I have a 1894 Winchester that needs the cartridge guides removed. This is turning out to be a real challenge. Currently the ones installed are for 38-55 but I want to replace them with 30-30 guides. The screws in the old '94s are very difficult to access with a regular screwdriver, almost impossible. Is there an offset screwdriver made for this issue. Clearance is a small tight squeeze plus the screws are really tight. Winchester guys!, I need your help! Suggestions.

Oh man! Good luck and I would appreciate hearing what you come up with to remove them.

I recently had the same problem (different reason) as I was giving my 1899 Mod 94 a complete teardown and cleaning.

The cartridge guides are the ONLY things I did not remove because of the difficulty.

I was going to custom make an angled screw driver but decided to just leave them in and clean around them as the internals of this rifle are essentially like new with no rust.

CHAPMAN SCREWDRIVER SET | Brownells

This was an answer I found on Winchesterowners.com to someone who had loose cartridge guides. I hope it helps.

Regular screw driver blade,,no off-set. But very slim shaft and blade tip for sure.

Strip the action down.
Remove the left guide by going in from the right side of the frame through the hole where the cartridge loading gate once was.
That one you will be working at a very slight angle, but not enough to make a difference.

Once the left side guide is out of the way.
Go in from the left side of the frame thru the screw hole that attached the above left side cartridge guide that you just removed.
The long thin shaft of the screw driver has to fit thru the screw hole of course.
Reach thru and unscrew the right side cartridge guide screw and remove the screw and guide.

I've heard of some using a home made off-set screw driver to first loosen each of the screws reaching down inside from the top of the open frame.
An allen wrench shortened up on the shorter shank and ground to a screw driver blade would probably work with some effort to back it up down in there. Not much room to work.
But I've never had a problem removing any of the ones I've come accross in years of work. I always remove them in restoration work.
A touch of penetrating oil onall of the many screws on any elderly gun a day or two before disassembly can really help you out.

That and the Gun Gods are on your side that no one else has tried to tighten/remove any of the screws in the past with their jack-knife.
..Gun Gods are not always so friendly.

Try Freer Gunsmiths in Houston, Tx. 713-467-3016. They are well known Winchester folks, especially the older ones.

You can make a screwdriver of the size you need, take a fixed screwdriver of larger size and with a file or grinder, grind it to the exact size of the screw groove, before loosening the screw, spray it with WD40 or another similar product to Let him loosen up. Sorry if my text is not clear but I don't speak English and use a translator.

Wal-Mart (under the name hyperTOUGH) has a similar set for much less. I recently bought one for $7, which has even more stuff than the one referenced, and seems to be of very high quality.

if you're going to take those out, which I never have. heat it up real hot, and put some penetrating oil on it, leave it be for a week or more in a warm area. when you go back to it - heat it up again, put more oil on it, and come back another week later and then try it …

I got the easy one out today thru the loading gate portal. Soaking in Brownell's penetrating oil over night. Placed a screwdriver in the screw slot and with a tap on the end with a leather hammer, it broke loose and came right out. Now if the second one is as easy?!! It is soaking over night. I think I will buy a set of the tools mentioned for tight places. Thanks guys!