How much $/time for a pro to swap out the carrier on a post 64 Winchester 94

[wreckhog]

I have one post 64, a 1967 Canadian Centennial 26" that gets used and has a couple of dings. Works fine. I just saw that Wisner's sells machined carriers for $44.

WINCHESTER
 94 (post 64)
 1294X
 CARRIER (machined steel - improved style)
 $44.00

I have read the instructions on doing this and have no desire to attempt it by myself. If the labor is not too prohibitive, I'd consider having it done, though it actually probably reduces the value of the gun.

[Rangr44]

I'm not a pro, and so cannot say how much someone would charge wherever,  but can tell you it takes me about 15 mins, if it's all I'm doing/concentrating on.

I DO have proper tools and workbench w/accessories, like a vise, though - and 45 years experience, working on my own guns.

.

[Frank46]

I'm with Rangr44, when ever I get a rifle I detail strip it down and check all parts. Never had any leftover. I have the same as you except its the carbine version. Wonderful little rifle and wish I had the $$$ to afford the 26" bbld version. Frank

[gunnut69]

Fellows I believe he's talking about installing a new carrier into his gun, not just taking it down and reassembling it. There is a bit of fitting but it is not terribly hard. I've installed replacement carriers in 94's before but not one of Wisner's. Those folks generally do a heck of a job so I'd bet it's well done. Also the rifle he's talking about, while a commemerative is just a shooter and has only a very slight premium over any other post-64 94 based on general condition. As an aside I have one of the exact models. Mine is also a rifle and was purchased at a rummage sale for $125. With just the irons it does a fairly good job. For some reason the long barreled 94's have always produced better accuracy for me than the carbines but the sloppy stamped sheet metal inards of the guns of this era really turned me off. The later 94's with the cast carriers also have their problems and it was one of those I had to replace. It snapped across the middle while cycling ammo through the action. A call the Winchester produced the comment that they were having a lot of trouble with a bunch of rifles in a certain serial number block. Evidently they had gotten a bunch of bad parts from a sub-contractor. The part came in the mail rather quickly and installation was without incident. I always wanted to try a receiver sight or even a tang sight on the long barreled 94. I bet it would really make it shoot! I bought another of these fired commeratives a 'Legendary Frontiersman' in 38-55. It has a 24 inch barrel and should make a very effective woods rifle for deer sized game..

[wreckhog]

Mine wears a Williams Peep and is a tackdriver for me (am normally terrible with irons). Bought it (for quite a bit more than you paid) because I wanted a CAS style lever to pay with. 26" octagon barrel, top eject, and steel buttplate did it. I have Marlin and Winchester 20" lever guns with peeps, and the 26" crushes them. There is a NIB one on GB at $425 right now. That is about as cheap as you will find a new Winchester these days. And Cabela's has about 10 of the Canadian Centennials (20" and 26") listed. No real collector value at this point. Anyway, great gun, I just feel like upgrading that one part.

[gunnut69]

wreckhog--I went to wisners sight and the part you listed is for the pre-64 M94. They parts will not interchange with the post-64 M94 that you have. Sorry but I don't believe a smith can make that carrier fit. I may be wrong but if in doubt ask the guys at Wisbers. They are a heck of a resource. If they had been making such a part I too would have ordered one pronto!!

[wreckhog]

They list both pre and post 64 carriers

[jlchucker]

Mine wears a Williams Peep and is a tackdriver for me (am normally terrible with irons). Bought it (for quite a bit more than you paid) because I wanted a CAS style lever to pay with. 26" octagon barrel, top eject, and steel buttplate did it. I have Marlin and Winchester 20" lever guns with peeps, and the 26" crushes them. There is a NIB one on GB at $425 right now. That is about as cheap as you will find a new Winchester these days. And Cabela's has about 10 of the Canadian Centennials (20" and 26") listed. No real collector value at this point. Anyway, great gun, I just feel like upgrading that one part.

I have a "Classic Rifle" made in 1970, and it has one of the earlier cast steel carriers.  I've fired countless rounds through it over the years with this rifle, and never had a carrier problem. Back in the late '60's and early '70's, Winchester had a fixation with comemmorating all and everything they could think of.  Forthunately, the Canadian Centennials were made before things really got garish in terms of style.  If yours is a shooter, fire away.  The barrels on all of those commemmoratives were made at the factory in New Haven, on old machines by senior employees.  In spite of the ugly guns produced in comemmoration of anything that the marketing department could think of, these all got darn good barrels, and you can find lots of good reports on how well these various models shoot, if those who bought them actually shot them.  The Canadian version doesn't have a lot of frills--just a cast-in maple leaf.  As a rifle or short rifle, it's one of the classier ones they made, IMO.

[Rangr44]

FWIW, I was speaking to installing a new carrier, which was what the OP referred to - although I've never done so with one from Wisner.

The cast post-71 carrier's that I've replaced into 1964-70 Model 94's issued with stamped carriers have all been "drop-ins", as referred to above.

.

[gunnut69]

I'm sorry but the part Wisner lists is specified for pre-64 94's. the Centenial you have is a later version. Also rangr44 is has a stamped sheet metal carrier. Whether the carrier Wisners makes for the pre64 model will fit is doubtful but be certain to ask before ordering. Quoting their explanation of the matter--
'These post-64 models were made totally different internally, using completely different parts, with about 95% non interchangeability with the earlier post-64 versions.   ' and 'About all the parts that come to mind that do or can be made to interchange from the post-64 to the pre-64s are the magazine tube for the 20' carbine, magazine spring, magazine follower, rear barrel band & screw for the carbine, & the tang screw.' There's a lot of difference here so be sure to ask specifically before ordering. As to replacing cast followers with cast followers yep..usually a drop in as these are direct replacement parts..

[wreckhog]

Called them. The 1294x carrier fits a 1967 with no or minimal fitting. Currently out of stock.

[Rangr44]

[Also rangr44 is has a stamped sheet metal carrier.] - ?



[As to replacing cast followers with cast followers yep..usually a drop in as these are direct replacement parts..]

So also it goes, replacing 1964-1970 stamped carriers with post-71 cast carriers - which I've done for about a baker's dozen of different local folks hereabouts.

.

[gunnut69]

That's really good news.. The carriers listed at GunParts show different parts numbers. Let us know how the install goes on the clasic 94, may have to have one for mine.