dirt and recover it to see if theres rifling engagement. If you dont cast or know someone who does track down the local cowboy action club someone there will be able to help. Dont worry about a pitted bore, I have a snider carbine with a bore that looks like the surface of the moon but it shoots within 18 inch at 100 yards which is pretty ok for a snider.
just looked on trademe and there is set of old school LEE loader dies with bits n bobs to go with it...price is up there but would be well worth it long term.
check for loose bits on rifle....is forestock doing something really daft,and are projectiles hitting end on or keyholing??? does crown/muzzle look off shape???eg has some fool in the past pulled cleaning cord over on edge and worn a groove to stuff crown???
perservere with it as they are a neat rifle .
I would also try some ammunition that is less than 60 years old. It is likely that the ammo has degraded more over that time than the rifle has.
@Manchester, have you got any photos of the fine old gun?
Really? I thought it was a rifle round first, (Pedantic I know)Quote:
Originally Posted by Marty Henry
The old 92's had a fairly thin barrel and a drop of water, snow, or mud in the muzzle could cause a bulge right at the muzzle which is very hard to see. If the barrel looks good to the eye from the muzzle but still shoots all over the county then that is the probable cause. The muzzle can be shortened and recrowned (and the mag shortened accordingly) by any competent gunsmith.
@gundoc what sort of time frame/cost to do a recrown and possibly a rethread on a 22 lever?
Bit more of a PITA to set up due to the action?
Might need some dovetails cut too
Thoughts?
There is no need to set it up in a lathe. They can be cut, squared, and crowned by hand with perfect results. Go and see my old apprentice, Zach at North Canterbury Gunsmithing in Flaxton, and he will be able to sort you out.Quote:
Originally Posted by csmiffy
@gundoc cheers. I have seen some tools online for just this purpose if that is what he is using
he was the guy I had in mind. cutting the thread for a silencer is a bit more of challenge plus the dove tail for the front sight (probably not even needed) and the mag tube
All you need to clean up the crown is one of the little tap washer grind sets for a few dollars at miter-10. You can do it by just gentaly half rotating the grinding ball by hand and checking it by eye.
'92s can be rebarreled with a '94 barrel but you'll be left with a small slot under the barrel about where the mag of a short magazine carbine finishes. Of no consequence.
I had one done but my gunsmith said it was the tightest be-atch of the barrel to get out. Threads probably corroded with age (1896) plus he had to be careful gripping the rather thin-walled receiver so as not to distort it.
We still havent seen the rifle in question
Work in progress on the photos. My gun safe is chocka, so it's in my folks on the other side of the island
Be interested in the outcome of this thread,I have one that shoots about 6in group @30m.
A few photos showing the barrel. Trying to get a few more showing general rifle and the rifling Attachment 118960
OK, it is 20" barrel saddle carbine. My earlier comments about muzzle damage are particularly relevant as these carbines have very thin barrel walls at the muzzle. If any significant muzzle trimming is needed then I would advise leaving it alone. It is worth more in its original inaccurate condition as a collector's item ($800-$1000). Shortening the barrel to improve accuracy will detract from the collector value.
So an update on the rifle...
Thanks to Finn, at Fishing and Hunting CHB, I was able to get necessary cleaning gear (harder than I thought as no one really stocks that calibre), I was able to make a start on giving it a decent clean. After the brush and patches and a couple of teas, I was able to see rifling for the first time since the rifle was made.
Grabbed a packet of hornady cowboy ammo and an old Drench container and set off.
10 metres - hit
30 meters - hit
50 meters - hits
All up 9 out of 10 shots hit the drench container, although mostly higher than where I was aiming.
Couldn't test out to any further range as I was shooting off the deck with the container on a fence post, and I didn't want to climb the electric fence.
So now for a decent clean and another pack of ammo
Good to see youre getting some kind of accuracy out of the old girl.
Ive got one here in half mag. Inherited also. Was once used to smash a dog over the head who was more interested in fighting other dogs than the pigs targeted. The barrel got bent and an engineer straitened it out.
Not sure if im game to shoot the old gun, Still a neat talking piece.
I have a short mag one As well,sounds like it’s worth more as a collectors piece.
