Reader Forum

Winchester 1400 I have an older model Winchester 1400 16 gauge in my shop that is missing the upper half of the magazine throat and I have not found anyone who sells or even lists that part. At one time the 1400 was made with a two-piece throat. Evidently, you have one of them. If Jack First can’t provide it call Nu Line Guns Savage 820B I recently worked on a Savage Model 820B 12 gauge shotgun that had a broken slide lock spring.

After replacing the spring and reassembling the gun, the slide lock would engage whether the gun was cocked or not. I did not want to modify the spring to give more tension when the hammer was down as I thought that would loosen tension when the hammer was cocked. The gun functions properly otherwise. This is the first 820B I have worked on and I am wondering if I missed something or does that model lock the bolt all the time?

It looks like the small stud on the left side of the hammer is supposed to depress the end of the slide lock spring to disengage the slide lock when it is in the fired position. Is there an adjusting procedure for this spring? We don’t quite understand how increasing tension on a relaxed spring will lessen it on a compressed spring and we have no knowledge of the bolt locking tendencies of the 820B. One person who might specializes in outof-production Savage firearms and sells parts for them.

He runs the Small Arms Shop located in Inverness, FL and is only available Monday to Friday between 5:30 and 9:00 pm. Model 887 I work as a repairman for Remington Arms at the Ilion Firearms Plant & Custom Shop in New York. Obviously, my interest lies mostly with Remington guns, especially the old and "obsolete" models we no longer have parts for and may not be able to repair. I’ve been working with a number of Model 887s lately and wanted to pass along a number of points.

John Savely First, the trigger pins are not the same. The front pin is actually a bit longer then the rear by almost 1/8" Second, there has been a change made to the ejection port cover because it was causing binding of the action, mostly to the rear. My last observation is about the sear pin. It goes in the same way from the left as all others, however, this pin seats into the right wall, which is blind, and does not go all the way through.

Patrick Bielanski Thanks for the note and for keeping us up on engineering changes on your classic firearms. Winchester Model 50 I’m looking for information on this shotgun. Has American Gunsmith done an article on it? We have but it was so long ago no reprints are available. The material in the article was based on information provided in Brownells Encyclopedia of Modern Firearms which is still available from that source.

In addition, Google up the shotgun and you’ll find a large number of owner comments you’ll find very informative. Also, check the link to "Shotgun World" for cleaning/disassembly facts. W. L. Erspamer Winchester 24 Cocking Lever Spring I notice in the schematic for the Winchester 24 shotgun apart called the "cocking lever spring", however, one of my customer’s gun does not contain this spring.

The gun is experiencing difficult opening and closing and the cause appears to be related to the forward end of the right and left cocking levers not remaining upward under spring pressure until the hammers assume the fired position. The spring is available but I have been unable to locate specific instructions on its installation. Don Roberts Shoot The Works, Inc We can only offer limited help on this old timer.

Brownells Encyclopedia of Modern Firearms shows an exploded illustration that indicates the relationships between left and right cocking levers, a cocking lever pin, a dual pronged cocking lever spring and a cocking lever spacer. Buckinghams, a parts provider in Trenton, TN specializes in old Winchesters might be able to provide any parts you are missing and further guidance in assembly.

Mosin Nagant bolt lockup issue I have a Mosin Nagant M91/30 rifle made in the Izhevsk factory in 1944 with a bolt that fails to fully lock about half the time when chambering around. Inspection and comparison with another correctly functioning M-N indicates that the rim of the 7.62x54R cartridge on the problem gun is not consistently positioning itself behind the extractor to contact the bolt face as the round is being chambered.

The problem gun also generally will fail to fully close on an already-chambered round while the other rifle will. That is, on the functioning rifle, the extractor finds away to slip over the rim of a chambered cartridge. Swapping bolts indicates the bolt lockup problem is in the receiver. The extractor tension on both guns is about the same. Dennis Riley Wayne Baughman Annandale, VA We hope it’s a wear problem but we fear there may be looseness between the barrel and receiver.

One of the best sources we know of and have often contacted when dealing with

imports is Kieth Billado, a practicing gunsmith in Vermont with a Manufacturer’s FFL. Contact him at kbillado@ riflemag.com Stevens 311 Boxlock ID What does the letter after 311 mean? For example, the 311a, 311c, 311d, 311e, etc. Also, what is the best way to identify when the gun was made? The several books on Stevens firearms I’ve read never delve into this. You or any other interested collectors should write to the Savage/Stevens Historian: John Callahan, Westfield, MA 01085.

He may charge for his research services, however, the man likely has your answers committed to memory! Bersa Model 23 I have a Bersa model 23 .22LR handgun in need of a hammer spring, but I have been unsuccessful in locating one. I have tried Gun Parts Inc and Jack First to no avail, but not yet been able to contact the manufacturer directly. Are you aware of any place I may be able to find the part? I believe a hammer spring for a Thunder .22 or Firestorm .22 may work also.

Lacking a readily available replacement, can you recommend a custom gunsmith that would be able to fabricate a suitable compression spring? Eagle Imports/Import Sports (Wanna massa, NJ) brings the Bersa to these shores. Call them regarding the part Should they fail you, contact Wolffe Springs in Newtown Square, PA W. Clem Dan Wesson .44 Magnum I received a Dan Wesson .44 Magnum revolver from a customer completely disassembled.

I own a number of Dan Wessons chambered in .357 and .44 that all have side plates, however, my "parts gun" does not. Instead, it features a full frame on both sides. I am not familiar with this particular Dan Wesson variant and am having difficulty finding assembly instructions or a drawing of this version.

It has been quite awhile since Dan Wesson revolvers were made without side plates but we managed to meet up with a current Dan Wesson technician (now associated closely with CZ USA) who recalled enough to help you unravel the riddle. There is a set screw in the lower side of the frame that retains the mainspring guide. Relieve tension on the mainspring, then remove the hammer pin. A latch is attached to the guide. Pull back on the latch to pull out the trigger assembly. Note that this assembly is a tight fit.

Winchester Model 24 Double Barrel Has American Gunsmith ever published an article on the disassembly of the Winchester Model 24 Double Barrel? If not, what is the proper procedure? Dale Lamminen Clarence Funneman We have never done an article on the Model 24 and the only reference we have on it appears in Brownells Encyclopedia of Modern Firearms as an exploded drawing.

Buckinghams, in Trenton, TN, specializes in parts for out of production Winchesters and may be capable of answering your query more completely Shotgun Ideni ication I acquired an old bolt action 12 gauge shotgun with a poly choke that I am refurbishing. The side of the barrel is stamped "American Eagle Model 32C Made in USA." Who is the manufacturer? I am also searching for a parts supplier. Steve Koenig Mark Hill Mark & Angel’s Gun Service, LLC We admit to being puzzled.

American Eagle was a product name employed in the past by Hopkins & Allen for some low cost and small handguns. No shotguns, however. Send a photo of the gun, your inquiry and a stamped, self-addressed return envelope to the NRA Museum, Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030. AG