Magazine tube stuck - Winchester 94 pre-64

[odfox]

Hello all,

First, I'm the proud owner of a Marlin 39a (golden trigger, straight grip, ~20" barrel, but not yet marked Mountie on the barrel) and a pre-64 Winchester 94. Just recently got into lever guns, and frankly, after taking both to the range, I can't understand why it took me this long to become fascinated with them.

I do have a small problem though; after giving the Winchester '94 a brief inspection/cleaning/lubing and taking it to the range, I decided to break the beauty down and start looking for any rust that could be headed off at the pass.

I ran into some troubles in the initial takedown... someone had stripped the life out of the rear barrel band screw, and after getting that screw's carcass out and sliding the rear barrel band loose, I'm now stuck.

Or, more accurately, the magazine tube is stuck. Now, I'm not the strongest person around, nor am I a weakling, but I do have a vice with some polymer jaw pads and this magazine tube does not want to come out. Of course, it's a pre-64 and I'm not breaking out pry-bars and pliers.

I watched some videos online and everyone else's magazine tube tends to slip right out with a little wiggling... I haven't been able to find any posts here or through google searches where someone else has had this problem.

Has anyone run into this? Is this indicative of a major problem or just typical for a 50's lever that's never been disassembled before? Is there a mechanical fix or am I stuck with penetrating oil and patience?

Any feedback would be welcome. Thanks for the great forum here.

[Malamute]

Have you removed the front band screw, magazine end cap screw and spring?

The fore end should slide forward a bit after getting the band off it, that may help let the tube free up after getting the other parts off.

[odfox]

Yes sir, all the magazine internals have been removed, front band is loose, rear band is loose, and the forend is sliding up and down the tube. I am perplexed, myself. I'm almost worried about continuing to try.

If I skip it and move on to breaking down the action, is there something I can hammer with a plastic punch on the inside of the receiver to get it started?

[J Miller]

Once the barrel band screws and magazine plug screw are removed and the rear band slid off the forearm, there is nothing holding the magazine tube to the receiver. All it does is slide into a hole. Normally the band screws and the plug screw are all that hold the tube in place.

I would soak it with penetrating oil in case this area is rusted and gently work the tube as much as you can.

If it still refuses to budge then some heat right at the end of the mag tube should help.

Joe

[pwl44m]

First ! "WELCOME" I've heard of some cases where the tube is soldered in. Can U c any solder residue. I hope not but if that is the case -laeve it alone. They r only inserted about a 1/8 to 1/4 inch so should be fairly easy to wiggle loose side to side. I think Pictures would really help diagnose Ur problem.
Perry

[odfox]

I will go the route that Joe suggested above. Perry, I do not see any solder residue, though there are some hints of rust. I added some pictures.





Thank you all for reading and your help, I appreciate it.

-Shane in KY (odfox)

[pwl44m]

AH, I c UR prob. That notch in the bottom of Ur recvr prolly has a key in it to hold the mag tube in place. "C" THE pics helped.

[odfox]

Well, with my confidence restored by the good people on here that it *should* come out, I put the mag tube into the padded vice jaws, tightened it down as much as I dared, and used the receiver as my enhanced grip for wiggling and pulling.

After about a minute of wiggling back and forth and pulling, I gave it a full weight pull and it finally came loose.

It doesn't look like the mag tube was dented by the vice jaws at all, so I am cautiously optimistic there. It looks like the culprit was some rust in the receiver hole for the mag tube.

Thanks for all the feedback everyone!

-Shane in KY (odfox)

[pwl44m]

Sounds like Mission accomplished. Now clean it up and stick it back in for another 50 years. If U r new to this Game, a word of caution- it is not a Game , it is a sickness and it is to be taken VERRY seriously. There is no KNown cure. THE only relief is to buy another.
On another note note, sorry about the sarcasm in the other post, sounded kinda funny to Me.
Oh and if U need to hide a new Levergun till U can sneak it Home , theres plenty of help there too. Only thing that is required is to leave the Ammo too.
Enjoy - Perry