Winchester 94 Build 38-55
Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 9:29 am
Well, its been a long time coming. I have been roughly working on this rifle for almost a year now. Someone locally was selling a Winchester 94 20" carbine 30-30 which was made in 1979. Since it was born the same year I was....I figured it would make a nice project. I had been wanting a 38-55 so that is the route I decided to take.
The original rifle had no finish on it and was missing the front band. The metal was rough in some places so I had plenty metal prep to do.
I went ahead and ordered a 26" octagon barrel in 38-55 along with the magazine tube.
I ordered a stock set off of eBay (Mistake). It was very rough fitting and my lack of woodworking skill really did a number on the stock. I sent it to a friend here and he said it could be saved but would be ugly.....Then we found out the forearm was not the right one. So......a complete waste of money on the wood.
For the receiver I was going to send it off for Color Case Hardening but then decided I would go with a worn look for this build instead.
The rifle sat dormant for months as I did other things but recently I decided to start working on it some more in my free time....what little I have. I was ordering me some parts from Numrich and seen they had a buttstock like I wanted. I jumped on it because I was having a hard time finding curved buttplate stocks for a post 64 94.
This thread will hopefully show the progression of this build. Its still a ways from being finished. Need the barrel installed and headspaced and then I will order the forearm when I measure and see just what length I need.
Anyways....here are a few pics. Still have some metal work left to do to get the gun to have the look I want but maybe you can get the idea. Also, I will be working with the stock once I get the forearm to get it to look like the gun has been used.
Here is when I first got the gun;
The first stock set I purchased and could not make work. The buttstock was so far out of spec in different places that I (being limited in stock making skills) could not make it work.
After a little work;
Finally decided to do some real work on it at the push of a friend who wanted to see this rifle make some progress.
Got the metal ready to finish then I ordered some Van's Instant Gun Blue and when it arrived I blued the rifle parts that needed to be blued. Then I rubbed some of it off and added some Plum Brown to give it a more of a worn appearance. The barrel and magazine was already blued when I got it so I sanded down some spots and added some of the plum brown. You really have to keep it oiled at first or the Plum brown will take over and create the "rust" or "powder" feel.
Receiver was put back together and then photographed.
Barrel is on and headspaced. The vise rubbed off some of the finish which I think I like. (Remember I will be going for a worn look)
Now that the barrel is on and headspaced I can measure for the forend to hopefully get the right length this time.
Note that the magazine tube is still not cut.
Now the Magazine tube has been cut to size and fitted to the rifle.
Hope you guys dont mind the progress pics. I had this on another forum before I knew this one existed. Figured I would post it here also.
I have the rest of the parts ordered. Some I have had to re-order because they did not fit or were otherwise wrong. Its been a learning experience but a fun one.
Forend should be here soon and I sure hope it fits. Eventually I will put a Tang sight it as well as a Lyman 17 Globe sight up front.
I will also be Doctoring up the wood once I get the rest done. I will give it an older look also but I want to get the forend in and do it all at the same time.
The original rifle had no finish on it and was missing the front band. The metal was rough in some places so I had plenty metal prep to do.
I went ahead and ordered a 26" octagon barrel in 38-55 along with the magazine tube.
I ordered a stock set off of eBay (Mistake). It was very rough fitting and my lack of woodworking skill really did a number on the stock. I sent it to a friend here and he said it could be saved but would be ugly.....Then we found out the forearm was not the right one. So......a complete waste of money on the wood.
For the receiver I was going to send it off for Color Case Hardening but then decided I would go with a worn look for this build instead.
The rifle sat dormant for months as I did other things but recently I decided to start working on it some more in my free time....what little I have. I was ordering me some parts from Numrich and seen they had a buttstock like I wanted. I jumped on it because I was having a hard time finding curved buttplate stocks for a post 64 94.
This thread will hopefully show the progression of this build. Its still a ways from being finished. Need the barrel installed and headspaced and then I will order the forearm when I measure and see just what length I need.
Anyways....here are a few pics. Still have some metal work left to do to get the gun to have the look I want but maybe you can get the idea. Also, I will be working with the stock once I get the forearm to get it to look like the gun has been used.
Here is when I first got the gun;
The first stock set I purchased and could not make work. The buttstock was so far out of spec in different places that I (being limited in stock making skills) could not make it work.
After a little work;
Finally decided to do some real work on it at the push of a friend who wanted to see this rifle make some progress.
Got the metal ready to finish then I ordered some Van's Instant Gun Blue and when it arrived I blued the rifle parts that needed to be blued. Then I rubbed some of it off and added some Plum Brown to give it a more of a worn appearance. The barrel and magazine was already blued when I got it so I sanded down some spots and added some of the plum brown. You really have to keep it oiled at first or the Plum brown will take over and create the "rust" or "powder" feel.
Receiver was put back together and then photographed.
Barrel is on and headspaced. The vise rubbed off some of the finish which I think I like. (Remember I will be going for a worn look)
Now that the barrel is on and headspaced I can measure for the forend to hopefully get the right length this time.
Note that the magazine tube is still not cut.
Now the Magazine tube has been cut to size and fitted to the rifle.
Hope you guys dont mind the progress pics. I had this on another forum before I knew this one existed. Figured I would post it here also.
I have the rest of the parts ordered. Some I have had to re-order because they did not fit or were otherwise wrong. Its been a learning experience but a fun one.
Forend should be here soon and I sure hope it fits. Eventually I will put a Tang sight it as well as a Lyman 17 Globe sight up front.
I will also be Doctoring up the wood once I get the rest done. I will give it an older look also but I want to get the forend in and do it all at the same time.