Just won a B92 on Gunbroker for $440.01

[KSFlatheadhunter]

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =184246141

I just won this gun a few minutes ago. My purpose for buying this unit with some rust speckles and a rough butt plate is to chop down to either a 14" SBR trapper or a 16.1" trapper and make it a weather resistant hunting companion. Hunting for boar and woods whitetails.

I would am considering cutting it to 14" and making it like the 1906 44 WCF SRC 14" 1892 with Gum Wood stocks I used to own.

Either way, I have thought about sending the metal parts to Accurate Plating and Weaponry for a MATTE hard chrome plating. Also, if the barrel doesn't shoot well, I could either replace it with a 44 Mag or possibly a .45 Colt barrel. I am not sure how much other work would need to be done if it was converted to .45 Colt.

I already know I might be stupid for wanting to hard chrome a lever gun but considering the speckling already present on the exterior, I am not too worried about keeping it original due to the current condition.

The other thought is refinish it and have Lonnie Meyer at Run-N-Iron in NE color case harden the receiver and lever and reblue it. This is assuming the speckling is only surface related and doesn't involve much if any pitting.

I appreciate your input.

Thanks,
Darin

[olyinaz]

If you've purchased it for hunting then I don't think there's anything foolish about hard chroming it or plating it with any of the other highly rust resistant coatings. After all, the stainless Rossi 92s are plenty popular. You might have the advantage of not having to fiddle with the rust if you do so because I would think that a bath to remove oxidation would be part of the process to prepare the gun for plating but maybe someone else can chime in about that.

Cutting the barrel to 16" will make it more handy for sure but I'm not sure I'd spend the money on it when you got such a good price on this Browning to begin with.

Cheers,
Oly

[Pete44ru]

FWIW, If any rifle's barrel is shortened to less then 16" from the face of the closed bolt to the crown of the muzzle, it becomes an AOW (Any Other Weapon) or Short Barreled Rifle, under Federal Law, requiring a $200 permit, IIRC.

.

[Booger Bill]

I own the same gun. I wouldnt plan on doing a thing to it until I got it and cleaned it up. As for me, I wish mine had the longer barrel. Shoot it and then decide. I am a huge guy with long arms. I lengthed mine with a pad in a leather slip. Otherwise I find the gun too small! My taste would be to have it colored case hardend if I was to change it. Frankly, outside of possibly changing the sights to your likeing, I probley would just shoot it as is. I see someone added sling swivels, so I would put a strap on it. P.S. I like the sling swivels! I might do that to mine.

[KSFlatheadhunter]

FWIW, If any rifle's barrel is shortened to less then 16" from the face of the closed bolt to the crown of the muzzle, it becomes an AOW (Any Other Weapon) or Short Barreled Rifle, under Federal Law, requiring a $200 permit, IIRC.

.

Hi Pete44ru,

Correct, I would have a 07/SOT mfgr register it and transfer it to me on an ATF form 3 (no tax paid, dealer to dealer) in order to do anything under 16". Not sure it is worth but since I can do it for free, it is kind of tempting.

I can also cut the barrel from 20" to 16" or any other length and mill a dovetail into the barrel for the front sight. I did this for my brother in law's 1894 Marlin .44 mag and he loves it. He much prefers the 16" over the 20" like me.

Darin

[KSFlatheadhunter]

If you've purchased it for hunting then I don't think there's anything foolish about hard chroming it or plating it with any of the other highly rust resistant coatings. After all, the stainless Rossi 92s are plenty popular. You might have the advantage of not having to fiddle with the rust if you do so because I would think that a bath to remove oxidation would be part of the process to prepare the gun for plating but maybe someone else can chime in about that.

Cutting the barrel to 16" will make it more handy for sure but I'm not sure I'd spend the money on it when you got such a good price on this Browning to begin with.

Cheers,
Oly

Hi Oly,

We will see how good the gun shoots before I consider anything. Some of the posts I have read on here about the B92 44 Mags finickiness about bullets has me wondering if this gun will like anything I wish to feed it.

I would not have to spend any money unless I have it hard chromed. I already got a good price quote from Accurate Plating for hard chroming it. I have parkerized my Marlin's (1894 and 1895) and I will probably Cerakote them Graphite Black over the parkerizing as soon as the weather cools down and my new gun paint curing oven arrives. I really like the Cerakote finish over parkerizing. I did my FN SPR barreled up with a .260 Rem chambered Bartlein #5.5 barrel with this paint and I haven't chipped or marred it yet except for the bolt raceway.

Thanks,
Darin

[Warhawk]

Howdy! Welcome to the forum ... Haysville huh? I spent a lot of years in Derby and Douglass, and my brother still lives in Haysville (has a Haysville address anyway).

I think you'll be tickled with that B-92, I have a pair of them, one 357 and one 44. The .44 has the typical slow (1 in 44) twist barrel and they are often oversized, I think that's where the "picky" reputation comes from. Once you find a recipe it likes you'll be fine.

I recently bought this Marlin 1894c that has been Armaloy plated. I really like it, and the plating has a self lubricating effect that really slicked up the action.

[KSFlatheadhunter]

I own the same gun. I wouldnt plan on doing a thing to it until I got it and cleaned it up. As for me, I wish mine had the longer barrel. Shoot it and then decide. I am a huge guy with long arms. I lengthed mine with a pad in a leather slip. Otherwise I find the gun too small! My taste would be to have it colored case hardend if I was to change it. Frankly, outside of possibly changing the sights to your likeing, I probley would just shoot it as is. I see someone added sling swivels, so I would put a strap on it. P.S. I like the sling swivels! I might do that to mine.

Hi Booger Bill,

I like your B92's!

I am a little guy at almost 5'8" with short arms. I usually find the "youth" models are NOT too small for me! I have shot more MP5, MP5k and short AR-15 SBR's and M16's with barrels much shorter than 16" so I have a unusual perspective in finding pistol caliber carbines with 16" barrels as being long. I went up to a MG shoot Run-N-Iron hosted at their farm a few years ago and shot into a gopher hole on the other side of the ravine. I would guess it was 90 to 110 yards away and I was shooting a HK MP5K SMG with a 5.5" barrel. With iron sights, I was driving the bullets inside the gopher hole and just seeing puffs of smoke rise out. I was sitting on the grass with my legs out in front me (knees up) and my elbows clinching the outside of the knee region in a manner that eliminate bone on bone contact. This is typical of most of my "carbine" shooting.

I agree, I need to shoot it a bunch and see what it needs first. I think the sights could definitely be changed. A nice Marbles 1/16" brass bead in the front and a Lyman or Williams receiver peep sight might be an ideal combination with a 16" barrel. If I pursued the 14" idea, I would want to put a rear ladder sight on it to match my old 14" Winnie 92 trapper that I used to own. I definitely like the sling swivels.

Thanks,
Darin

[KSFlatheadhunter]

Howdy! Welcome to the forum ... Haysville huh? I spent a lot of years in Derby and Douglass, and my brother still lives in Haysville (has a Haysville address anyway).

I think you'll be tickled with that B-92, I have a pair of them, one 357 and one 44. The .44 has the typical slow (1 in 44) twist barrel and they are often oversized, I think that's where the "picky" reputation comes from. Once you find a recipe it likes you'll be fine.

I recently bought this Marlin 1894c that has been Armaloy plated. I really like it, and the plating has a self lubricating effect that really slicked up the action.

Hi Warhawk,

Thanks, It was your picture I first saw a few days ago that got me interested in the Armaloy/Hard Chrome process. Between the corrosion resistance and the self lubricating properties, it sounds like a great hunting option.

Who knows, your brother might be my neighbor. Haysville is pretty small! I live pretty close to the "Big Ditch" off Meridian.

Thanks for sharing your pic. I like how that finish turned out.

Darin

[Warhawk]

He lives east of town, near the turnpike south of 79th street.

[KSFlatheadhunter]

He lives east of town, near the turnpike south of 79th street.

Warhawk,

We are a few miles apart. He is in a pretty quiet area except for the turnpike.

Darin

[encore4me]

Here is my gun I just got back from Accurate plating, I dont think they do Black Hard Chrome anymore. Mine is Cera-koted (black) and mate hard chromed (silver) I have also done alot of other changes as well. I am at work or I would have just posted the pictures here.
http://www.marlinowners.com/forums/inde ... 055.0.html



Matt

[KSFlatheadhunter]

Here is my gun I just got back from Accurate plating, I dont think they do Black Hard Chrome anymore. Mine is Cera-koted (black) and mate hard chromed (silver) I have also done alot of other changes as well. I am at work or I would have just posted the pictures here.
http://www.marlinowners.com/forums/inde ... 055.0.html



Matt

Thanks for the pics Matt. Your Marlin looks good!

The Black Chrome isn't very hard at all according to the gentleman at Accurate Plating I spoke to this week. Nothing like the Hard Chrome that looks matte nickel. I am torn between the Hard Chrome and the Graphite Black Cera-kote. I will do mine solid in one or other, I think.

My guide gun is pretty close to yours with the WWG Happy Trigger, Bear Proof Ejecter, DRC custom Loop, DRC Steel follower. I thinned my forearm down quite a bit on the belt sander. It is currently just parkerized but I will Graphite Black Cerakote over it once it cools down a bit. The heat index is already over 110 today.

Thanks,
Darin

[gak]

+1 don't do anything until you clean it up. My vote, unless it's really bad after initial clean up, is no "modern" treatments. It's too nice a gun - in a "classic" sense...and you can do that treatment any day to a more recent Marlin, Win or Rossi. If you're bent on shortening it, at most I'd make a "proper" pre-war trapper out of--16" (to easily/cheaply stay legal) and add a correct staple-type saddle ring. Add a ladder sight as you suggested (for your 14" concept). This combo would cost you $3-10k if a clean example of the "real article." If the receiver speckling is "a little much" but not horrendous, CCH it at most, as that's something that someone could have done back in the day, though it wasn't a standard feature. Good luck whatever you do! Pics required as you go!

Later EDIT: I just was finally able to grab your pics--doesnt look that bad--I love these deals where the gun's not perfect. I just say "Oh boy!" It does give you more "permission" to do what you want. I also just re-read your OP and while I understand the all-weather part, I'd still try to keep it from looking too "matte" or "modern" in finish, even if you do decide on a treatment. Also, I'm not sure how successfully anyone's purposefully "antiqued" one of these types. Another thought to combo with a pre-war trapper approach, especially if the rust/pitting is bad anyway.

[jd45]

Darin, congrats on the B-92! I really like your considering to re-barrel in .45 Colt, but then I'm partial to em, having 2 92s in that caliber already. I once owned a B-92, had it trimmed to 16, added a saddle-ring & marbles front bead & semi buckhorn rear sights. My best load for the .44 was 22grs H110; CCI 350 primer; & the Hornady 265FP. Even with the 16" barrel, it shot into 1-1/2" @ 100yds off the bench. The rifling is similar to Marlin's Mocrogroove. The only problem with the 265 HFP is that it won't expand at the velocity you'll get, being designed for the speeds the .444 runs at, unless you hit bone. But a .44 hole is big enough to start with, isn't it? Good luck with it...........wish I could find another one for myself. jd45

[KSFlatheadhunter]

+1 don't do anything until you clean it up. My vote, unless it's really bad after initial clean up, is no "modern" treatments. It's too nice a gun - in a "classic" sense...and you can do that treatment any day to a more recent Marlin, Win or Rossi. If you're bent on shortening it, at most I'd make a "proper" pre-war trapper out of--16" (to easily/cheaply stay legal) and add a correct staple-type saddle ring. Add a ladder sight as you suggested (for your 14" concept). This combo would cost you $3-10k if a clean example of the "real article." If the receiver speckling is "a little much" but not horrendous, CCH it at most, as that's something that someone could have done back in the day, though it wasn't a standard feature. Good luck whatever you do! Pics required as you go!

Later EDIT: I just was finally able to grab your pics--doesnt look that bad--I love these deals where the gun's not perfect. I just say "Oh boy!" It does give you more "permission" to do what you want. I also just re-read your OP and while I understand the all-weather part, I'd still try to keep it from looking too "matte" or "modern" in finish, even if you do decide on a treatment. Also, I'm not sure how successfully anyone's purposefully "antiqued" one of these types. Another thought to combo with a pre-war trapper approach, especially if the rust/pitting is bad anyway.

Yes, I am torn on what to do. The best thing I think is to take it out and shoot it until one options stands out of above the others. I am picking up a friend in a few minutes to go shoot milkjugs with .44 lever guns and he stated, "Heck, the gun looks perfect in the picks for PIG hunting, just oil it and go hunting". My inability to not tinker or modify makes that kind of hard.

Thanks for your input!,
Darin

[KSFlatheadhunter]

Darin, congrats on the B-92! I really like your considering to re-barrel in .45 Colt, but then I'm partial to em, having 2 92s in that caliber already. I once owned a B-92, had it trimmed to 16, added a saddle-ring & marbles front bead & semi buckhorn rear sights. My best load for the .44 was 22grs H110; CCI 350 primer; & the Hornady 265FP. Even with the 16" barrel, it shot into 1-1/2" @ 100yds off the bench. The rifling is similar to Marlin's Mocrogroove. The only problem with the 265 HFP is that it won't expand at the velocity you'll get, being designed for the speeds the .444 runs at, unless you hit bone. But a .44 hole is big enough to start with, isn't it? Good luck with it...........wish I could find another one for myself. jd45

Hi jd45,

Thanks for your input. I have too many thoughts and ideas about how to do these lever actions. I do some types of refinishing and gunsmithing and I have friends that can do about anything that I can't do so it is more tempting to modify stuff since it can be done without expending much money. Usually a trade of services is involved if I bring a gunsmith friend into a project.

What type of .45 barrel did you use on your conversions? twist, etc? Where did you get the saddle ring? Was it a staple or single threaded hole version?

Do you have any pictures of your B92's??? If you have trouble posting pics to the forum, my email address is darinreiss*REMOVETHIS*@hotmail.com.

Thanks,
Darin

[Streetstar]

Sounds like a pretty good deal ----- The 14 incher sounds like a very cool project as long as you cross the T's and dot the I's right (which it sounds like you are more than familiar with that process) --- but see if you can handle a 16 incher first maybe --- i have a couple of Trappers and a 1894 Marlin cut to Trapper length, and think this is about the perfect size for a really fast handling carbine with good magazine capacity (8 or 9 in the tube i think) , plus any shorter and the forearm wood might start to look a little funny.

If its already speckled up, "antiqueing" it may be a cool project --- if you can get it that muted brown "old gun" look to appear as if its 100 years old with modern internals. Then it would still be a relatively maintenance free finish ---- but hard chroming it is not a bad deal either. I also post on AR15.com and a few of the fellas who post in the Levergun sub-forum have reported doing things like that (along with mounting bayonets and tactical rails and other things AR enthusiasts are prone to do )

[gak]

Regarding the saddle ring, I've added a threaded single hole Win 94 (late type) to a Rossi, and it turned out great. Then again it was "just" an LSI-sourced model that was already messed up with the *!#?! safety, so I didn't care. On yours, I'd stay with a proper 92 staple type, and see these from time to time on Ebay, or someone may chime in here with one in their bins.

[KSFlatheadhunter]

Sounds like a pretty good deal ----- The 14 incher sounds like a very cool project as long as you cross the T's and dot the I's right (which it sounds like you are more than familiar with that process) --- but see if you can handle a 16 incher first maybe --- i have a couple of Trappers and a 1894 Marlin cut to Trapper length, and think this is about the perfect size for a really fast handling carbine with good magazine capacity (8 or 9 in the tube i think) , plus any shorter and the forearm wood might start to look a little funny.

If its already speckled up, "antiqueing" it may be a cool project --- if you can get it that muted brown "old gun" look to appear as if its 100 years old with modern internals. Then it would still be a relatively maintenance free finish ---- but hard chroming it is not a bad deal either. I also post on AR15.com and a few of the fellas who post in the Levergun sub-forum have reported doing things like that (along with mounting bayonets and tactical rails and other things AR enthusiasts are prone to do )

I am pretty familiar with the NFA stuff. I have been a Class 3 dealer since the late 1990's and three of the years were as a Class 3 manufacturer. Two other Class 3 dealers and myself went to testify on the KS House Bill to allow individuals in Kansas to have the ability to possess all types of Class 3 weapons a few years ago. I am still surprised it became law!!!!! My neighbor, Phil Journey, was the Senator that drafted and introduced the bill for us. He was quite helpful on this and he also pushed for OVER 10 years to Concealed Carry Legal in Kansas. We really appreciate all of his and MANY other Senators and Representatives help in gun related laws. Our NRA Lobbyist, Jordan Austin, was VERY helpful also.

The 16" is plenty short for shooting I think. The 14" would be more for it's uniqueness and to make a modern copy of the Winnie I used to own. My Dad dropped off his 1924 Trapper for me to fondle for a week or so. Maybe playing with his antique will satisfy the 14" temptation.

Here is a couple of pics of the Rossi I was shooting this afternoon laying beside my Dad's Trapper. I REALLY like Steve's receiver peep sight! I did the action job on this gun last week according to Steve's video and it made a HUGE difference. The ejector spring switch was very noticeable. The other mods really helped slick up the Rossi. My wife really liked the Steve Young bolt peep. She said she could acquire a target faster than she could with a scope or the regular Rossi rear sight. She is wanting to go pig hunting down in OK with one.

[KSFlatheadhunter]

Regarding the saddle ring, I've added a threaded single hole Win 94 (late type) to a Rossi, and it turned out great. Then again it was "just" an LSI-sourced model that was already messed up with the *!#?! safety, so I didn't care. On yours, I'd stay with a proper 92 staple type, and see these from time to time on Ebay, or someone may chime in here with one in their bins.

I agree, the Rossi bolt mounted safety is a (^(*&(* BUT, am very pleased with Steve's peep sight that replaces it. It is very low profile and it appears to be very sturdy.

I will have to look on Ebay for the staple types. Have you seen any pictorial/tutorials of installing one on the web?

Thanks,
Darin

[gak]

Regarding the saddle ring, I've added a threaded single hole Win 94 (late type) to a Rossi, and it turned out great. Then again it was "just" an LSI-sourced model that was already messed up with the *!#?! safety, so I didn't care. On yours, I'd stay with a proper 92 staple type, and see these from time to time on Ebay, or someone may chime in here with one in their bins.

I agree, the Rossi bolt mounted safety is a (^(*&(* BUT, am very pleased with Steve's peep sight that replaces it. It is very low profile and it appears to be very sturdy.

I will have to look on Ebay for the staple types. Have you seen any pictorial/tutorials of installing one on the web?

Thanks,
Darin

----
I have not seen a tutorial. Someone I'm sure will chime in here, perhaps Steve himself. I've heard it's not for the faint of heart (I admitting to being such regarding such!) -- for exact installation...versus the threaded type...but which I also had professionally installed just to make sure it was "just so." Others more handy with such may say no big deal even regarding the staple type.
I got rid of the LSI (in favor of an un-safetied EMF) before I had a chance to try Steve's fixes out, but if I end up with another safety model, I'll at least be trying out his plug!

[KSFlatheadhunter]

Regarding the saddle ring, I've added a threaded single hole Win 94 (late type) to a Rossi, and it turned out great. Then again it was "just" an LSI-sourced model that was already messed up with the *!#?! safety, so I didn't care. On yours, I'd stay with a proper 92 staple type, and see these from time to time on Ebay, or someone may chime in here with one in their bins.

I agree, the Rossi bolt mounted safety is a (^(*&(* BUT, am very pleased with Steve's peep sight that replaces it. It is very low profile and it appears to be very sturdy.

I will have to look on Ebay for the staple types. Have you seen any pictorial/tutorials of installing one on the web?

Thanks,
Darin

----
I have not seen a tutorial. Someone I'm sure will chime in here, perhaps Steve himself. I've heard it's not for the faint of heart (I admitting to being such regarding such!) -- for exact installation...versus the threaded type...but which I also had professionally installed just to make sure it was "just so." Others more handy with such may say no big deal even regarding the staple type.
I got rid of the LSI (in favor of an un-safetied EMF) before I had a chance to try Steve's fixes out, but if I end up with another safety model, I'll at least be trying out his plug!

I am not sure how I would "buck" the inside of the receiver to property fold and "rivet" the staple. I spent 6 hours on the mill making a clamshell jig to hold an MP5/MP5K barreled receiver so the barrel pin could be driven out in a hydraulic press so I would probably have fun making some kind of jig but not sure it would be worth the effort.

Thanks,
Darin