Model 62 Winchester Hammer Spring Replacement

As a lad in the 1940s, I carried my uncle’s Model 62 Winchester afield for squirrels and other small game. The gun also was used for plinking and target practice. With its external hammer and tubular magazine, this little 5 ½ pound, slide action rifle was easy to use. I would often practice cocking the gun and letting the hammer down to its safe position, which also had to be done each time the gun was fired and reloaded. I can recall how easy it was to get the hammer back and reload the gun.

Though I didn’t know exactly what went on inside the old gun, I had a pretty good idea. Awhile back a gun collector brought me his external hammer Model 62 with a broken mainspring. The gun was original and in very good condition. He carried the replacement part with him and was told installation would be easy but his attempt to perform the work proved otherwise. His abortive efforts to remove the stock caused him to turn the gun over to me.

Replacing The Mainspring Of the six screw holes located posterior to the trigger guard, only one screw is functional in stock removal. This 1/4" slotted screw is threaded at the bottom of the lower tang for a fillister head screw. The slotted screw head located at the bottom of the rear tang, immediately forward of the lower and the rearmost screw hole, retains the main spring attached to the hammer from below.

If this screw is unknowingly turned loose there will be a very loud snapping sound, totally releasing the hammer spring; a very embarrassing mistake. The remaining three holes are threaded with plugs used as sight attachment This rifle shot .22 Short, Long, and Long Rifle interchangeably. The serial number shown here displays an earlier production.

Tubular magazine, external hammer guns were extremely popular as this gun was developed. or functional parts of the cocking and firing mechanism. The second screw, located at the bottom of the rear tang, holds the back end of the main spring. This screw is firmly tightened and will release the main spring as it is held and turned out. In the event the main spring is not broken, be sure to attach the rear end of it to the tang as the screw is removed. I used a padded vise grip for this purpose.

Before installing a replacement main spring, be sure there is clearance at the end for the stock screw hole. There’s a chance an over length screw will cover the stock screw hole. Grind off the needed amount by using the original spring as comparison. As the illustrations show, I used a padded vise grip as a means of compressing the rear end of the mainspring after carefully placing the lateral retaining fingers under the hammer.

A tapered steel pin is used to precisely align the lower screw hole with the threaded end of the mainspring. As a practice run, I made sure the vise grip jaws The hammer spring provides a great deal of force in the firing process held at the rear by a single screw. This powerful spring is inside-threaded at the rear, providing the only means of holding the spring. The broken spring and retaining screw are also shown.

Were this not obviated prior to spring installation, the spring would have to be removed. clamped the tang and mainspring firmly together. If holes are properly aligned, the spring screw can be torqued into position. I used about 20 inch-pounds of torque on this screw to prevent it from working loose as the gun is used. The vise grip or clamp is then released. A bit of lubrication should be applied at all working surfaces of the hammer and spring.

The replacement hammer spring is overly strong for a .22 rimfire rifle, requiring considerably more thumb pressure to cock the hammer or pump after firing, quite a bit more than the old gun I used as a youth hunter or other similar models I have worked with. Having experience in firearms design and building, I can see where the dynamic function of the hammer on this old gun could have been improved. But this venerable old gun has served the huntershooter well for a very long time. It’s hard to argue this point.

The screw is then firmly torqued. On some of the replacement springs the end must be shortened for screw clearance. Conclusion Sometimes we must study and dig deeply into firearms function when a seemingly routine part is replaced. This is especially true with firearms without schematics. The Winchester Model 62 is no exception. AG