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I just purchased a very nice Win. Model 1890 serial #430891 DOM 1911. The top of the hex barrel is stamped 22 W.R.F. When I got back home I tried to load the rifle to check how it feed and cycled. To my surprise .22 WRF cartridges would not fit the slot in the tube magazine, will not feed into the receiver or fit the barrel chamber. The .22 WRF rounds are to large. So I tried .22 LR’s and that round fit the magazine, receiver and barrel chamber. I don’t believe this rifle has been modified and if so the caliber stamp on the barrel (.22 W.R.F) should chamber the .22 WRF cartridge not .22 LR. I have not test fired the rifle yet and will not until I understand whats going on here. Can anyone shed some light on this issue? My contact information: [email protected]
Sincerely,
Jeff Giesel
April 15, 2005
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Hello Jeff,
If the barrel is marked “22 W.R.F.”, I would make the assumption that it is chambered for that cartridge. I will suggest that you try single feeding a cartridge through the top and see if it chambers. If it does, you serious have a problem, and most likely an incorrectly altered rifle.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
January 26, 2011
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Jeff,
Does the lower forward portion of the receiver have WRF stamped lightly just under the magazine tube connection point? Its a good way to verify that the receiver was made for this cartridge. As Bert said, even if its a pieced together rifle, the WRF round should fit the barrel if fed like a single shot. Since the 22 LR was not even offered at that time for the 1890, its possible the mag tube and receiver are for a 22 Long and the barrel is a WRF. Either way, its not sounding good so far.
~Gary~
March 20, 2009
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Hello,
This is the stamp you should be looking for on the bottom of the receiver face.
Michael
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation
Hello Jeff.
Just curious if you have had a resolution to this? I too have this same issue. Although my slot for the tube does fit the ammo, the receiver and the barrel will not fit the ammo. Mine does say .22 WRF in two different locations on the gun. I am bummed as I just purchased 1200 rounds of this ammo.
Thaks
John
March 17, 2014
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I also have a model 90 (1890) stamped 22 WRF. Those cartridges fit the chamber and the loading slot, but feed into the carrier so far they allow the next cartridge to partially enter the carrier preventing feeding. This carrier does not have the hinged cartridge stop of the 1906. (And there is no pin hole to fit such a stop) Rather it has a fixed blade on the front of the carrier that appears designed to cam the second round back into the magazine. But it doesn’t function in this way. It looks like it might function in this way if the second cartridge didn’t feed so far into the carrier (about 0.25 to 0.375 in enters the carrier.
Should there be be some stop in the carrier to top the first cartridge? What is not working correctly?
Ray
Ray James, College Station, Texas
July 17, 2012
Online
The cartridge is stopped simply by the depth of the recess in the carrier. Each of the 1890 calibers have a different depth of cartridge recesses in the carrier with the WRF being the deepest. It sounds as if yours might be worn or modified so that it is too deep. For a quick check you can cut a pencil easer and insert it into the carrier in various thickness until you get the right depth of the cartridge and see if that solves the problem. If so, then you can set about either repairing or replacing the carrier, secure in the knowledge that it is the culprit.
A picture of the carrier would help us troubleshoot it for you also.
Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
Same problem.
Anyone ever get an answer to this question?
April 15, 2005
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LAGrant said
Same problem.Anyone ever get an answer to this question?
It is nearly impossible to answer questions of this nature without being able to physically examine the specific rifle in question.
That stated, most of the slide action .22 rim fire rifles that will need feed & function correctly where subjected to alterations perpetrated by that industrious but not so sharp fella who answers to name “Bubba”.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
June 1, 2023
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Otherwise known as the DPO (Dreaded Previous Owner.)
Problems like these are the reason God created gunsmiths.
BRP
September 28, 2016
Online
Jeff Giesel said
I just purchased a very nice Win. Model 1890 serial #430891 DOM 1911. The top of the hex barrel is stamped 22 W.R.F. When I got back home I tried to load the rifle to check how it feed and cycled. To my surprise .22 WRF cartridges would not fit the slot in the tube magazine, will not feed into the receiver or fit the barrel chamber. The .22 WRF rounds are to large. So I tried .22 LR’s and that round fit the magazine, receiver and barrel chamber. I don’t believe this rifle has been modified and if so the caliber stamp on the barrel (.22 W.R.F) should chamber the .22 WRF cartridge not .22 LR. I have not test fired the rifle yet and will not until I understand whats going on here. Can anyone shed some light on this issue? My contact information: [email protected]Sincerely,
Jeff Giesel
Jeff,
First step is to use the take down feature on the rifle and try fitting a 22 WRF into the shell carrier. Next look very closely at the muzzle end (with magnification) of the barrel and check to see if a liner has been installed. If the 22 WRF shell does not fit in the carrier and the barrel has a liner it will be obvious the rifle has been converted from WRF to one of the regular 22 rounds.
Erin
September 28, 2016
Online
Ray James said
I also have a model 90 (1890) stamped 22 WRF. Those cartridges fit the chamber and the loading slot, but feed into the carrier so far they allow the next cartridge to partially enter the carrier preventing feeding. This carrier does not have the hinged cartridge stop of the 1906. (And there is no pin hole to fit such a stop) Rather it has a fixed blade on the front of the carrier that appears designed to cam the second round back into the magazine. But it doesn’t function in this way. It looks like it might function in this way if the second cartridge didn’t feed so far into the carrier (about 0.25 to 0.375 in enters the carrier.Should there be be some stop in the carrier to top the first cartridge? What is not working correctly?
Ray
Ray,
I would bet someone lengthened the chamber and carrier to accept regular 22 magnum ammo. Try cycling some through the rifle.
Erin
