Western Field M72 30-30 lever gun

Trevillian

Trevillian

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Just did a bulk trade. This was thrown in.

I know it's a Mossberg build. Extractor is gone and the safety doesn't do anything (hammer drops regardless of position).

Anyone have any insight as to this model? Replacement parts? Opinions? Etc?

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S4f said:
May be as stupid question but when the hammer drops is it contacting the firing pin? Crossbolt safeties on lever guns allow the hammer to fall but not contact the firing pin.
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It isn't a crossbolt safety. It is a lever. Seems that if a round was chambered it will fire if the trigger is pulled. But i am not familiar with this system. Nor have i dug into it.

I have not tried to fire a round yet as i just got it. But i posted to see if anyone was familiar with this model. As I have nociced the above mentioned in inspection/dryfire.
 
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Use your Google-fu and see if this is a rebranded Mossberg 472 I think is the model, if so check these guys for parts


Havlin Sales & Service
(636) 937-6401
www.havlinsales.com
 
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S4f said:
Use your Google-fu and see if this is a rebranded Mossberg 472 I think is the model, if so check these guys for parts


Havlin Sales & Service
(636) 937-6401
www.havlinsales.com
Click to expand...


It is. See op lol. I know its a mossberg 472 rebranded for westernfield.

I have. They have the parts it needs.

Just trying to see if any members can bring in some personal experience.

Ya know... RUN!!! Or "those are awesome"!! So on and so forth.

So far, you have at least shown me my google fu as you suggest is correct.
 
I hope that post doesn't come across as being a jerk. I am appreciative of what your saying.

@S4f
 
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Sorry missed the Mossberg build part of your post.
 
S4f said:
Sorry missed the Mossberg build part of your post.
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All good brother. At this point any insight beyond what i have posted above is useful info.

Supposedly it functions and fires. But the extractor being gone (ok the pieces of metal that were the extrator were taped to the receiver.....) and then function testing finding the safety to be useless made me ask here before even putting it on the bench lol
 
Trevillian said:
function testing finding the safety to be useless
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No problem, I still believe the safety is a hammer block and may not be as useless as you think.
So let's look at from a monetary standpoint. You're in to an extractor for 20 bucks or less and the extractor breaking on a older lever gun isn't a unknown problem . So is it one of my Marlin's no. Would I investet 20 or less to see if it was worth keeping most likely.
Have a good evening
 
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Ok this is me talking out of my hat cause I don't know this gun but I just looked at the parts list for it and if I see it right the hammer will fall no matter where the safety is. But in one positon it will allow it to contact the firing pin and not in the other position.

Cock the hammer(unloaded ofcourse) and look in the channel it sits in. Not sure on this one but you maybe able to see the safety. If so work it and you shoule see a rounded side one way and a flat side the other.

You should also notice that in one position the hammer will travel farther than the other. That is how it works if I see it correctly in the schematics.
 
Right. Not saying the safety is useless. I'm saying "this safety" on "this" individual firearm is useless.

I think it is broken. Not "useless". Hence why I am asking the community before tearing it down:)
 
S4f said:
No problem, I still believe the safety is a hammer block and may not be as useless as you think.
So let's look at from a monetary standpoint. You're in to an extractor for 20 bucks or less and the extractor breaking on a older lever gun isn't a unknown problem . So is it one of my Marlin's no. Would I investet 20 or less to see if it was worth keeping most likely.
Have a good evening
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Ohhhhhhhh. I found the reference. Apologies for the confusion. I see what your saying about the hammer block now. I r dumb...
 
Schattenreiter said:
Ok this is me talking out of my hat cause I don't know this gun but I just looked at the parts list for it and if I see it right the hammer will fall no matter where the safety is. But in one positon it will allow it to contact the firing pin and not in the other position.

Cock the hammer(unloaded ofcourse) and look in the channel it sits in. Not sure on this one but you maybe able to see the safety. If so work it and you shoule see a rounded side one way and a flat side the other.

You should also notice that in one position the hammer will travel farther than the other. That is how it works if I see it correctly in the schematics.
Click to expand...
See my post just above to s4f. You are both exactly correct. I was unfamiliar with this system. It was incomprehensible to me. But he and you have shown me the light:oops:
 
Windini said:
Would the "pencil test" work? In this case, a dowel... Dowel down the bore, long enough to stick out the muzzle. Cock, pull trigger - does dowel "jump?" (Hit by firing pin) Try it with safety on and off & see if there's a diference.
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S4F was right all along. I hadn’t tried any way of testing to confirm. But after his posts. I looked a little closer. I’m an idiot guilty of a lack of knowledge in a subject lol.

Still has no extractor but now I know the safety is just something I didn’t understand, not a malfunction:rolleyes:
 
Ok, so now that I’ve proven my ignorance. Are these any good?

Just ordered a new extractor. So otherwise...?
 
When they came out in the mid 70s, the Mossberg 472 was prone to extractor breakage. If yours is is an early one, from before the fix, it has probably not been shot much at all. Extractor broke, and it was put away. I bet the bore looks brand spankin' new. You might have a like-new rifle there!
 
Can't speak for the lever guns, but i picked up a westernfield 12 gauge about 15 years ago. It's my beater shotgun, total parts interchangability with Mossberg 500A. I've fired everything possible thru it. IMHO, as good as the Mossberg-labelled guns. I own 500s as well, it's literally the same gun with a different label stamped on it.
 
Sooooo. Extractor fixed. But it won’t cycle more than a single round from the magazine.

put in two and the elevator hangs up. I think it’s the elevator anyway. It seems like the next round in the mag interferes with the presentation of the “loading” round. Single round from mag is perfect.

Educate me again. I know squat about lever guns. What should I be looking for?

oh, to add. With more than a single round in the magazine, cycling the lever locks it open. Won’t close until rounds are removed..
 
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Trevillian said:
Sooooo. Extractor fixed. But it won’t cycle more than a single round from the magazine.

put in two and the elevator hangs up. I think it’s the elevator anyway. It seems like the next round in the mag interferes with the presentation of the “loading” round. Single round from mag is perfect.

Educate me again. I know squat about lever guns. What should I be looking for?

oh, to add. With more than a single round in the magazine, cycling the lever locks it open. Won’t close until rounds are removed..
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Should be a cartridge stop that keeps the next round in the magazine in place until the next cycle. I will try to find a schematic for this and get back to you.
 
Here is a video that I think might address your problem. Not 100% sure you are having the same issue but it is worth a look. Guy said he was having feed problems.



Here is a schematic of the mossberg 472

https://www.gunpartscorp.com/gun-manufacturer/mossberg/rifles-mossberg/472pra

Part no 11 is the part I think the guy in the video is working on and of course it is out of stock.
 
Schattenreiter said:
Here is a video that I think might address your problem. Not 100% sure you are having the same issue but it is worth a look. Guy said he was having feed problems.



Here is a schematic of the mossberg 472

https://www.gunpartscorp.com/gun-manufacturer/mossberg/rifles-mossberg/472pra

Part no 11 is the part I think the guy in the video is working on and of course it is out of stock.
Click to expand...



I will have to watch that. Thanks. Havlin may have that part.

I just need to get time to tear it down completely.

I'm hoping it's just gummed up from sitting with old oil/dust. I noticed the bolt assembly was sticky when I took it out for the ejector.

I'm never that lucky, but I can hope:D
 
Turns out it isn’t an easy fix yet.....

I can’t seem to get the buttstock screw loose to get at the mainspring housing to get the “hammer group” out.

I’m the type who can put some pretty decent torque on a fastener manually. But I have reached my limit.

It is now time to clamp into the vise and add a wrench to the screwdriver. But. Before I do. Any tips?
I know the mainspring housing is aluminum. Corrosion is probable.
Is there a known way to remove the “hammer group” while leaving in the main spring? Is there a way to break loose the housing? I don’t really wanna spray pb blaster onto the stock screw?

Ideally I can finagle the parts out without removing the mainspring housing. But the best I can see/find. Is the mainspring plunger physically prevents removal....
 
ARISE FROM THE DEAD!!!

I had tossed this rifle into the back of the safe and basically ignored it. This weekend I pulled it out and finally got it torn down.

As I can read from 3 years ago, I am reminded I still have no idea how this lever gun is supposed to work...


The issue was/is that rounds from the mag tube catch (are held?) on the loading gate and after a couple rounds force it outside the receiver... made me think the cartridge "stop" or whatever holds the rounds in place was broken/worn. But I can't see a darn thing on the lifter assembly that is sheared, broken or worn?

The loading gate is peened onto a pin as one piece and this one came out as two pieces. But I would think it was from the rounds "stopping" on it..

I suppose my question is, what holds rounds in the magazine in a Winchester clone? Surely it's not the gate? I'm a bit confused. Numrich has the gate and the lifter. But before getting everything I figured I would ask.
 
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Have you tried numrich gun parts, they prolly have a parts breakdown of that gun you can look at online.
 
heavydoc said:
Have you tried numrich gun parts, they prolly have a parts breakdown of that gun you can look at online.
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I have. I'm going to get the parts from them.

I just can't find anything that should/does/or is supposed to hold the rounds in the magazine. I wouldn't think it would be the loading gate but maybe it is?
 
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Trevillian said:
I have. I'm going to get the parts from them.

I just can't find anything that should/does/or is supposed to hold the rounds in the magazine. I wouldn't think it would be the loading gate but maybe it is?
Click to expand...
I would say if you don't see any pieces on the diagram that are missing from your rifle then you should be good to go
 
Trevillian said:
I just can't find anything that should/does/or is supposed to hold the rounds in the magazine. I wouldn't think it would be the loading gate but maybe it is?
Click to expand...

heavydoc said:
I would say if you don't see any pieces on the diagram that are missing from your rifle then you should be good to go
Click to expand...
It's when you get done and find a few "extras" that you know you're in trouble.
 
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