Converting Bolt to Lever action

Gyortren1 · March 12, 2011, 11:51 PM

Hey everyone! I've got a question and I couldn't find much help from google.
I've got a .22 Winchester Bolt action rifle. It's a sweet piece. But I'm a fan of lever action more than I am of bolt styles. I was wondering if it's possible to....after taking out the bolt action receiver.....purchase and install a lever action receiver????? I know this would probably void the warranty....jk jk. I did look online for any company selling a lever action receiver but I found no results, but my guess is that upon purchase of the lever receiver, you could have a gunsmith do some modifying and fit it in there. Or do you think this would cost more than buying a brand new .22 lever action?

Mobuck · March 13, 2011, 12:02 AM

You're kidding us, right?

20thru45 · March 13, 2011, 12:19 AM

You could always do what they do in Waziristan. Borrow a working rifle like the one you want from a friend and take it completely apart. Next take each part one at a time and file away at pieces of scrap metal until they look like the part. Now take all your new scrap metal parts and assemble them into your brand new firearm. Get a burlap sack and gather up your friends parts and return them to your ex-friend. Since they aren't your friend anymore and your the one with a working firearm you might want to switch barrels with them before you return it.

They actually do this but I've never heard of anyone converting a bolt gun to lever action.

Sarge · March 13, 2011, 12:23 AM

Think of it as a 'side lever' and be happy.

paz9x · March 13, 2011, 12:25 AM

I read this forum everyday and never post.

This thread has me cracking up, picturing a guy with a lever gun in pieces trying to jam it into the receiver of a bolt gun.

**Mike Irwin** · March 13, 2011, 01:08 AM

Sure you can convert a bolt-action rifle to lever action.

You sell the bolt-action rifle and use the money to purchase the lever action of your choice.

ndking1126 · March 13, 2011, 01:16 AM

Anything is possible with enough money.. but even if you found someone to do it and you had the money, I'm think so very fun parts would actually be able to transfer over that you basically would have a new firearm.

If google can't find any information on a particular subject, you can bet cause it's not available.. I can't dream up any situation where converting a bolt to a lever is a feasible option.

Palmetto-Pride · March 13, 2011, 01:46 AM

I always said there was no such thing as a stupid question. Thanks for proving me wrong!!

Gyortren1 · March 13, 2011, 01:50 AM

Yes perhaps it is a stupid question. But I needed an answer for my stupid question. So thank you.

Tim R · March 13, 2011, 05:39 AM

Anything is possiable if you throw enough money at it. Buying a Lever gun would be cheaper by a long run.

I would not sell the bolt gun as suggested because I found I regret getting ride of a firearm shortly after doing so. Sometime you might want to shoot tighter groups and the bolt gun would more than likely fit the bill better than the lever gun.

bigautomatic · March 13, 2011, 09:28 AM

You might compare it to mixing expensive yellow paint with expensive blue paint to end up with green paint. Best to keep the yellow and bule separate, and go buy some green paint.

oneoldsap · March 13, 2011, 09:30 AM

If stupid was pain , a lot of people would be on a Morphine Drip !

mapsjanhere · March 13, 2011, 09:36 AM

Gyo, the reason you got people snickering is that the receiver IS the gun. Not only legally but functionally. You can change everything on the gun and people will still refer to it according the receiver, even with a new barrel, stock, trigger and sights. What you're proposing is using the unimportant parts of the rifle to build a new one around a different receiver.
BTW if you want a lever action that works like a bolt mechanically, look at the Browning BLR.

**Art Eatman** · March 13, 2011, 10:45 AM

Hey, you never know what's gonna show up here in the playpen.

March 12, 2011, 11:51 PM	#1
Gyortren1 Junior Member Join Date: March 12, 2011 Location: North Carolina Posts: 2	Converting Bolt to Lever action Hey everyone! I've got a question and I couldn't find much help from google. I've got a .22 Winchester Bolt action rifle. It's a sweet piece. But I'm a fan of lever action more than I am of bolt styles. I was wondering if it's possible to....after taking out the bolt action receiver.....purchase and install a lever action receiver????? I know this would probably void the warranty....jk jk. I did look online for any company selling a lever action receiver but I found no results, but my guess is that upon purchase of the lever receiver, you could have a gunsmith do some modifying and fit it in there. Or do you think this would cost more than buying a brand new .22 lever action?

March 13, 2011, 12:23 AM	#4
Sarge Senior Member Join Date: May 12, 2002 Location: MO Posts: 4,360	Think of it as a 'side lever' and be happy. __________________ Visit us at The Sixgun Journal or the archive, at http://sargesrollcall.blogspot.com/

March 13, 2011, 01:08 AM	#6
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 14, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 33,157	Sure you can convert a bolt-action rifle to lever action. You sell the bolt-action rifle and use the money to purchase the lever action of your choice. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

March 13, 2011, 01:16 AM	#7
ndking1126 Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2008 Location: One house left of my neig Posts: 1,562	Anything is possible with enough money.. but even if you found someone to do it and you had the money, I'm think so very fun parts would actually be able to transfer over that you basically would have a new firearm. If google can't find any information on a particular subject, you can bet cause it's not available.. I can't dream up any situation where converting a bolt to a lever is a feasible option. __________________ The Jeep has been a lot of fun, but time to come back to my first hobby.. shooting.

March 13, 2011, 01:46 AM	#8
Palmetto-Pride Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2009 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 1,591	I always said there was no such thing as a stupid question. Thanks for proving me wrong!! __________________ "When seconds count the police are minutes away" (Original Author Unknown) "I am not nor am I affiliated with Palmetto State Armory"

March 13, 2011, 12:02 AM	#2
Mobuck Senior Member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 1,472	You're kidding us, right?

March 13, 2011, 12:19 AM	#3
20thru45 Senior Member Join Date: January 19, 2011 Location: In the first foothills of the Cascade mountains outside Portland OR Posts: 144	You could always do what they do in Waziristan. Borrow a working rifle like the one you want from a friend and take it completely apart. Next take each part one at a time and file away at pieces of scrap metal until they look like the part. Now take all your new scrap metal parts and assemble them into your brand new firearm. Get a burlap sack and gather up your friends parts and return them to your ex-friend. Since they aren't your friend anymore and your the one with a working firearm you might want to switch barrels with them before you return it. They actually do this but I've never heard of anyone converting a bolt gun to lever action.

March 13, 2011, 12:25 AM	#5
paz9x Junior Member Join Date: April 29, 2009 Location: san diego, ca Posts: 4	I read this forum everyday and never post. This thread has me cracking up, picturing a guy with a lever gun in pieces trying to jam it into the receiver of a bolt gun.

March 13, 2011, 01:50 AM	#9
Gyortren1 Junior Member Join Date: March 12, 2011 Location: North Carolina Posts: 2	Yes perhaps it is a stupid question. But I needed an answer for my stupid question. So thank you.

March 13, 2011, 05:39 AM	#10
Tim R Senior Member Join Date: November 30, 2004 Location: God's side of Washington State Posts: 1,601	Anything is possiable if you throw enough money at it. Buying a Lever gun would be cheaper by a long run. I would not sell the bolt gun as suggested because I found I regret getting ride of a firearm shortly after doing so. Sometime you might want to shoot tighter groups and the bolt gun would more than likely fit the bill better than the lever gun. __________________ God Bless our Troops especially our Snipers.

March 13, 2011, 09:28 AM	#11
bigautomatic Senior Member Join Date: December 18, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 602	You might compare it to mixing expensive yellow paint with expensive blue paint to end up with green paint. Best to keep the yellow and bule separate, and go buy some green paint.

March 13, 2011, 09:30 AM	#12
oneoldsap Senior Member Join Date: September 16, 2009 Location: I live in the foot of the Green Mountains of Vermont Posts: 1,509	If stupid was pain , a lot of people would be on a Morphine Drip !

March 13, 2011, 09:36 AM	#13
mapsjanhere Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2009 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 2,271	Gyo, the reason you got people snickering is that the receiver IS the gun. Not only legally but functionally. You can change everything on the gun and people will still refer to it according the receiver, even with a new barrel, stock, trigger and sights. What you're proposing is using the unimportant parts of the rifle to build a new one around a different receiver. BTW if you want a lever action that works like a bolt mechanically, look at the Browning BLR. __________________ F 135 - the right choice

March 13, 2011, 10:45 AM	#14
Art Eatman Staff Lead Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX, USA Posts: 20,949	Hey, you never know what's gonna show up here in the playpen. __________________ You're from BATFE? Come right in! I use all your fine products!