Steve N
Member
I picked up an M865A lever action as a wall hanger today. Pawn shop said owner said it jammed after 4 rounds. Right now, I can't get lever to operate thru full cycle. Any suggestions, info on gun, etc? Serial no. is 256XXX.
Western Field M865A lever rifle
- Thread starter Steve N
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JohnBT
Member
Does it look like this?
I don't have a clue about a fix. Sorry.
John
I don't have a clue about a fix. Sorry.
John
Ash
Member
The Palimino could have troubles like that. Contact Havlin Sales for info on these rifles. If they can't help, nobody can.
Ash
Ash
Steve N
Member
Yes, it is the Mossberg 402. I found that after my post last night.
How do I contact Halvin Sales?
How do I contact Halvin Sales?
Ash
Member
Steve N
Member
Bubba had his hands on this gun. When I stripped the receiver, I found the problem right away. Bubba had made his own firing pin. Not too bad, put drilled a hole where he should have put a slot. The oversize hole (to allow the sliding action of the slot) allowed the pin to tip up on levering, causing the bolt to jam. He had also broken the left extractor. A cartridge would not feed because it takes both extractors to hold the cartridge straight to feed properly.
Bought new extractors, a firing pin, and couple of other minor parts from Numrich (e-gunparts.com). Put them in and had the gun functioning in less than 15 minutes.
My daughter told me she wanted to learn to shoot a rifle, so we went to the range yesterday. The lever worked pretty well, but every so often, a fired cartridge would not extract all the way, while a new cartridge would come up the elevator, causing a jam. Pretty easy to unjam, but a PITA.
Any suggestions? The only good smith I know of closed his shop last year, and I don't want to get ripped. Also the gun isn't worth the money to put a lot into it. If I can fix it myself, fine, if not, I can buy a decent .22 for less than $200.
Bought new extractors, a firing pin, and couple of other minor parts from Numrich (e-gunparts.com). Put them in and had the gun functioning in less than 15 minutes.
My daughter told me she wanted to learn to shoot a rifle, so we went to the range yesterday. The lever worked pretty well, but every so often, a fired cartridge would not extract all the way, while a new cartridge would come up the elevator, causing a jam. Pretty easy to unjam, but a PITA.
Any suggestions? The only good smith I know of closed his shop last year, and I don't want to get ripped. Also the gun isn't worth the money to put a lot into it. If I can fix it myself, fine, if not, I can buy a decent .22 for less than $200.
72V
Member
I took one of these in as part of a trade years ago. I don't remember much about it, except that it wore a Ward's Western Field brand. It would not cycle rounds without jamming.
In my humble opinion, it's junk. I tinkered with it for a while before giving up. It's almost more of a semi-functional toy than a firearm.
In my humble opinion, it's junk. I tinkered with it for a while before giving up. It's almost more of a semi-functional toy than a firearm.
I hope you are speaking about the one you owned. These are very good rifles, very accurate and very reliable. And desirable.
I own both the Wards model and the Mossberg 400 and the both cycle flawlessly and have no problems. I picked up the Wards because I collect the Wards Western Field brand firearms and I picked up the Palomino because the WWF is such a sweet shooter.
These were made anywhere from 1959 - 1960 for the M400 and 1961 - 1971 for the 402. These are not new rifles, they have been abused and fixed incorrectly, and most still work.
calling them all "toys" because the one you had was a parts rifle would be same as me saying that a Henry was a wall hanger because the one I owned did not extract correctly.
If you feel like you need to sell it let me know. I always like to give the basket cases a try. And I could always use the parts. You should be able to find the firing pin fairly easily. Havlins has it for $18.
Ash
Member
Ah, another Western Field guy. I hope I haven't bid against you too many times on GB!
Ash
Ash
No, Skeeter usually beats me. Dang you 
I haven't bought anything in awhile, other than a 724, a very hard to find Mauser 30-06 with the Turkish walnut mannlicher stock.
I look for the different stuff, centerfires, lever actions, bolt savages.
There actually happens to be a palomino on GB right now for parts. Fairly high when you ad shipping and FFL. almost buy a good working model for that.
I haven't bought anything in awhile, other than a 724, a very hard to find Mauser 30-06 with the Turkish walnut mannlicher stock.
I look for the different stuff, centerfires, lever actions, bolt savages.
There actually happens to be a palomino on GB right now for parts. Fairly high when you ad shipping and FFL. almost buy a good working model for that.
moooose102
Member
i've never seen one of these before, but it looks like it would be a sweet little plinker. what ever happened to all the nice old guns like this. nowdays, everything is the same.
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