44 Carbine Questions

[BearStopper]

Few years ago got a good deal on a 44 Carbine (old style). Noticed in the auction pics that it had a long weaver rail on the reciever instead of a second mount on the barrel and wondered if it were drilled with an extra hole for the front of the rail. Wasn't overly worried since the rifle was in excellent condition and I more or less wanted a shooter and paid only 350.00. Removed the rail upon arrival and dug up some weaver pivoting rings and managed to find the correct bases. Just got around to mounting a 4 power scope in the last few days ( too many other guns kept me distracted from this project). Immediately discovered why there was a rail added in the first place. Somone wallowed out the holes and near as I can tell tapped them to a very slightly larger size and then put on the rail and extra hole towards the front of the reciever top. Funny thing is the larger screws tighten up rock solid but seem pretty shallow. Not sure why they didn't just modify a rear only mount except maybe the extra hole gave better stability. So the holes in the barrel are plugged and the scope seems fine mounted on the reciever rail, so I will roll with it for now. After mounting the scope I got to playing with it a bit and noticed a loose fit in the stock. I can grab the trigger guard and rock the entire reciever side to side 1/16" or so. Just wondering if this much slop is normal for this rifle? Havent tried any more accuracy testing after mounting a scope but I can see that the slop fit into the stock is not gonna help things much. Thoughts?

 

[mike7mm08]

Does just the trigger guard assembly move or the whole receiver? Two things it could be.

If it is the trigger guard assembly moving we have a big problem. The housings do crack or break were the go into the receiver. Good luck finding a replacement.

Second thing if the whole receiver moves is the recoil block maybe loose. The recoil block is the rearmost portion of the receiver. It is actually a separate piece and is installed in the stock. There is a screw that runs through the stock and into the block to hold it tight. The receiver hooks into the block. If the block is loose the receiver can move. To tighten the screw remove the butt plate and you will see the screw. If the gun has been shot with the block loose the stock maybe damaged and the block may never tighten up. If that is the case easiest fix is to glassbed the block in place so you have something solid to tighten up against.

I would start by removing the action form the stock check the trigger group fit to the receiver and then look at the recoil block.

 

[BearStopper]

Everything is intact and recoil block is tight, just has alot of clearance around the action enough so to cause the slop. I am thinking it is done to aid removal of barreled action from the stock due to the way it must rotate out. Bedding it would likely make it very difficult to remove as it seems to want a loose fit to work itself out of easier. Wondering if other guns have similiar amounts of clearance?

 

[mike7mm08]

None of my several 44 carbines move in the stock.

 

[BearStopper]

None of my several 44 carbines move in the stock.

Thanks for the info. Maybe I will have my gunsmith bed the action somehow to a tighter fit and address the rear scope mount holes while he is at it. Will likely just plug the exta hole with a flush screw and bang away with it. Plan on shooting cast bullets through it also to see how many it will take before I gotta tear it down and clean the gas port.

 

[sunday bill]

The fit of the action to the stock on my carbine is as tight as the bark on the proverbial beech.

 

[mrs50sls56]

You should reconsider the part about shooting cast bullets out of your carbine. That idea has fail written all over it; you will muck up the gas system rather quickly. Jacketed bullets only and at a stiff pace is your best plan. YMMV.

 

[Tomcatt57]

+1 on the NO cast bullets...
Tomcatt

 

[Dantforth]

I can suggest that the trigger group housing is likely cracked. This was a problem with those rifles and I know from experience. There used to be a part and a fix for these but there is no longer. I do not know if a competent gunsmith could weld the part or repair it. Mine would not bring the next cartridge up properly when fired. Mine was repaired. There was a program with Ruger where, if your rifle did become non-functional they would replace it with the newer semi-auto but when that rifle was discontinued they were replacing with their 44 magnum lever rifle. Good luck. Dave

 

[Dantforth]

I wouldn't switch my early Ruger carbine for one of those. It is all in your personal experience. Sure I had the problem with the trigger group casting but it is one fine rifle otherwise and has counted for all of my whitetails since 1969. And, is the newer model still available? Dave