Old Winchester Ranger mod. 120 magazine tube slipping

[ACES&8S]

Winchester Ranger Model 120 //, 12 gauge mag that kicks like
a mule.
Got this old shotgun with memories attached which needs fixing.
It isn't worth much but to fix it has been challenging.
The magazine tube is slipping forward so the magazine cap doesn't
tighten the barrel down enough. About three sixteenths of an inch gap
at the receiver when the cap is tight.
Haven't found a fix anywhere on the net. It is a press in type not latched
or screwed in so that makes it a serious problem for shooting, with the
gap.
Looked back on here and saw where - twofifty - asked about this same
issue back in 2011 and I am waiting on a reply from him, but any help
would be appreciated.
Does anyone here know how to fix this?
Tapping it back doesn't work, it just slides back out, per net search.

 

[BBBBill]

Black Max epoxy, JB Weld, drill and tap for a set screw...??? I dunno....

 

[ACES&8S]

I read somewhere that someone tried a couple of bonding agents but they failed.
However, you may be onto something with the set screw. Drill then tap then
use JB Weld on the screw.
We have a local gun smith, I will see if it can be done without affecting the shell feeding.
I believe it can be done.

 

[Blue68f100]

Depending on the fit between the tube receiver, may try some LocTite. There is one specific for filling gaps used in bearings. I don't recall what the number is at the time. It is a hard set that requires heat for it to release if it needs to me taken apart. I believe it's wicking too.

 

[Kp321]

The tube is held in place by the plastic feed throat which is screwed onto the tube before installation. There is a knurled section on the tube that keeps it from unscrewing once in place. Either the threads on the feed throat are stripped or the knurled section is worn. The first step would be to replace the feed throat and see if that fixes it. If not, some red Loctite on the knurled area would be in order. I would hesitate to Loctite things together without a new feed throat since it would be harder to replace it in the future.

 

[ACES&8S]

The tube is held in place by the plastic feed throat which is screwed onto the tube before installation. There is a knurled section on the tube that keeps it from unscrewing once in place. Either the threads on the feed throat are stripped or the knurled section is worn. The first step would be to replace the feed throat and see if that fixes it. If not, some red Loctite on the knurled area would be in order. I would hesitate to Loctite things together without a new feed throat since it would be harder to replace it in the future.

Good sound advice, you know what you are talking about for sure.
I can handle the instructions, and a good, heads up to not glue it too soon.
Thanks a lot.

 

[stockmaker]

Yep, you need new feed throats.
They are hard to put in if you don't have the proper tools. If you need help let me know.

 

[ACES&8S]

Yep, you need new feed throats.
They are hard to put in if you don't have the proper tools. If you need help let me know.

I will, thanks.

 

[1KPerDay]

Please note that the plastic feed throat/s came in two varieties as did the magazine tubes. One was threaded tube and a one-piece plastic throat, and one was serrated with parallel rings at the rear of the mag tube (looks like threads but they aren’t) and a 2-piece plastic throat. The throats are also caliber specific but the mag tubes are all the same diameter (12-gauge).

In order to replace the throats and/or remove the mag tube you have to drive the press-fit mag tube rearward into the receiver far enough to get the plastic throat off, and then make a slide hammer or a press that will pull the mag tube cap and mag tube forward out of the receiver without the mag throat/s installed.

To reinstall you have to bash the mag tube back through the receiver (leave the mag cap on or you’ll destroy the mag tube) far enough to install the mag throat/s and then slide hammer or press/pull the mag tube forward again until the plastic throat seats firmly into the receiver. It’s a royal PITA and not worth the trouble IME. I ruined a steel mag tube cap and bent the end of the mag tube trying to get one to move far enough back into the receiver to remove the throats.

I had to use a heavy steel hammer as a rubber mallet and dead blow hammer did nothing. In your case I’d personally push the tube as far back as it will go without using a hammer, degrease and put some permanent thread locker or Rocksett everywhere I could reach, and then pull or slide hammer the mag tube forward firmly and maybe hang it from the mag cap, with the buttstock installed for weight, until it set.

but it may not fix it since the very tight slip fit between the tube and the receiver appears to be worn in your case. Good luck.

 

[ACES&8S]

FIXED !!!
Sometimes we need someone else we have trained, to take a look.
My son took it home and considered all the options we had from you guys with only
the info I had given you. I ASSUMED the problem was as I started off, that the tube was slipping forward.
Takes some explaining.
I had camo painted it years ago when I got it and then sent it off to have the slug barrel turned
into a super turkey barrel, back bored the chamber and a super long choke tube drilled into it.
Then they tested fired for a great pattern and the best ammo.
Somehow during the process someone put the WRONG end cap on the magazine, and it was
to short which caused the barrel to be slightly loose, still grouped ok with Federal 3" shells
but the kick felt like it was 10 times worse.
Fast forward 25 years = I considered the Federal TSS shells and thought the old Ranger might
be perfect for them, then while cleaning it I found the loose barrel. [ I oil them every year even if not used but never
noticed it before]
My research took me to the worst case scenario which sounded like the same symptoms, the magazine
was slipping which others had happen often with this model.
All it took was my son finding the original cap online and it was fixed in 5 minutes.
Sorry for being stupid, and thanks for the interest, I am impressed with the info I got here, just glad I
waited before ordering the unnecessary parts. It was a $20 fix.

 

[1KPerDay]

Oh good! Glad it was something simple.