Winchester 190 Feeding and Re-chambering Issues

[cycotcskir]

Greetings all,

I have a new (to me) 190 and I am having some issues with it. It has been in a closet for years, so I began with taking out the trigger and bolt and giving them and the bore a good once over. I tried it out only to find out that it isn't working so well.

I am not an expert, or even a real enthusiast. I am mechanically inclined and understand the basics of how a gun works. I am confident that I can fix most issues that don't require machining or other fancy-dancy equipment.

I have noticed a few peculiar things, though. When the bolt comes forward to load the next round, the front of the round pushes downward into the feed guide. It causes an angle of about 45 degrees downward and it jams. I tried to tighten the feed guide with the trigger housing out of the rifle... not good. The rim caught and it was worse. I loosened it up some more and it has had some success with LR, but not with the Shorts. When I first rack the bolt, it jammed, then if I fire a round, the next one finally chambers. I haven't been able to practice with multiple rounds yet, though.

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/6/imag1027d.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/195/imag1028.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/217/imag1029.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/843/imag1030.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/401/imag1031n.jpg/
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http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/59/imag1033a.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/841/imag1036w.jpg/


The other issue that I've noticed is that the bolt seems to get stuck and I think that I've found the culprit. In order to lock the breech open, the cocking handle pushes into a gap on the opposite side of the frame. I suppose that this was intentional.
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/11/imag1024.jpg/

The cocking handle is just barely longer than the width of the bolt when it is pushed in all the way. If it is, in fact, intended to be a catch, then it has worn down. If it is not intended to be a catch, then it is too long.

In any case, it is sticking in this point fairly frequently when pulling the handle back to load the first round. Initially, it did this with the shorts, too.
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/84/imag1025.jpg/
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/203/imag1026.jpg/

I'm thinking of taking the cocking handle and grinding it down a bit to eliminate the catching point. I'm not too concerned about locking it open. I realize that it may cause some headaches, but the bigger headache is not being able to use the gun.

If anybody has any suggestions or ideas, it would be greatly appreciated.

Sorry for all the links. I put them in as img, but they didn't show on the preview so i changed them to links.

Thanks

 

[cycotcskir]

Ohh, I forgot to mention that I already checked out the barrel. It is fully tight.

 

[Roadkill]

22s can be problematic - older .22s can be very much so. Welcome to the forum and those are great photos. Regarding the problem with the gun, post the request here http://www.thehighroad.org/forumdisplay.php?f=16 The guys know their business

 

[12Bravo20]

I recommend checking out http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/ also, a wealth of knowledge on that board.

 

[cycotcskir]

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll check out the other place and posting location.

 

[ngnrd]

Also, the 190 wasn't designed to use Shorts. Just Long, or Long Rifle. Check the caliber markings on the barrel.

 

[cycotcskir]

Apparently, the early 60's models were made to use shorts. Perhaps they began having some problems with the shorts and just dropped the indication from the barrel.

So far I'm doing ok with the LR, for now. I need to run a butt load through it to be sure. Perhaps if i get a tighter spring for the bolt return it will handle the shorts better.

 

[ngnrd]

Interesting. Both of mine say L or LR only. But, I think they were made in the late 70's, maybe early 80's. I wonder if they actually changed something internally, or if they were having problems with the Shorts, so they just changed the markings...?

 

[VonFatman]

My first gun was a M250.... The lever gun just like yours. It served me well. I traded it in on a 9422 back in the mid-70's....

I bought one at a Gunshow a few years back (memory lane purchase). It was nice to re-establish the gun's feel, but alas I have become too fond of smooth triggers and I let it go not long after the purchase.

I sure enjoyed whacking squirrels with my 250!

Hope the gun keeps running good for you. I never ran shorts through my 250.

Bob

 

[12Bravo20]

From what I found the Model 190 was made from 1974 to 1980. Mine is stamped "22 S, L, or LR" and I have shot all in mine. The only problem I have ever had was when trying to rapid fire with shorts or longs, otherwise they all work fine.

 

[788Ham]

Might try removing the bolt and giving it a good cleaning, you'd mentioned about it being in a closet for years, possibly old oil residue, plus possibly not cleaned in who knows how long. Get some carburetor cleaner and hose the whole outfit down, blow compressed air through it, lightly oil and see what happens, getting rid of the waxy film from the .22 rounds might make a big difference.
Might also get a new spring{s} and see if that helps, Numrich will probably have them.

 

[cycotcskir]

Thanks,

I'll check into the spring. I worked out a touch of rust from the bolt by exercising it while running cleaner through it. It seemed to do a pretty good job.

For now it is working. I'm not sure how long it will last like this, though.

 

[12Bravo20]

Winchester Model 190 series rifles like to be kept very clean. They will start to act up (FTF, FTE) when they are dirty.

 

[aka108]

I bought a 190 that came with a Weaver 4x Marksman scope in 1970 for 49 bucks at a now defunct big box store. I have kept the action clean and only fired LR rounds thru it. It has never had a feeding or ejection problem. Accuracy is fair and the trigger horrible. Very nice sleek design overall.