Winchester problem.

[Bruce McAskill]

Someone I know has a spring tube Winchester completely apart with a bad receiver. He found a receiver just a few numbers away from the bad one. The problem is the barrel will not index on the received and is about a 1/4 of an inch short of being lined up. He is trying to find someone who can take the inside of the receiver where it mates to the barrel down enough to install the barrel. He doesn't want to take the barrel down as that would mean having the skirt removed and this carbine is in the collector category.

So does anyone have any ideas how to do this????

Information

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[rcathey]

Hmm..
I’ve seen spring loaded devices that assist in lapping locking lugs in a bolt action. It threads into the receiver like a barrel and pushes back on the bolt.

What if instead of just pushing back on the bolt it had a pad that was abrasive or could be used with lapping compound. This could then be threaded in and out of the receiver. It wouldn’t be quick but you could sneak up on a perfect fit that way.

[bobg]

I've had several of those and they are easy to fix. If the barrel is 1/4" from index when hand tightened, a wrench will pull it in. If its a 1/4" out when tightened with a wrench, then put the barrel in a lathe and turn a couple of thousands off the shoulder . That should bring it in. You can calculate the exact amount if you know the barrel shank threads. The skirt will probably be okay for that small of an amount, but it can be shortened with a stone, file, or dremel tool if necessary. Do not try to shorten it with the lathe. Its to thin and will break. Be sure to check headspace afterwards.

[tenOC]

I wouldn't cut the receiver, but that's his choice and just my opinion.
Check to see if it's the shoulder that's fouling draw-in first. It could very well be. You can shave it down with a fresh set of Nicholson Hobby files; the flat one in the bunch. This was a problem I had.

ALSO, with an ordinary receiver wrench he's going to break the receiver at the spring tube when he loads up and turns it in. You can't use the sloppy things selling on ebay and GB we use on regular receivers with integral tube. Believe me. You can't shim them properly with a spring tube. This happens ALL the time on spring tube receivers. I don't know why long barrel draw-ins are frequent with Winchester but they seem to be.

I'm not a smith or even that knowledgeable, but I've done lots of swaps. You can file the barrel shoulders with a fresh jeweler's file to take it down if you have deft hands and are committed to diligence and quality work in small increments. You will need to do the same to the shoulder to get it to fit.

[browningautorifle]

Check to see if it's the shoulder that's fouling draw-in first. It could very well be.

Could be as simple as rough machining. Don't alter the receiver.

[imarangemaster]

I did one barrel swap years ago. I had the same problem. I used a fine machinist file and took a smidge of the shoulder of the barrel. It was easier than you think.

[tenOC]

Agreed. It doesn't take much work. And then double check the skirt for contacting the receiver again. That's probably what was fouling mine but I didn't know to check.

[manteo97]

100% agree with bobg. Shoulder must be done in a lathe if it's really tight but with 1/4 turn to go, not hand filing ( not precise enough). Thread is 3/4-20, ie one rotation 0.050", so 1/4 turn is 0.0125. My experience is that is a bit excessive, where I have had to machine off about .004 to .006 from the shoulder.

[imarangemaster]

100% agree with bobg. Shoulder must be done in a lathe if it's really tight but with 1/4 turn to go, not hand filing ( not precise enough). Thread is 3/4-20, ie one rotation 0.050", so 1/4 turn is 0.0125. My experience is that is a bit excessive, where I have had to machine off about .004 to .006 from the shoulder.

Not a quarter turn, but rather 1/4" shy of index. That is about a1/10 turn.

[painter777]

I was hoping Nigerian BobbieG and Manteo would Chime in.

Too bad Manteo is in Canada.
I know where BobG is....

Bruce couldn't find a Smith in his area to take it on.
And this is for someone who really deserves a Break.

I hope this thread continues and wish there was a way to show illustrations of step by steps.
Would make for a useful Sticky when barrels tighten BEFORE OR AFTER INDEX MARKS.

When tight this one is still a 1/4" out from meeting the receiver Index line.

When taking Both Index lines in to account:

What should the distance for the Barrels index line be BEFORE THE FINAL TIGHTEN?
When Hand Tight... Would 1/16" to 3/32" sound about right ?

Thanks all,