'94 Win Barrel Band Question

[MTT TL]

I have a 1965 Winchester 94 that has an irritating slide to the front stock. Anyway I took the barrel band off for the first time in about 15 years to see what was going on in there and realize that the screw is bent in the middle.

Is the screw supposed to be bent? I am not sure.

 

[James K]

Pretty much yes. The factory could have relieved that screw, but in practice, they just drove it in and bent it. That not only makes it hard to remove the screw, but will bind the barrel and hurt accuracy. For good accuracy, the groove in the barrel needs filed so it holds the screw snugly but without bending. (That is the main reason for the 94's reputation as inaccurate; with the forearm loose or removed altogether, the little rifle shoots very well.

Jim

 

[Malamute]

I don't believe the screw should be bent. They are available from several sources of Winchester parts. The factory may have some also.

Try www.winchesterbob.com

If you don't come up with one, pm me, I have other names and addresses.

 

[MTT TL]

(That is the main reason for the 94's reputation as inaccurate; with the forearm loose or removed altogether, the little rifle shoots very well.

So the forearm is supposed to be loose? Now I am really confused, why would they design a loose forearm?

I don't believe the screw should be bent. They are available from several sources of Winchester parts.

That is the thing, the new screws are not bent, but the one in the rifle looks to clean for it to have been random.

 

[James K]

They didn't design the forearm to be loose, but in the old days they fitted it so it was snug but there was still room for expansion without warping the barrel. In later rifles, they just cranked them out and didn't care because no one expected good accuracy. Just about every one of those screws I removed had been bent when installed at the factory and there was no way to get a new one in without bending it or cutting a larger slot in the barrel. I think they did it that way to make sure things were tight.

If in doubt, get a new screw and try to install it.

Jim

 

[MTT TL]

Jim I thank you for your help you seem very knowledgeable on the rifle. I am curious, If I remove the fore stock to improve accuracy what should I use to protect my hands from the barrel? The barrel seems to heat up quickly after 4-5 shots.

Also the gun is simply not very accurate, do you have any other suggestions to improve this? I have had the gun for a long time but have not shot it much lately due to the lack of accuracy.

 

[Malamute]

There's some information regarding accurizing levers here.

http://www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/chapter23.htm


Most 94's that I've had would shoot pretty well, a few have shot under 1" groups @ 100 yards with iron sights for 3 shots. Having the barrel really clean may help. It may be copper fouled, and a "regular" cleaning isnt going to get it out. A serious copper removal regimen may improve your gun's performance. Decent sights help also, a good receiver sight and a square blade front seem to help me.

 

[James K]

Well, that is the problem. I have fired a 94 without the foreend, but off a bench where I wasn't holding the gun normally. As Malamute says, the guns are accurate (Winchester didn't make many bad barrels), but with the foreend binding, any barrel heating distorts the barrel.

I suggest the following: Obtain a couple of new foreend screws in case you ruin one. Remove the band and foreend. Make sure the screw will go through the band easily and without bending. Then drill/file the barrel slot and the hole in the wood until the screw will go through the band and the stock with no binding.

Then file/grind the inside of the band if necessary so it is snug on the barrel but not tight. All this may result in some slight lengthwise movement of the foreend. If that bothers you, you can shim it at the receiver, but only enough to snug it up.

With the proviso that all the other rules about barrel condition apply, the accuracy should improve considerably.

Jim