Winchester 94 foreend screw Help

[Moondawg]

This is embarrasing. I took my 1951 vintage Winchester model 94 carbine apart and cleaned decades of gunk out of it. I have the thing completely back together, and everything works like it is supposed to, EXCEPT. I cannot get the screw that goes through the foreend and rear barrel band to line up and screw itself into the opposite hole in the barrel band. The threads are not stripped, it is not cross threading, it has lots of clearance and is not hanging up on anything. It just plain will not line up and screw in. It always seems to be a thousandth off or something. I took the barrel band off and holding just the barrel band, i can stick the screw through the holes, line it up and it screws right in. Put the barrel band back on the foreend and the blasted little screw wil not line up with its opposite hole enough to screw in. I have spent hours on it and it is driving me crazy. Is there some kind of trick to getting it to line up? Has anyone else ever had this problem. Is my rifle haunted?

[harry]

Did you put the band on the right way?
Harry

[J Miller]

The barrel band screws go in from the left side. Sometimes you have to twist, turn, and work the wood, band and screw back into the exact place it's been for decades. Sometimes a word or two with a plastic mallet helps. Sometimes it's best to set it down and go watch very long NASCAR race then go back to it.

Joe

[Moondawg]

The barrel bands are on with screws going in from the left to right. the foreend fits onto the action pretty snug and the barrel band is quite snug on the foreend so there is not a whole lot of wiggling I can do. Everything seems lined up perfectly, but like I said the screw always seems to be maybe a thousandth or two off. I'll keep working at it. Hopefully one of these days the blasted screw will decide to go in its hole.

[Malamute]

If it's very close (like not a half hole or more off), and was on that gun to begin with, I've had fair results with some firm downward pressure on the screwdriver, it can help the screw find it's way into the hole and start the threads. This works with a solid bench for the gun to lay on, and you can get right over it with a good fitting screw driver. Pay attention while doing it, and don't try to go too far at once, control over the screw driver is paramount. If you slip, you will say a bad word and your gun will be ugly.

[allhands]

When I worked at Cabelas, my boss used to call this the,"Famous Winchester bent screw." If it won't go in, reverse the whole process and try again. If it doesn't work again, like someone said, walk away, do something else and come back to it. The bent screw will straighten itself out if you leave it alone!!!!!!!!

[Moondawg]

Thank you one and all. I tried the firm pressure on the screwdriver trick that Malamute suggested and it worked like a charm. After a week of fussin, that little rascal is in like it belongs. Once again, Thanks Ya'll.