Author Topic: Loading gate problem on Winchester lever action saddle carbine  (Read 6507 times)

Offline blackpowder

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Hi all around,

Just acquired a brand new out of the box Winchester 1894 .30-30 cal produced in 1981. It should hold 5 cartridges in the 16' tube magazine. Actually, I can load only 3 because after the 3rd round the loading gate can not be depressed anymore because the forward edge of the gate hits the rim of the last cartridge - or in other words, the rear of the last cartridge blocks the downward movement of the loading gate by slipping too far back just behind the gate. It seems the magazine tube spring exerts to much pressure on the cartridges after loading about 3 rounds.

Is this a common problem? Anyone had this before ? Can anyone help?  ???

Many thanks, Blackpowder

"A horse is a horse, it ain't make a difference what color it is" -  John Wayne

Offline Coffinmaker

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Re: Loading gate problem on Winchester lever action saddle carbine
« Reply #1 on: May 07, 2018, 09:22:12 AM »
UNLESS I am hugely mistaken, your rifle has a "Plug" in the magazine.  Some jurisdictions only allow just so many rounds in a magazine rifle.  So the Manufacturer ships the rifle with a plug that limits the number of rounds.

First up is to take the magazine apart and look for a plug.  Take the plug out and put it somewhere safe (like a trash can).

Next to check is the length of spring.  You only need about a full cartridge length (30-30) sticking out beyond the end of the magazine tube.

Problem is NOT the loading gate.

Offline blackpowder

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Re: Loading gate problem on Winchester lever action saddle carbine
« Reply #2 on: May 08, 2018, 06:56:07 AM »
thanks for the tip ! That is a good possibility - had such a plug in a shotgun once. I will check it out.  :D
"A horse is a horse, it ain't make a difference what color it is" -  John Wayne

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Offline blackpowder

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Re: Loading gate problem on Winchester lever action saddle carbine
« Reply #3 on: May 27, 2018, 03:31:43 AM »
sorry for the late reply - was out of town and just now got around to it. Removed the mag. spring. No plug. Shortened the spring anyway as it was way too long. Cleaned out the magazine tube and reassembled. Problem persists. I can load 5 cartridges into the magazine now but have to play around and wiggle the loading gate down because it catches on the rear end of the last cartridge rim. the loading affair is time consuming and the loading gate takes some manipulating to depress it far enough to be able to load another cartridge. Also, the action works with round nose bullets but not so well with flat noses as the soft flat nose gets caught on the way into the chamber......

This is a Winchester commemorative model "Boarder Patrol" from 1981 and has never been shot. Maybe that's just the way they are out of the box and I have to take it for tuning? What should I do? Thanks! (photo of gun attached).

"A horse is a horse, it ain't make a difference what color it is" -  John Wayne

Offline Abilene

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Re: Loading gate problem on Winchester lever action saddle carbine
« Reply #4 on: May 27, 2018, 09:15:43 AM »
Sounds like you are loading rounds into the loading gate one at a time, with the gate closing after each round.  If so, try pushing them in one after the other, so that  the base of the cartridge is still sticking out of the gate a bit until pushed in by the nose of the following cartridge.   That is the way I load all my lever actions, although I'll admit have never done it with a 30 30.

Offline blackpowder

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Re: Loading gate problem on Winchester lever action saddle carbine
« Reply #5 on: May 27, 2018, 04:54:02 PM »
I tried it. It works but is a little awkward because of the long cartridges.....
"A horse is a horse, it ain't make a difference what color it is" -  John Wayne

Offline greyhawk

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Re: Loading gate problem on Winchester lever action saddle carbine
« Reply #6 on: May 27, 2018, 05:14:56 PM »
Sounds like you are loading rounds into the loading gate one at a time, with the gate closing after each round.  If so, try pushing them in one after the other, so that  the base of the cartridge is still sticking out of the gate a bit until pushed in by the nose of the following cartridge.   That is the way I load all my lever actions, although I'll admit have never done it with a 30 30.

Abilene
yes to this - thought that was how ya sposed ta did it

Blackpowder
just tried my 38/55 (similar vintage) you did well to get it to take any after the gate closed - mine wont
soon as the gate shuts the round inside is pushed back onto the carrier and thats it! she wont take anymore.
 the pistol calibre models (92) will do it (and maybe a 44/40 in a 94) but put one them long boolits in yr 94 then take a peek down inside - the front end of the closed loading gate is way up near the front end ot the round laying on the carrier they not made to be loaded like you tried --- a 92 will do it cuz the last round is much further forward in relation to the gate and there is a little projection on back of the loading gate that  squeezes that last round forward to let the gate open -----66, 73, 76 no problem - they all load through the action body behind the carrier - can top em up anytime ya feel inclined. Nothin wuz wrong with the gun - just  a little driver unfamiliarity.     They hada do somethin different to get a short built action to take a long boolit - my Browning built 71 wont take a part reload either and I would guess neither will a 86? 

Offline greyhawk

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Re: Loading gate problem on Winchester lever action saddle carbine
« Reply #7 on: May 27, 2018, 05:33:01 PM »
I tried it. It works but is a little awkward because of the long cartridges.....

You'll get the hang of it -- cradle the forearm in the bend of yr left elbow with yr left hand back along the action - first or second finger of left hand slips up to hold the butt of the shell while your right hand feeds another in from behind - the other way is to let the gate go half shut behind the shell but that not so good because if it snaps shut and releases the round inside - you sunk!!

Offline Thumb Buster

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Re: Loading gate problem on Winchester lever action saddle carbine
« Reply #8 on: May 28, 2018, 11:42:48 AM »
That's what I have to do with my pre-'94 1894. Shove the cartridge in just so the rim is holding the gate open otherwise it takes a bit to get another one in.


"Those who pound their guns into plowshears will plow for those who didn't"  --Thomas Jefferson

Offline blackpowder

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Re: Loading gate problem on Winchester lever action saddle carbine
« Reply #9 on: May 28, 2018, 12:57:29 PM »
@grayhawk - right you are. I got the hang of it now and no more problems loading. I also fixed another problem. I noticed that more often than not my soft lead flat nose bullets got snagged on the way into the chamber while my lead round nose bullets loaded flawlessly. The flat noses always had a nick or groove on the tip after ejecting. So I took a small piece of rather coarse sandpaper and twisted the bullet noses into it a bit, taking the edge off, and they load much better now. Seems the action of the '94 doesnt like the flat-noses that much.

Anyway, thanks everyone for all the help!  :D
"A horse is a horse, it ain't make a difference what color it is" -  John Wayne

Offline Montana Slim

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Re: Loading gate problem on Winchester lever action saddle carbine
« Reply #10 on: September 30, 2018, 10:55:35 PM »
A little late... but, I'll add that a slight break edge (radius or chamfer) to the back-side edge of the loading gate will go a ways to ease your pain.
Would be a nice detail for the manufacturer to add.

I did this on my Rossi .357 carbine years ago. I can single load rounds all the way past the gate & top-off easily at will.
I rarely shoot this rifle for "cowboy", but it drops pesky groundhogs nicely.

Regards,
Slim
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