[mr.mafia]

our winchester model 94 32 WIN spcl has a problem with the loading gate spring, it is warped out of shape and is preventing the riser from coming up and loading a shell into the chamber. we already had a gunsmith look at it and he said that it shouldn't be to hard to fix it at home but if we can't to bring it in. my question is should I attampt to fix it myself or just pay him to do it for us.

[ranger335v]

The fact that you are concerned almost confirms that you should not attempt it yourself.

Pay the man a few bucks to have it fixed right or you may have to pay him more later to find and then replace a broken gate spring!

[Daveboone]

I am amazed the "smith didnt do it right then if it was so easy. Maybe call another gunsmith for his opinion. I agree it shouldnt be anything much, but when in doubt,....

[rcmodel]

Unless you know how to harden & temper springs, it is not a simple job.

The Spring Cover (loading gate & spring) are made as one unit, out of one piece of spring steel.

If the spring has lost it's temper & shape, it will have to be annealed, reshaped, and then retempered.

If you just take it out and try to bend it back to shape, it will only break, or bend again because the flat spring temper is already damaged.

rc