Win 94 under carrier jam- inevitable?

[furrow]

I have a big bore 94 in .444 M. If I purchase and install the new part will it eventually wear down like the original? I have lost confidence in my 94's.

Chris

[J Miller]

I have a big bore 94 in .444 M. If I purchase and install the new part will it eventually wear down like the original? I have lost confidence in my 94's.

Chris

Chris,
The cartridge stop on the link is not a normal wear area. I've had over 15 Win 94s from all vintages and one (1) and only one has had this problem.

With the advent of the internet we who shoot these things congregate and discuss it more than ever in the past, so it might seem to be an inevitable problem. It isn't.

Buy the new link, or have the original repaired, but make sure there isn't an excessive amount of play at the link pin or screw. The later years got pretty sloppy in that area.

Joe

[Pete44ru]

I simply peened the stop on my .356 BB94, to get that little bit extra length needed - 30mins total (only 2 cans/beer ), did the dirty deed.

.

[Malamute]

I've had about 30 or so 94's of various vintages and never had this problem. Hadn't even heard of it until recently. I'd say fix it and enjoy your rifle. The models using thicker bodied cartridges may be more finely tuned as to cartridge stop length, but it shouldn't be too hard to get it squared away.

[retmech]

I think part of the problem is the new link is either some type of sintered metal part or a very soft investment casting. I had a similar problem on a 94AE in .357. I ordered a new link which fixed it for a couple hundred rounds then it started to fail. In the picture on the left that was the new link which shows indentation after 100 rds or so. The one on the right was the one welded and modified which BTW is still going strong,

[Tycer]

My 357 did it too, Winchester replaced it free. I bought a second one and if the replacement fails I will use my backup as a template for the weld repair fix.

[J Miller]

retmech,

I have to agree, the metal looks to be quite soft in that one. I'm not convinced USRAC even cared one bit towards the last several years. I'm sure they just tossed them together with out any attention to detail.
Some parts got the proper heat treatment, some didn't.

I think you weld and re-contour repair was probably the best idea.

Tycer,
Fix the old one using the new one as a template now, before the new ones goes bad.

Joe

[Hobie]

I have a big bore 94 in .444 M. If I purchase and install the new part will it eventually wear down like the original? I have lost confidence in my 94's.

Chris

Chris,
The cartridge stop on the link is not a normal wear area. I've had over 15 Win 94s from all vintages and one (1) and only one has had this problem.

With the advent of the internet we who shoot these things congregate and discuss it more than ever in the past, so it might seem to be an inevitable problem. It isn't.

Buy the new link, or have the original repaired, but make sure there isn't an excessive amount of play at the link pin or screw. The later years got pretty sloppy in that area.

Joe

Dittos. I've seen the problem with exactly ONE rifle of some 70-80 I've shot, zeroed, owned... That was a 1970 era .44 Mag.

[pokey]

I've had about 30 or so 94's of various vintages and never had this problem. Hadn't even heard of it until recently. I'd say fix it and enjoy your rifle. The models using thicker bodied cartridges may be more finely tuned as to cartridge stop length, but it shouldn't be too hard to get it squared away.

same-same

might own that many right now, if it weren't for that unfortunate canoe accident.

[C. Cash]

My 1992 vintage Big Bore94 in 356 is still going strong...not a hitch. My 1970's Mod. 94 I did have a problem with the under the carrier jamb, but my Dad fixed it and it still works fine.

[Griff]

I have a big bore 94 in .444 M. If I purchase and install the new part will it eventually wear down like the original? I have lost confidence in my 94's.
Chris

Fix yours. Harden the area... problem solved. I have fair number of Winchester 94s, vintages from 1898 to 1978... encountered exactly ZERO examples of the "under-carrier" jam.

[Tycer]

Tycer,
Fix the old one using the new one as a template now, before the new ones goes bad.

Joe

I worded that wrong. I have four 94ae 357s that work flawlessly. IF any of them break, I have a replacement that will only be used as a template.

[furrow]

Thanks gentlemen. I will first try to find a competent smith to weld and re-contour. That way I will know that the resulting metal is hard. A new part might be just as soft as the original. I don't want to do this twice.



Chris

[J Miller]

Chris,

Let us know how it turns out.

Joe

[El Chivo]

I bought new links a while ago, haven't had to put them in yet.

What I did for my .357 was file down the stop, not to shorten the length, but to decrease the slope of the front of it so when the lever is down, the stop has a face that is perpendicular to the cartridge butt. It's just at that last second that the cartridge pops over the stop, and the original shape is slightly angled, so, if there's a little slop or delay it goes right over. Seems to help.

[Nath]

Chris if you don't have a problem don't worry friend

It hardly ever happens and you most likely will get a symptom first anyway.

Nath.