.30-30 Cocking handle.

[50 Shooter]

Does anyone know if the cocking handle is heat treated or case hardened?

Having big hands I always find myself using two or three fingers to cycle it which can cause problems. That and I don't like the other alternative of the large loop that looks like having a softball on your rifle.

I haven't seen one that makes the loop just a little bit bigger to accommodate people that have big hands. I was thinking of taking it off and tracing it out on a piece of cardboard, then have it cut out after tweaking it to fit my hand. What I do want to do is be sure that I use a piece of metal strong enough to last forever.

Anyone seen this done, know of a lever like it or any other ideas?

Thanks!

50

 

[Sistema1927]

It would probably be helpful for you to mention which .30-30.

Marlin?

Winchester?

Other?

I don't know of anyone that has modified a lever in the way that you suggest, but possibly listing which gun might get an answer form someone who has tried.

 

[DPris]

www.mulemangunworks.com

Several patterns, he can take your lever (it is NOT a cocking handle) off your gun and re-sculpture it.
Look at his site.
Denis

 

[rcmodel]

The levers on both Winchester and Marlin are just good steel.
Lots more aftermarket ones for Marlin then Winchester, as they are a simpler design and easier to fit right off the trailer.

Not hardened other then what resulted when they were made.

Factory levers can be accidently bent before breaking, so that tells us they are relatively soft steel.

The loop can easily be heated and reformed, although refinishing will be required afterward.

There are a few aftermarket levers available with are not Chuck Connors / John Wayne Hula-Hoop loops.

That would be you best best and least expensive bet if you are not able to do it yourself.

http://www.brownells.com/rifle-part...les/marlin-1895-big-loop-lever-prod16628.aspx

http://www.mulemangunworks.com/mule-loops-custom-levers/

rc

 

[vaupet]

Marlin has the 336 BL so there is your answer if you or looking for a marlin

 

[50 Shooter]

Mine is a Winchester, thanks for the links. I did see one on muleman's site that looked good and gave me an idea for my own.

Figure I can cut and weld it back or find a shop that can cut one out with a water jet or something similar. I still don't want a hoop, just to make the factory loop a little bigger.

 

[rcmodel]

There is more too one then just cutting one out with a water jet.

The end inside the action has some critical angles and cams that opertate the bolt smoothly.

You would have a hard time duplicating them from a flat blank.

Your best bet is to heat and bend the existing lever.

Keep in mind you cannot change the upper part of the loop in the slightest or it will not match the stock lines, or operate the trigger block safety.

rc

 

[J-Bar]

Try it with only your middle and ring finger inside the loop, and using your pinkie to pinch the lever between your pinkie and ring fingers. This gives positive control of the lever on both opening and closing strokes and prevents your fingers from sliding around inside the lever's loop. It's a technique that cowboy action shooters use with great success.

 

[BSA1]

Consider buying a lever already made with the big loop like John Wayne carried in some of his movies.

All you or your gunsmith would need to do is cut the loop in half, heat and bend the loop to your desired size and shape, cut off the excess, reweld and refinish it. Cutting off excess material is easier than adding more steel and you will only have one welding cut to smooth and contour.

Plus you still have the original in case a OOPS! happens.