Opinions for a Winoku 92 mod?

[Canuck Bob]

My take down Winoku 92 in 32-20 is far too barrel heavy. With an empty tube the balance point is well forward on the forearm. I much prefer my levers to balance a little barrel heavy with my hand wrapped at the receiver if possible.

The rifle has a 24" octagon with lots of steel and a small hole. Someday I'm going to mod it.

Would you shorten the barrel or machine a round half barrel and leave the length about the same. I purchased the gun without being able to handle one. Otherwise it is a nice rifle and a ton of fun.

Machining the forward barrel round would cost about an inch due to the sight and tube hanger dovetails. I'll be shortening the tube to forearm length as well.

[earlmck]

Yeah, I've got one of those also, Bob. Sure is fun for shooting clangers. If you lighten the barrel to make it more carry friendly it won't be quite as nice to hold offhand for the steels. What I do if I want to pack a handy rifle after critters is take my 25-20 short rifle and leave the 32-20 for when I'm just going to the range. Division of labor, so to speak.

But if you're really needing to make it more carry friendly I'd vote for the half-round solution. That'd be neat.

[BigSky56]

Bob, bring it back to 20" and a half mag tube bet it would shoulder better, theres a reason a M 64 &71 are considered a hunters rifle they shoulder well and are accurate. Am getting ready to rework a 92 with a 24" half oct/rd bbl with a full length mag in 45 colt, tired of the bbl heavy dip and lousy accuracy. danny

[Canuck Bob]

This rifle is my luggage gun for bush sales travel. It will be my woods loafing plinker. I rarely go to a range. Too many children who think they are combat soldiers! Earl, is your 25-20 a round or octagon barrel? How does it balance?

Big Sky you got me thinking that if I leave the barrel long it will still be a little too barrel heavy even if the barrel is half round. I like my guns a bit heavy but balanced with the weight between my hands. It suits my offhand style. I find my Win 94 a little too light for a steady hold, my 444S is ideal for balance and LOP.

Anyone have a 32-20 octagon Miroku Winchester 92 with a short barrel? How does it shoulder and balance?

[Pete44ru]

Not a Miroku, but I had a gennie ca.1907 Model 92 rifle in .32-20 with a 22" RB and button mag (from both from the factory) that balanced perfectly - but the issue sights weren't worth a dang.

Certainly not up to the standard of it's chambering.


.

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

My take down Winoku 92 in 32-20 is far too barrel heavy. With an empty tube the balance point is well forward on the forearm. I much prefer my levers to balance a little barrel heavy with my hand wrapped at the receiver if possible.

The rifle has a 24" octagon with lots of steel and a small hole. Someday I'm going to mod it.

Would you shorten the barrel or machine a round half barrel and leave the length about the same. I purchased the gun without being able to handle one. Otherwise it is a nice rifle and a ton of fun.

Machining the forward barrel round would cost about an inch due to the sight and tube hanger dovetails. I'll be shortening the tube to forearm length as well.

One of the things I don't care for with the Rossi 92's is their oct barrels are straight, no taper like the originals had. In 44/45 it's not that noticeable in how it feels in your hand but the 24 inch 357m gun definitely feels too front heavy.
I think Rossi's 20" oct in 357m is so popular because it feels like the original 24" tapered barrel.

I think the idea of cutting it back to 20" would work but you will need to leave the mag tube barrel length if you plan to retain the takedown feature. Or, figure out an alternative method of retaining it because the current system requires the latch piece to swing out and unscrew in front of the muzzle.


Here is a 20" oct cut to 16" I did a few years ago. I wanted to cut the buttstock too. But, the customer didn't.

[gak]

I've handled my friend's 24" round barrel (full tube) .32-20 quite a bit and it seems perfect to me. Never cotton'd to the octagons in the small cal's. That's where I'd go with it.

[44-40 Willy]

I've got a Navy Arms 1892 with the 24" barrel in 357. Yeah, it's a little nose heavy, but it's so accurate, you couldn't pay me to have it cut down.

[Malamute]

Steve makes a good point about the takedown lever, though they did make takedowns with half magazines in the past. I dont know if they used a different lever that would go out straight, they may have. I havent looked at the takedowns to see if the lever will go straight out or not on the regular, full magazine models. If the takedown levers are in fact different, you may be able to modify yours to open straight like the old half magazine guns would.

The tube will need to be long enough ahead of the fore arm that the takedown lever can fold in when not being used.

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

Steve makes a good point about the takedown lever, though they did make takedowns with half magazines in the past. I dont know if they used a different lever that would go out straight, they may have. I havent looked at the takedowns to see if the lever will go straight out or not on the regular, full magazine models. If the takedown levers are in fact different, you may be able to modify yours to open straight like the old half magazine guns would.

The tube will need to be long enough ahead of the fore arm that the takedown lever can fold in when not being used.

IIRc those were interupted threads like the model 97 and 12 takedown shotguns, only smaller of course.

[Malamute]

I may be mistaken, but I think the magazine tubes on the rifles weren't interupted threads, the tube had to be backed out a certain amount to let the barrel turn. Barrels of course are interupted threads.

I would have to say I haven't seen the new versions, just older ones. New types could be different.

[Hobie]

Shorten to 22", half-round, 2/3 mag...

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

I may be mistaken, but I think the magazine tubes on the rifles weren't interupted threads, the tube had to be backed out a certain amount to let the barrel turn. Barrels of course are interupted threads.

I would have to say I haven't seen the new versions, just older ones. New types could be different.

That is certainly how the full length tube works. But, a half mag with a standard TD latch can't rotate 360. I have seen a few homemade latching setups that allowed the tube to turn 360 but I seem to remember the factory version used the standard latch but because it had interupted threads like the barrel it only had to be turned 90 degrees. Unlatch it turn it 90 and pull it out some.
Surely someone here has one or has seen one. Anybody?

[Canuck Bob]

Thanks Steve,

I saw an original on gun broker once with a short tube in TD. The front tube lever was reworked so the lever could be extended to 90 degrees for tightening or loosening. Then the lever could be extended straight with the tube to unscrew it. Edit: I just grasped the importance of Steve's second post regarding interrupted threads for the tube, that is probably what I saw on GB. The lever's body was shaped to stay inside the diameter of the tube. I'll take a good look because I don't want to bubba this gun and that one may have been altered to not TD.

If I was an American you would be doing it if possible! Also my rifle is an interrupted thread lockup for the barrel and normal threads for the tube. I have shot it enough to be confident in the lockup and repeatable accuracy with barrel sights, the hated buckhorn.

The barrel issue advice is treasured but keep it coming please.

[Canuck Bob]

I just read Kirk's post on his new vintage 32-20. I think I will keep the barrel as long as possible. As much as a shorter tube makes sense that rifle is beautiful in both condition and the way it is outfitted.

[Malamute]

Saw this about the takedown on the shorter magazines. It looks like the full lenth tubes have the latch catch engage a groove under the barrel to keep it from turning while assembled, all the half magazine guns I recall seeing had tha latch at various postions, and the lever can go straight out to allow it to turn. If your lever doesn't go straight out to clear the barrel, it looks like it could likely be modified to do so, and not have to change the threads.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENKfZGPhk9c

[Canuck Bob]

THANKS MALAMUTE!

I just looked at my lever and tube and that video shows clearly how to modify my tube. I could move the tube hanger from the end of the barrel and put it just in front of the forearm tip. Then cut the barrel round after that.

Nate's shorty does offer some keen ideas. This rifle's main purpose is a small takedown package so transporting my rifle on sales trips does not require a normal gun case. Buried in my luggage it doesn't scream gun or steal me. I know I'm flip flopping but if presidential candidates can do it why not me, lol.

By far the easiest mod is to chop the barrel and leave the tube at the same position regarding the barrel. Even though it is heavier than I expected I really like the octagon.

Button mag is out due to the TD feature.

[Canuck Bob]

Well I just spent an hour shouldering and playing with my levers. A wonderful hour indeed! This is very much on the table still but I have decided to follow the advice Hobie and others often share. Use the rifle enough to break it in and get accustomed to it before proceeding.

I realized a couple things about my gun opinions and myself.

First, every gun needs to handle and fit exactly like my 444S. My wife likes to remind me that I don't get stuck in a rut, I move in and furnish it. A guy can begin to think real roses are manure if he is not sensible.

Second, this rifle with its tapered octagon and fit and finish is a fine firearm as is. It points like its on a stick offhand and if I type less and handle it more the weight might become a pleasure. Kirk talks about the Win 32-20 as a great kids rifle. My daughters will learn on this and with its lever and LOP will suit them fine as teenagers.

Third, it is time to smarten up and be thankful for the wonderful life and gifts I have at hand.

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

Saw this about the takedown on the shorter magazines. It looks like the full lenth tubes have the latch catch engage a groove under the barrel to keep it from turning while assembled, all the half magazine guns I recall seeing had tha latch at various postions, and the lever can go straight out to allow it to turn. If your lever doesn't go straight out to clear the barrel, it looks like it could likely be modified to do so, and not have to change the threads.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENKfZGPhk9c

That makes sense. Never accurred to me to lift the latch straigth out and then down alternating as you turn the tube. Although, I'm not sure the full lendth TD latch will do that. seems like it only went to 90 degrees. Might need to be tweaked some.

[Cimarron Red]

Nate,

I have a Winchester 1894 lightweight rifle half magazine take-down in .38-55, and the take-down lever operates just as the one in the YouTube video does. Of course, the lever has no detent slot cut in the barrel; tightening the mag tube holds it in place.

Canuck Bob,

I'd keep the '92 as is and get a Browning Model 53 which is exactly what I've done. They're wonderful little rifles!

[buckeyeshooter]

My take down Winoku 92 in 32-20 is far too barrel heavy. With an empty tube the balance point is well forward on the forearm. I much prefer my levers to balance a little barrel heavy with my hand wrapped at the receiver if possible.

The rifle has a 24" octagon with lots of steel and a small hole. Someday I'm going to mod it.

Would you shorten the barrel or machine a round half barrel and leave the length about the same. I purchased the gun without being able to handle one. Otherwise it is a nice rifle and a ton of fun.

Machining the forward barrel round would cost about an inch due to the sight and tube hanger dovetails. I'll be shortening the tube to forearm length as well.

With CDNN advertising that only 251 were made, I'd be leaving it as is!

[Canuck Bob]

what is CDNN?

[Cimarron Red]

Here you go, Bob. Your (our) rifle is listed on page 75 of the CDNN catalog:

http://site.cdnninvestments.com/CDNN2012-4/index.html