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I was reading a Lever Action group page recently and came across a posting where it was claimed that single loading an 1894 will damage the extractor. The gentleman making this claim went on and on about how bad it is and how stupid it is to single load.
I have seen numerous posts such as this regarding bolt actions, and the differences of push feed compared to controlled feed… so it got me wondering about lever actions. I went out to the shop this morning and grabbed an 1894 SRC out of the safe and started playing with a dummy round. When I cycled a round out of the magazine, it appears the extractor does not go over the rim until the round is in the chamber. If that is the case, then that would make it a push feed action and there’s no way loading from the tube or from the top is going to make any difference.
I found an 1894 Owner’s Manual online (modern) and sure enough, there is a graphic showing how to load from the magazine or from the top, so I guess it must not be that much of a problem if it is shown as acceptable in the manual.
What do you guys think on this subject?
I’ve single loaded the model 1894 thousands of times without issue. I didn’t know it was a problem so I’ll have to be careful from here on out.
Doesnt make any difference how you load the chamber whether single loading or cycling through the magazine the result is the same, the extractor gets pushed over the rim of the cartridge either way when the bolt is closed. The extractor is designed to flex (rise over the cartridge rim), thats why the pin holding it in the bolt is located as far back as it is, to allow that flexibility.
1892takedown @sbcglobal.net ......NRA Endowment Life Member.....WACA Member
"God is great.....beer is good.....and people are crazy"... Billy Currington
On my higher condition rifles I only single load so as to not put any wear on the loading gate and to remove the chance of screwing up and sliding the round across the side of the receiver. I might be too careful but why take chances. AND there is no chance of a misfired second round if the trigger is touched by mistake.
Michael
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation
Brian,
As it applies to the Model 1894/94, there is no such thing as a “push feed” or “controlled round feed”. Regardless of whether you single feed, or allow it to feed through the action from the magazine tube, the Model 1894 extractor engages the rim of the cartridge when the bolt locks in place during its final movement. The information you read about extractor damage due to single loading is pure hogwash. Like several others here, I have single loaded my 1901 vintage Sporting Rifle, and my 1906 vintage Take Down Sporting rifle hundreds of times each (when shooting my special “target” rounds loaded with 168-gr HPBT bullets). I single feed one round through the top of the action, and push the cartridge into the chamber with my thumb before closing the action.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Those SASS guys are in a timed event, so the more time they shed the better they score. I know for a fact single loading a model 97 is faster than stoking it. But most cowboy actions stages, you normally load your rifle and pistols prior to starting the stage your shooting at. It would be hard pressed to find a SASS stage that requires only field loading your rifle after the start of the buzzard. But not to say they don’t exist. I would state in my opinion, that in regards to a timed event single loading is somewhat more dangerous than the traditional loading of the magazine. But would argue one just needs more practice.
Sincerely,
Maverick
WACA #8783 - Checkout my Reloading Tool Survey!
https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-research-surveys/winchester-reloading-tool-survey/
November 7, 2015
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The main reason I have for loading a lever gun from the magazine is to ensure that it will indeed feed from the magazine. My “shooter” leverguns occasionally go hunting and I want to have second and third rounds available if a group of hogs shows up.
Mike
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