Anybody modded a Winchester 190 before?

[DeadLiver]

I've been reading the forums here on THR for a long time, and finally joined up figuring that this would be among the best places to ask this question.

I've had a Winchester 190 since I was 12. It has a lot of sentimental value for me, being my first gun and all. I don't know how old it is, but I know it had to be built prior to 1980, making it at least 3 years older than me.

I'm having a lot of problems getting it to reliably feed ammo. It would seem that some of the springs have gotten old and don't have the strength to make all the bits work like they used to. I've found where I can get any and all parts to refurbish my action and get plinking again, but my barrel appears to be shot as well. After a thorough cleaning today, I stuck a bore light in it, and there are spots where the rifling seems to fade away, leaving bald spots in the barrel. Since I'm planning on fixing up this old gun, I'd like to make it my first "project gun." The only other ones I have right now are my Para Ordnance SSP carry gun, and my Mossberg 590 that sits by the bedside. So I have the following questions about the Winchester 190.

1. Are there new barrels available for them? Or will I be forced to get a used one? Or is there a way to "restore" the rifling in my old one?

2. Are there any type of aftermarket stocks for it? Or has anybody ever made one? Ideally I'd like to re-blue my barrel and action and have a nice looking thumbhole stock on it finished in cherry, with a matching foregrip.

3. Is it possible to drill and tap the receiver for real scope mounting hardware? I despise the dinky grooves on top, I've never had a scope on there that didn't slip around all the time.

I realize that pretty much whatever I do, I'll be spending more than what the gun is worth, and possibly more than I would if I set out to build a 10/22 with similar goals. The 10/22 would also be easier, but easier ain't everything you know? I have yet to find any info on anybody doing more than refurbishing the action and then re-bluing and refinishing, which is what I may end up doing. But, I'd like to make it mine. With some instructions I could probably even fabricate a stock, but I'd like the advice I can get here first.

Thanks for any advice,
Brian

 

[ThomasT]

A 190 was the first gun I ever bought. $48 bucks with a cheap scope out the door. It shot pretty good but 190s have a quirk. The barrels get loose and move forward. It causes feeding problems and misfires. I got tired of repairing it and sold it.

For what you want to do and spend I would just get a better gun. I got a flyer in the mail from Cabelas and they are selling the marlin 795 for $119 with a $20 mail in rebate. Just an idea if there is a cabelas near you.

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

My first gun too---bought it with B-day money from my grandma plus with Christmas money from her that I saved for nearly a year---came from Walgreens no less. Got it new with a cheap scope in the box for $49.99 IIRC--like in 1974?? was a long time ago.

Sold it to one of my tech school classmates in '86 for $35---it was ok in slow fire but always jammed in rapid-fire---that's why I sold it---used the money to get a 10/22.

 

[CZguy]

Just a thought.............if it has sentimental value, you might want to keep it in it's original condition. A 10/22 would be the ideal gun to put the resources in that you were talking about.

A lot of the feeding issues can be cured by a thorough cleaning.

I sold mine years ago and never looked back. (it was my second gun, so less sentimental value) It had one of the stiffest trigger pulls I've ever felt.

I'm curious about your worn out barrel. I have a Remington model 34 that I inherited from my Grandfather that has had countless rounds put through it, and it has strong rifling. I speculate that the barrel wear could be due to cleaning procedures.

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

Just wondering if maybe barrel is all leaded up and good cleaning might bring the rifling back?

 

[candr44]

I stuck a bore light in it, and there are spots where the rifling seems to fade away, leaving bald spots in the barrel.

I have had a 190 since it was new in 1974 and the rifling has always looked worn but it always shoots accurately. Try fixing the feed problems and see if its still accurate. Also, I never had a problem with good 1 inch scope mounts only the cheap .22 scopes and mounts would slide around on my rifle.

My 190 was also my first gun. I got it for Christmas and it cost $59 at Sears back in 74. I still have it today and it has never given me any problems. Although, I did have to replace the plastic bushings on the hammer because the plastic was old and getting brittle. The cartridge lifter also looked like it was wearing out so I replaced that too.

 

[CZguy]

Just in case anyone needs parts, here's a link.

http://www.e-gunparts.com/productschem.asp?chrMasterModel=0950z190

 

[DeadLiver]

Thanks for the replies guys, what you've told me is kind of what I figured from the get go. As far as the worn out barrel, I left the country for two years and unbeknownst to me, my little brother who was 12 at the time used it for his entire scout troop. Over the course of that 2 years, over 10,000 rounds were put through the gun without it ever being cleaned. After I came home, I found a manual, fully stripped the gun down and cleaned everything. The gun has never functioned well since. Granted the only reason my brother had stopped using it was because the bolt was frozen in the receiver due to sheer amount of crap in it. My grandfather and I at first thought that the barrel was leaded up, but have used every technique he's aware of to clean it out, and even he admits that the barrel may have actually worn out.

So I guess I'll eventually buy all the parts to fix the action, replace the barrel, and then re-blue the metal and refinish the wood in a nicer looking stain. Then I'll build a 10/22.

 

[KenWP]

Would be more or less impossible to wear out a 22 barrel with lead bullets. I have seen many 22 shoot more then 10,000 rounds through it. Try and get it to feed right and see how it shoots.

 

[Runningman]

1. Are there new barrels available for them? Or will I be forced to get a used one? Or is there a way to "restore" the rifling in my old one?

Yes new barrels are available Numrich has them. However they are not easily changed correctly since the barrel is pressed fit into an aluminum receiver. Not a job for an average home gunsmith with out the proper tools and tooling.

2. Are there any type of aftermarket stocks for it? Or has anybody ever made one? Ideally I'd like to re-blue my barrel and action and have a nice looking thumbhole stock on it finished in cherry, with a matching foregrip.

There is no aftermarkets stock available that I have ever seen. Since it has been out of production for decades most likely there never will be any at this stage.

3. Is it possible to drill and tap the receiver for real scope mounting hardware? I despise the dinky grooves on top, I've never had a scope on there that didn't slip around all the time.

Anything is possible with enough money. The 3/8 dovetail mounting system is adequate for just about any 22 the problem is the quality of the mounts you use and the material they are made out of. Hint avoid cheap aluminum mounts. Quality Steel mounts would be much better for 3/8 dovetail.