Winchester 43 -Jaeger Mounts
I just bought a Winchester 43 Deluxe in 218 Bee. When it was bought a Paul Jaeger side mount was added. The rifle and mount are in excellent condition. I have an issue regarding the rings.
The rings aren't split two piece, they are split one piece. Whatever they're made of is flexible enough to snap over a steel tubed Weaver K12, however the rings are a touch oversized. They're definitely not 30mm, but they're too big for the 1" Weaver.
I have shim material that will probably take care of it, but I'm wondering if there's another size vintage scope out there that should be used.
Also, for the life of me I can't get the front ring (the one not dovetailed & held by two screws off the mount. There's a screw holding it in place but it won't budge. Is the screw a conventional threading, is there a pin or something I'm missing?
The rings aren't split two piece, they are split one piece. Whatever they're made of is flexible enough to snap over a steel tubed Weaver K12, however the rings are a touch oversized. They're definitely not 30mm, but they're too big for the 1" Weaver.
I have shim material that will probably take care of it, but I'm wondering if there's another size vintage scope out there that should be used.
Also, for the life of me I can't get the front ring (the one not dovetailed & held by two screws off the mount. There's a screw holding it in place but it won't budge. Is the screw a conventional threading, is there a pin or something I'm missing?
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Most likely the rings are for a 26mm scope. Our 1" diameter scopes are equivalent to 25.4mm metric. The .6mm difference would be .024 larger in diameter.
I believe that the scopes with 26mm body diameter are long obsolete. Your most likely going to have to shim the K 12 Weaver, to get it to work.
EDIT #1,
You better hope that some miscreant in the distant past, didn't iodine that screw your trying to get out. Far as I remember locktight and similar products, weren't available back in the 40's/50's time frame.0 -
Like Rufe said, probably 26mm for the likes of a Kollmorgan scope. There's a couple of scope ring makers that offer shims/bushings to use a 1" scope tube in those rings.
Try soaking the mount screws with acetone, I've run into a lot of older mount screws with shellac or varnish on the threads.0 -
I did some checking, think you're correct regarding the 26mm scope. Upper mounts don't seem all that hard to find, but shimming should take care of this set up.
Quick question - my serial number ends with an "A" - bolt reads 18710 and the rifle reads 18710A. Does the "A" desgnate anything? I have a Winchester 490 that went back for some sort of refit many years back and IIRC they added an "*" after the serial number.
Now to deal with that front ring ....
Edit - a drop of oil and turning the ring, not the screw, and it turned out easy.0 -
Made early in 1950, the "A" indicates a production change. If it's known what the change was, Bert would be the source for that info. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by TRAP55
Made early in 1950, the "A" indicates a production change. If it's known what the change was, Bert would be the source for that info.
I found a reference to the "A" suffix suggesting that the change could be drilling & tapping an individual rifle for a scope. It seems to me unusual that Winchester would do something like drill & tap for a side mount. I bought the rifle as a shooter figuring the Jaeger mount, while period correct and executed, killed any real collector value. If that's the case I'm still happy as heck to have the thing. However if the rifle was some sort of special order and I scored a great deal that would be even better.0 -
quote:Originally posted by dfletcher
Quick question - my serial number ends with an "A" - bolt reads 18710 and the rifle reads 18710A. Does the "A" designate anything?
I am not 100% sure at this time (I am still researching the Model 43 for an upcoming article), but I believe it has to do with the operation of the bolt cocking mechanism. The "A" was added to the serial number sometime between serial numbers 16705 - 16928.
Your Model 43 was manufactured on 2/23/1950.
For those that are interested, I am currently conducting a research survey for the Model 43. The Cody Firearms Museum (CFM) records office has the original Winchester serialization records (Polishing Room) for all 62,617 Model 43 rifles that were manufactured. I can access that information for anyone wanting an exact date of manufacture.0 -
Thank you Bert. I guess getting a standard 43 in 22 Hornet would have been more convenient, but I'm really glad to have this set up. 0
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