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Old 01-30-2009, 06:46 PM
john traveler john traveler is offline
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The Winchester M1894 action was designed for longer rimmed cartridges such as .30-30, 38-55, and .32 Winchester Special. It is adapted to shorter pistol cartridges such as .44 Magnum and .45 Colt. The .45 Colt has a small rim which makes the problem more likely.

The malfunction you describe is common to the .30-30 model, and is caused by one of two points of wear:

1. a worn cartridge stop nub on the end of the floorplate that prevents the next-up cartridge in the magazine tube from feeding onto the cartridge lifter.
2. loose magazine tube caused by loose or worn tube retaining screw on the muzzle end of the magazine tube. A loose tube allows the ready cartridge wiggle room to override the stop.

Either of these wear points allow excessive cartridge movement (most likely during cycling) that allows a ready cartridge to jump onto the cartridge lifter, jamming up the action. It should have nothing to do with the hammer being cocked.

The fix is relatively simple: replace the floorplate cartridge stop (it's one piece with the floorplate), and keep your magazine tube retention screw tight with thread sealant.

Yes, you are correct to be concerned with reliability in feeding. If it hangs up when you are cycling it now, imagine what happens if you are in a hurry or facing dangerous game?
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