HELP, I did something I shouldn't have..........

[1894cfan]

I made a BIG mistake in taking the forearm off a 1941 Win 94.

Is there someone here who can tell me how to get the rear barrel band screw back in??? PLEASEPLEASEPLEASEPLEASEPLEASEPLEASE

[AJMD429]

I'm pretty sure I've seen discussions about the RIGHT way to do it on here.

Maybe do a 'search' function on it. Look for Rossi/Puma too, because I think the last such discussion was on those guns.

I have fought with several cantankerous ones, and several times 'won', but I know I've usually resorted to either brute force, or "filing on things some", neither of which is the RIGHT way, so I'll defer to more experienced members.

Try the 'search' in the meantime, maybe you'll turn something up.

Good Luck.

[claybob86]

If the threaded end won't line up, you could try loosening the front band and magazine screws to get some play in the magazine. That might let it line up.

[1894cfan]

Thanks, claybob86. I've been sliding everything together without screws when pushing the barrel band screw through the barrel band. It just doesn't want to line up enough to screw it in.

[Old Savage]

I stripped the screw on a 59 and had to order another. Dwight Yokam - Baby things change. I think the wood just changes over the years. Be careful.

[Tycer]

I have had thing same thing happen. On one of mine, I had the threads to the left side. Flipping the band fixed that one. On two others the hole had moved toward the breech. I fixed those by filling the holes with an acetone carried wood putty and re-drilling. Both went through the left side almost perfectly and both moved the right side half a hole width.

[JB]

I think the wood just changes over the years.

I had trouble getting a number of screws and pins back in various firearms over the years from where the wood has shrunk.

[Old Savage]

In mine I think the wood had expanded.

[1894cfan]

In mine I think the wood had expanded.

I think that's what happened to mine. There was a inside burr on the screw head side of the forearm band on mine that left a scratch on the left side, so knew which side to put it back on. I've tried enlarging the screw hole, but it ain't working yet. Anybody else have any more suggestions?

[J Miller]

If it was on before, it will go back on. Just keep repeating that.

Just make sure the forearm is all the way against the receiver,
the band all the way back to the shoulder on the forearm,
then try to sight through the screw hole. Even a couple thousands inch difference will prevent the screw from starting.

You might have to twist and push or tap and push or a combination of all to get it just right but it will go back in. You might have to clean 70 years of gunk off the receiver and forearm to get it back on.

I learned many, many, many, many X 10 years ago to make sure the screw is properly threaded ... before I turn it.

Check the leading edges of the screw. Sometimes they stick out just enough to get beat up. So when you unscrew them they just won't start back in normally. Sometimes these little beat up screws leave burrs on the inside of the barrel band and that messes up the threading.

Sometimes the slot in the screw head will leave a big honkin burr in the band that will hold the screw back just a few thousands of an inch and prevent the silly screw from starting.

You sometimes just gotta lay it down, go sniff the Hoppe's for a while then try again.

Good luck. I've been there and done that. And I've got a couple old screws I just had to replace with new because they just would not start in but a new one would.

Joe

[Griff]

When looking from butt to muzzle, countersink in band (& therefor screwhead), should be on left side of barrel.

[1894cfan]

Thanks for the latest tips, guys. The threads are near perfect, matter of fact, I think when I pulled that screw out was the first time since it was installed WAY back in 1941! BTW, that's the year date that was stamped on the underside of the barrel.
The reason I pulled it in the first place was I spilled a bit of the kroil onto the forarm wood and thought I needed to pull it off to wipe the kroil off of the wood to keep it from messing up the finish. I think I should have left it alone.
After I pulled everything off the barrel, found a wee bit of light rust which I cleaned of with the kroil, in addition to some light crud under the front barrel band and on the front of the receiver.

[Gary Norsk]

You might try a feeler gauge along side of the barrel and inside the wood to give the screw a push or pull with a fish hook ground on the flat metal blade. Gary

[1894cfan]

You might try a feeler gauge along side of the barrel and inside the wood to give the screw a push or pull with a fish hook ground on the flat metal blade. Gary

Gary, thanks for that. It had not occured to me to try that.

[geobru]

I had a problem with a Puma one time and tried everything I could think of. I finally got it started by compressing the barrel band slightly, and it went right together.

[1894cfan]

I FINALLY got it back together by sanding the receiver end of the forearm with a T sander that I use to sand my R/C planes with. That shortened the forearm enough to get the forearm band screw back in. I think I partially stripped it though, but I'm not going to worry about it 'cause I'm not going to be taking it apart again! I'll let the next owner worry about it.

BTW, got it to the range today and have it sighted in about 4" high at 50yds.