Need advice for mounts on Win 94AE

[goodbadugly]

I'm attempting to put standard leupold mounts/rings/scope on a winchester M94 AE trapper .44mag. The existing 6-48" screws holes had to be opened up to 8-40". The front mount is no problem opening up the holes for the 8-40 screws. The problem is the rear mount. The 8-40: screws measure .162" dia. The holes in the mount measure .146" dia. That means there has to be .016" removed or .008" per side. Theres only .025" of material on outside edges of the holes now. If I take another .008"per side from the I.D. that leaves only .016/.017" material left on the outside egdes. Also the counter-bore would have to be opened up to at least .235" which would in turn screw down on the very outside edges of 8-40" holes. The mount also has .146" material thickness between screw head and rifle. Also the 8-40 screw holes only have app 1.5/1.75 turns before they get tight. Does anyone thinks this would work out ok or theres not enough metal left to stay rock solid. The mounts are leupold steel. All comments or advice will be appreciated. Thanks

 

[Ggmac]

Id counter sink the steel so you get more thread engagement. Why open them up ? Having steel is a good thing SOMETIMES this isnt one of them , you’re increasing the mass the screws need to hold . Ive got a 94 ae in 30-30 a trapper and used weaver aluminum bases with nmo problems for over 25 yrs .
You may have a weaker joint no matter what you do with the amount of material remaining around the screw heads and depth you currently have . General rule of thumb is to have as much engagement as width of screw . Excellent guns and mine is a very accurate trapper . Love the color case hardening.

 

[goodbadugly]

The 6-48 screws were broken off. Bought rifle at a garage sale for $300. Nice shape other than that. A gunsmith had to drill them out to the next size hence 8-40. I have never had any luck with aluminum bases or rings. Have a '06 rem 700 and a 300 win mag, Rem 700 that will shoot aluminum bases loose testing loads. Elongate the holes everytime. Steel works better for, me anyways. thought about filling the holes with devcon and retaping them 6-48. Maybe just move the rear mount forward a little and drill and tap new 6-48" holes? Thats what the gunsmith suggested I do. Gonna put a leupold 1.5x5x20 scope on it for beating the bushes, close in on whitetails and black bears. Thanks for the advice Ggmac

 

[Dusty Stevens]

All my life ive lived by the rule as to not mess with a scope at all on a mod94. All the available mounts are just not right in my eyes. I also do not use a marlin or henry without a scope. Just seems like they are made for it

 

[xr650rRider]

I use a red dot on 1892, 1894 and 1886. If you need magnification, use binoculars or your shooting too far.
https://www.turnbullrestoration.com...showroom/turnbull-merchandise/red-dot-mounts/

 

[brainfry]

Hard to believe a "gunsmith" couldn't get broken screws out. Why over drill and open the holes up? There's only about a dozen better ways of extracting screws and retapping the threads to original size. I have an AE big bore with either leupold or burris steel mounts made for it. No messing around ruining a gun when doing it right is easier.

 

[goodbadugly]

Guess I picked the wrong gunsmith. Been in business 47 years. Thought he knew what he was doing. Not sure what I'm gonna do yet. Thanks for all the replies