m92 action job and other mods

[mattmillerrx]

I have finished my action job on my m92.  I posted awhile back asking about stevesguns and his DVD on the topic.  The more I read the more I decided to just do it.  I emailed steve, but he had medical issues and said he was way behind, so thought I would at least see what it was going to take to do this.  The results are great.  Don't get me wrong it was a learn on the go project but was nothing the average guy that fixes things around the house and yard cannot handle.  The ejector took the most work to get proper functioning.  Feel free to PM on this topic if you need help with your m92 action job, I wish I had someone to ask.  I am no expert but have read a ton on this topic and completed my own.  I plan to pick one up down the road in 45LC to do next.  I have added the parts and websites I found most useful in doing mine.

Spring kit from browells:  
SKU: 100-000-512
ROSSI 92 GUNSLINGER SPRING KIT

This kit includes a trigger spring and took my trigger pull way down.  I moved the gun off target with the factor trigger pull and would guess it at 8-9 lbs but have no way to measure.  With the trigger spring changed I would guess it is between 2.5-3.5 lb it is very light.  It also includes and ejector spring.  Do not cut any coils off of this ejector spring.  I could not get the ejector to go back in with it and thought it was do to the length of the spring, but was do to the ejector binding up on other parts of the bolt.  My fix was to make a spacer for it to account for what I cut off.  I actually went with the factory spring with 1 and 1/2 coils cut off for now.  If it gives me any problems I will put the spacer in or order another spring.  Hammer spring was also included.  I felt it was too light.  I think there was plenty of force to strike the hammer but when dropping to half cock it stuck mid way down and latter fell to half cock.  I did not trust it like this.  I could have done some hammer work and took care of it I am sure but am using the Factor hammer spring with 1 and 1/2 coils removed for now and am happy with it for now.  The last one was a latch spring and makes a big difference in that last little bit of force it took to close the bolt.  It can be done without the kit, but the trigger and latch spring were worth the $20 for me.

I used emery cloth from my local auto parts store for most of the action polishing.  I had to use a small file on a couple of the burs but finished up with the cloth.  Other tools I had were punches of different sizes, gunsmithing screw driver set, small rubber mallet, a spent case is almost mandatory to get it back together.

Useful sites include:
http://www.cascity.com/cgi-bin/news/print.pl?article=10
http://www.leverguns.com/articles/taylor/field_strip.htm
http://marauder.homestead.com/files/Rossitune.htm
http://www.hobbygunsmith.com/Archives/Oct03/FeatureProject.htm
http://marauder.homestead.com/Rifles.html

These guys make an inexpensive ($17 shipped) stainless steel magazine follower.  I was in the process of looking for a donor for this project and had not come up with anything in the junk bin when I found these guys and ordered one of theirs instead.  It came today so I finished the project up installing it.  http://www.thesmithshop.com/

I am going to go with a Marbles tang sight but have not ordered it yet.  I was going to refinish the stock and for-end but both had cracks in them once I got them apart.  I filled them with some wood glue and think it will hold.  If I do, do anything to the stock, it will be replacements now.

Other problems I ran into was a cross threaded screw on the trigger spring screw.  Had to get a tap and die set for it.  Sorry, I was not expecting the results I got so did not do a follow along, but it would have not added anything on the ones I have included, except for the ejector issues I ran into.

I was going to plug the safety as well, but before starting this project I found it useful, surprisingly.  I had a new shooter with me and was able to reach up and turn that safety on as I was try to teach and show them both shooting technique and a couple times for safety issues.

Hopefully, you guys can find this useful.  This is not very detailed but the links cover most of that.  What I was missing during my project was one place with all the links I needed and had to find most of these on my own.  Although some were mentioned in other links and I found those that way.  I had not found any info on where to get springs or a magazine follower.  Good luck on your action jobs, mine went better than expected.

MGM

[Rangr44]

FWIW, www.stevesgunz.com also sells Rossi Model 92 replacement metal magazine plugs, bolt safety replacement plugs, and bolt peep sights that replace the bolt safety.

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[mattmillerrx]

I had heard that, but could not find anything on his website about it.  If I had not found what I did, I would have probably emailed him for a price list of the parts he offered.  I might go that route next time and see if there is any difference.

[jlchucker]

I had heard that, but could not find anything on his website about it.  If I had not found what I did, I would have probably emailed him for a price list of the parts he offered.  I might go that route next time and see if there is any difference.

Same here.  I checked today. It seems like Steve lists the price for him to do the job with his parts, but it doesn't look like he's priced out the parts alone for the do-it-yourselfer.  I could be wrong.  I hestitate in sending a rifle all the way across the US just for replacing a follower.

[Rangr44]

Steve's magazine plug & safety replacement plug pricing are listed when you "Click HERE for Other Gun Services", on his home page:

1. Change plastic mag tube follower to steel. - $19.95
With the plastic mag tube, it's not a matter of "if"
it's going to hang up…it IS!
2. Remove ugly bolt safety on the LSI Puma guns - $40.00

Those ARE the parts prices, since there's virtually little if any labor to switch the parts out - less than 5 mins each, max.

Steve hasn't added the $60 bolt peep to his website as yet, but it's elsewhere:

http://www.levergunscommunity.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=22047

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[teamnelson]

Appreciate this thread; took my two 92's to the range today, and would love to tune them up!

BTW, Winchester Bob was selling the stainless steel followers too, although at $14, I think thesmithshop has 'em beat.

Did Dr. Skinner ever field a safety peep for the '92?

Mahalo, Chaps

[Rangr44]

[Did Dr. Skinner ever field a safety peep for the '92?]

Not yet - His website's theme is "Marlin", but in the LoPro section, he now lists a LoPro for "Mossberg" with a 6-48 (scope mount screw) thread.

BTW - Almost all the Skinners are now available in the buyer's choice of blued steel, stainless steel, or brass - for the same $$$$.

All that's really needed is to buy a safety replacement plug, and either talk to Kiowa to have him D/T it for you, or have a local gunsmith D/T it - then just screw in the LoPro.

Which is exactly what I did for one of my Rossi Model 92's (below)


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[teamnelson]

Got steves DVD and started to work but on my EMF the magazine tube bolt, that holds the end cap in place, is stuck. Broke one screwdriver tip, soaked it in oil for the past day, tried freezing the parts for shrinkage. Nothing. Any ideas?

... later that day ... Feel like an idiot. Took the barrel band off, rotated the tube, grabbed the other end of the screw with vice grips and cracked it free. I'll need to replace the screw because the slot is chingered but I got the blasted thing apart! Probably replace the endcap too as the EMF one has a threaded protrusion coming out of it that the spacer connected too so if you take the spacer out the first round in the tube will get skewered. I'm assuming win 92 parts will work fine for that?

48 hours on a 5 min problem :slaps head:

[mattmillerrx]

Not sure on the win 92 parts.  Check brownells for rossi parts.  The screw could be made with a tap and die set and a screw blank or just get a set misc screws from brownells and cut it off then clean up the threads.  You may have to get creative for an end cap.  There was also a recent post showing a cut down tube which might be an option for you if you like it.

[teamnelson]

Got the DVD from Steve, magazine followers from thesmithshop, lee gunslinger spring kits from brownells. Finished my casecolored EMF tonight. The trigger spring is very nice. Compressing the hammer spring all the way past the pin hole turned out to be required, so keep a paperclip handy. Lever spring was easy. The ejector spring ... Per steve, he cuts them 1/4" short of the end of the ejector, enough room for the buffer collar. Believe me I tried it every which way. Once I cut it to his recommendation, no problem. Also cut the mag tube spring down to 3 .357mag cartridge lengths past the end of the tube, and that's helped loading a lot. I've even got a funky spacer block on the EMF that compresses the mag spring, but cutting it helped. Also recommend not just a casing but a dummy round, per steve. I crimped a few nasty cast into some questionable empty casings. Really helps with putting the bolt back in, then testing the action.

All this one needs is to strip, fit and refinish the wood. And maybe a nice cuff, sling from levergun leather! Then do it all over on the Puma!

[jimster]

I've even got a funky spacer block on the EMF that compresses the mag spring,

Had one of these in mine also....it unscrews off the mag cap....unscrewed it, threw it away, put the mag cap back on and now my rifle holds 12 in the mag instead of ten. 

I don't know why they put this big solid plastic spacer in there...unless it made it more legal in states that have 10 rounds max in the magainze.  But it took some pressure off the mag spring anyway to toss this spacer.

Jim