Sick model 94

[M8ball]

Here's a question for the experienced 94 owners and/or "crusty" gunsmiths.

Got a late 40's vintage hand-me down 94. When I go to cycle the action, the cartridge feeds normally from the tube onto the lifter, but when I bring the lever back and the bolt moves forward, the cartridge seems to "tip" too soon and the bullet nose runs into the top of the chamber, jamming the gun. I found that if I run the lever forward a smidge and then back, the cartridge re-orients itself properly and then feeds smoothly into the chamber. Firing and extraction seem normal.

The problem occurs with both factory loads and handloads. I double-checked COL with both bullet weights available, and that checks out. The speed of the cycling doesn't seem to influence the issue so I don't think it's operator error.

Opinions? I would take this to the ubiquitous "well-qualified gunsmith" other than I haven't had the best experience with the clowns around here.

[LONGTOM]

I can't tell you what is going on with your 94 but I can tell you that yours isn't the only one out there that does it. I have seen others. The 94 isn't the only model either. I have a 1873 in 22lr that does the same thing. I would guess nothing but pure wear from years of use maybe.


LONGTOM

[Tencubed]

No guarantees this will fix the problem but I have seen this corrected by doing a really thorough job of cleaning all the lever and ramp linkage.  A bit of crud sometimes builds up and changes the timing just enough to cause these kinds of problems.  I've had a couple of the lever guns that did this and even after blasting with brake cleaner and air there would be a bit of dried on crud in one of the openings that had to be scraped off to get it removed.  Sometimes it's an opportunity to buy a rifle that has a bad reputation at a reduced cost and sometimes it turns out to be bent or worn linkage.

Mike