So I was gifted with a Win, Model 94 .30-.30. I ran the serial number and it was made in 1915. It is in very good condition other than there is a very, very slight bulge in the barrel about 6" from the muzzle. Likely the previous owner maybe shot it one time with some mud in the muzzle or something. I had one smith look at it and he said it was probably OK to shoot, but I am a little leery of it. So my question is, should I just save it as a wall hanger or should I get it re-barreled? My son really wants a 30-30 lever so I was thinking of doing the latter. Where is the best place to find a barrel?
Gunsmithing lever gun advice needed
- Thread starter tomcat mv
- Start date
Re: lever gun advice needed
lever guns are much more difficult to rebarrel than say a M700. You could possibly find a barrel through Gunparts Corp that would already have all the funky cuts made and just need installation and headspace checked. The rotary dovetail for the magazine band is a headache if you barrel from scratch. You could also elect to reline the barrel which would keep all your original markings. The bulge could be removed and the barrel re-blued. Use someone for the reline that uses the hammer forged liners from T.J.s ( you can see the specs for the liners on the Track of the Wolf web site)
lever guns are much more difficult to rebarrel than say a M700. You could possibly find a barrel through Gunparts Corp that would already have all the funky cuts made and just need installation and headspace checked. The rotary dovetail for the magazine band is a headache if you barrel from scratch. You could also elect to reline the barrel which would keep all your original markings. The bulge could be removed and the barrel re-blued. Use someone for the reline that uses the hammer forged liners from T.J.s ( you can see the specs for the liners on the Track of the Wolf web site)
Re: lever gun advice needed
Have you considered handloading lead bullets and seeing how it shoots as is? Frequently bulged barrels and/or pitted barrels will surprise you.
Have you considered handloading lead bullets and seeing how it shoots as is? Frequently bulged barrels and/or pitted barrels will surprise you.
Re: lever gun advice needed
1915... a bit shy of 100 years old. a piece of americana. leave it the way it is, make it a conversation piece. by the time you make it like "new" much more will be spent than finding a relatively new angle eject lever gun that a scope can be easily mounted on. just idle thoughts from a keyboard.
1915... a bit shy of 100 years old. a piece of americana. leave it the way it is, make it a conversation piece. by the time you make it like "new" much more will be spent than finding a relatively new angle eject lever gun that a scope can be easily mounted on. just idle thoughts from a keyboard.
Re: lever gun advice needed
Yeah, I'm kinda thinking the same thing. A couple years ago I picked up a Winchester 94 commemorative Bowie knife. I'm thinking about making a really nice wood and glass display case and hanging gun and nice with some spent 30-30 cartidge cases. Would be great "wall art".
Yeah, I'm kinda thinking the same thing. A couple years ago I picked up a Winchester 94 commemorative Bowie knife. I'm thinking about making a really nice wood and glass display case and hanging gun and nice with some spent 30-30 cartidge cases. Would be great "wall art".
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