how much do you put in a winchester 1906 that needs love

[greyling22]

I recently had a great grandfathers old 22 fall into my hands. And it is ROUGH.
Stock was broken off at the wrist and sort of put back together.
No finish on stock or forend.
0% original finish. whole gun is brown with rusty patina.
Barrel is bulged and it shoots about a 1 foot group at 20 yds.
Sights are.......primitive.

So how much money does one put into this thing before it's not worth it. It really needs the barrel relined (don't know of anybody locally who does it or how much it would cost) New stock set can be picked up from brownells for like $85, but would need to be fit. I can do that though.
Rear notch is this super shallow and wide V shape that is hard to use.

 

[Frulk]

I have no guns from either of my great grandparents. Let’s say that I came into my great grandfathers gun on my fathers side. He died in a coal mine cave-in in Welsh County WV circa 1916/17 and the gun is in the same model and shape as yours. I’d spend whatever it takes to make it right. No realistic top cap on cost.

But that’s only because it was connected to the family. YMMV.

 

[Monac]

I think I would give it an ordinary cleaning and oiling to prevent more rust, and otherwise leave it alone. All the things that are wrong with it as a modern shooter are part of its history and the time it came from. I suppose it could be restored to a like-new condition, but then it would be like the ax that was Abraham Lincoln's, except that it has had three new handles and two new heads since he last used it.

But I understand the impulse to restore something. I've just been reading a book about early farm tractors, where people made old machines run again and look like new. Maybe it's just that I don't shoot as much as I used to that I don't feel that way now.

 

[ridgerunner1965]

boy that is a hard question. im sure your great gpa would be happy either way,

myself, if i had acess to a gunsmith that could do the work, i would prob restore it. i would ask my son first tho if it was something he was interested in owning. if it wasnt i mite just keep it in the shape it is.

my brother and i have several heirloom guns from both sides of our family. but all were well taken care of but also well worn.

one 1897 win shotgun was in rather bad shape just from excessive use. i found a smith who restored it to usable condition but left most of the patina. and matched new parts to look like they were old.

 

[greyling22]

well, as it is, it is virtually unusable because the accuracy is so bad. It probably needs a barrel sleeve if nothing else. I also debated taking some steel wool or something to try and knock the brown patina back to more of a silver color. Like this

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Definitely reline the barrel -- run the drill in only halfway, and turn it around and drill from the other end to keep the bore aligned (I have a Stevens Favorite that was NOT drilled that way, so I know.) The tang is probably drilled and tapped for a tang sight, and that's the way I'd go with this rifle.

I'd leave the finish alone -- just kill any aggressive rust and keep it oiled. A new stock wouldn't hurt, but the rifle can be made functional without that.

 

[greyling22]

Definitely reline the barrel -- run the drill in only halfway, and turn it around and drill from the other end to keep the bore aligned (I have a Stevens Favorite that was NOT drilled that way, so I know.) The tang is probably drilled and tapped for a tang sight, and that's the way I'd go with this rifle.

I'd leave the finish alone -- just kill any aggressive rust and keep it oiled. A new stock wouldn't hurt, but the rifle can be made functional without that.

I don't have the parts to drill the barrel myself, and I know a local guy who apparently does, so I'll go that route.