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converting a Win 1890 to a .17 cal
Terrell Grant
Member Posts: 3 ✭✭
I want to know if I can comvert a Win 1890 over to a .17 cal. I can reline a 1890, I have done several, my real ? is what about the carrier? Can it be milled or altered to except a .17 round.
Comments
Yes, you can most likely convert a Model 1890 for the 17HMR or 17M2 cartridges, but I personally will advise against it for a couple of reasons;
1. The Model 1890 was designed for low-pressure (black powder) rim fire cartridges. The 17HMR is not a low-pressure cartridge. It opearates in the same pressure range as the 22 WMR (22K - 25.6K).
2. Converting a "collectable" rifle to a modern cartridge is not going to help the value of the gun. You would be better off (value wise) relining the bore back to its original factory chamber.
It is a 22 WRF and not a black powder rifle
The poster was saying that although your rifle is nitro proofed, it fired cartridges that carried over from the black powder era, cartridges that are low pressure.
Regardless of which cartridge a Model 1890 is chambered for, it was originally designed for black powder pressures. Winchester did transition to semi-smokeless and to smokeless powder shortly after the turn-of-the century, but those powders created pressures that were essnetially identical black powder.
The 22 WMR was introduced in 1959, and it has more slightly than double the pressure of the older .22 rimfire cartridges. As I mentioned earlier, the 17 HMR is on par with the 22 WMR as it pertains to the chamber pressure. Frankly, the 17 HMR is best suited to a modern bolt-action rifle. It should not be attempted in an old slide-action rifle.