Winchester model 88 - feed problems

[bsparker]

I have a 1967 Winchester model 88 lever action in .243. Hunted with it since a teen. Within the last 5 years it’s had a hard time feeding rounds. Round doesn’t seem to slide into the chamber properly with out backing out the lever and running it in again.

Bought a new magazine hoping it was a worn spring. New magazine exacerbated the issue.

Any recommendations/thoughts?

 

[troy fairweather]

Did you clean the chamber real good, with a copper brush.

 

[Slamfire]

Magazine timing issues take work and tweaking. Slowly observe the orientation of the round, from centerline, as it goes forward. Increase the forward velocity and see if there is a difference. Look at cartridge release from the magazine. This is a critical moment, just when in the timing the round is free of the magazine and in line with the chamber. Since you have two magazines, compare the dynamics between the two. I assume the new magazine is an aftermarket, so, you can bend the lips, and if you totally ruin it, it is replaceable. I have broken a lot of things, in figuring out how to fix them. Examine magazine latching height. Too high, too low are equally bad. Is there an interference fit between the magazine and the stock, or the action. Has some dimension changed since 1967?

 

[Skylerbone]

1. Do you disassemble and clean the rifle?
2. If so, are you intimately familiar with how it’s done?
3. Do you hand-load/reload?
4. If so, is your OAL too long or your bullet shape changed?

Magazine issues noted above are another contributing factor that should not be overlooked.

 

[Ironicaintit]

I have some old "American Gunsmith" articles, and I knew I had one on the 88.
so, I dug it up and....
The problems it lists that would cause bad feeding are;
1. bad/bent magazine
2. sharp corners at the receiver lugs

could be as simple as a nick, burr, or sharp edge inhibiting the cartridge motion

 

[bsparker]

I have some old "American Gunsmith" articles, and I knew I had one on the 88.
so, I dug it up and....
The problems it lists that would cause bad feeding are;
1. bad/bent magazine
2. sharp corners at the receiver lugs

could be as simple as a nick, burr, or sharp edge inhibiting the cartridge motion

I've read something similar with the magazines, which is why I purchased a new one (albeit not original). But your nick/burr comment got me thinking to look at the bolt. I was able to completely disassemble the rifle (and get it back together after some fighting with the final slave pin... ) but I'm wondering if it is possible that the bottom of the bolt that pushes the cartridge forward has rubbed down, become rounded, and thus pushes the cartridge down more than forward. I can't find an image of what it's supposed to look like, but I've attached some photos here. The polished tap part in the first photo makes contact with the cartridge. You can also see the wear on the top of the original magazine.

Let me know if you think my speculation has merit.