[Newt]

I've owned a Winchester Model 94 30-30 for some years now. I've hunted with it for several years, and taken down a couple deer with it as well. Recently, someone asked me if I would be interested in parting with it, and if so how much? I've never been one to sell or trade guns much, but I've had my eye on this .22 Mag for a few months and can't help but think if I sold this 30-30 I could buy it. After having said all of this, my question is: list some pros and cons of each to help me better decide what to do.

Thanks,
Newt

[Jack19]

Con: Ya can't hunt deer with a .22 Mag.

[shadow 1]

I sold a gun once...have regretted it ever since.

[Newt]

Jack19: I see your point about not being able to hunt anymore, but I have plenty of other deer rifles to take it's place :D Bought a new one last year and again this year. Any other comments are welcomed.

[hillbilly]

Uh, what's the .22 mag cost?

Is it a $250 .22 mag? Or is it more like a $500 .22 mag?

If it's a lower end rifle, is there any way you can scrape up the cash (donating blood, not eating out for a couple of months, cancelling magazine subscriptions, getting a cheaper ISP) to get it without selling the 30-30?

On the other hand, 30-30 levers are pretty cheap, too.

If you don't have any real sentimental attachment, you could sell 30-30, buy .22 mag, and then scrape up around $200 for another 30-30 lever.

hillbilly

[WYO]

My general rule of thumb on most purely discretionary decisions is "when in doubt, don't." If there's some element of coercion or requirement to decide (such as loyalty to the person who inquired about buying), then weigh the potential loss/benefit.

I don't like the feeling of trading something in which I have an emotional investment for something that I decide I don't like a week later. In my particular case, I also try to determine whether my son would like to have it one day.

[Rebel Gunman HK]

Never sell a good gun!!! Its sinful!:evil:

[uglymofo]

Never sell.

Never sell.

Never sell.

There's only two exceptions to these 3 rules of gun ownership, and that's to sell it if it's a dog and can't be fixed, or it's not the gun you thought you bought.

[Jack19]

Newt, if you have other deer rifles, have at it. .22 mag is a fun caliber.

I've sold lot's, in fact, most, of the weapons I've ever owned. With a couple exceptions, I don't miss them. Better choices, better technology, caliber that works better, more fun, whatever the reason.....I've learned a lot over the last 25 years.

I've never considered modern guns to be unsaleable treasures. To me they're purely functional. C&Rs are a different story....:D

[Dionysusigma]

Hmmm...owned a Winchester Model 94 30-30 for some years now. I've hunted with it for several years, and taken down a couple deer with it as well.

Somehow the .22mag pales in comparison. Don't do it. Wait until you have the money for the .22mag, buy it, and then you'll have both.

[Mark Tyson]

Everyone needs a lever 30-30. It's downright unamerican not to own one! Save up your money or sell something else.

[keederdag]

What Mark said. You keep the 94 or get deported, I think:D

[Buckskinner]

~Won't ever trade it in for a city sponsored gameboy or tix to a ballgame
~Won't let it get stolen out of their garage
~Will treasure it as the symbol of liberty it truly is
~Will teach a child the wonder of responsible firearms usage
~ETC...

[RustyHammer]

Buy low and NEVER SELL ....

[Chipperman]

I've never sold a gun, and doubt I ever will.
BUT if I ever do need to sell, I like Buckskinner's answer.

IMO, if you are not starving, and it's a good gun, keep it.

[chaim]

Do you have another lever gun? Is the .22mag a lever gun? If the answers to these questions are no then do not sell. There is just something so very American about a nice lever rifle. They are also so much fun. I like my Win 94 better than any other rifle, or pistol, that I own (though I don't have an assult rifle yet so I could change my mind, the closest to that is an SKS).

As others have said, unless the .22mag is a top of the line gun, you can get one fairly cheap. Save until you can get it outright. If it is a top of the line gun then the 30-30 won't help that much (they are so common that they don't sell for much, new or used, unless they are some kind of limited edition or otherwise rare model).

For much of what a .22mag will do, you can do with a good .22lr. If you don't have one, you can get a decent .22lr rifle for pretty cheap ($80-110 for a cheap but good bolt, $100-150 for a cheap but good semi). Plink for a while with it, hunt small game, etc. Then trade that one for the .22mag (or get the mag outright).

[Brian Dale]

The only possible justifications I see are Buckskinner's. If you'd be proud to see that fella getting his 94 from you, then think about it. Then go with him somewhere to help him pick out a Win 94, Marlin 336 or Savage 99 of his own.

I look forward to giving mine away when I'm very old, to someone young who either can't afford one yet or who would like it especially well because it came from me.

Don't risk getting deported. I have to recommend saving up for that .22 Mag instead of selling the 94.

[buttrap]

I would trade it so fast its blue would turn purple...never did like that 30-30 in a 94. Though a 94 in a round that shoots really well and does not kick the snot out of you such as a 25-35,38-56 or 32-40 is a keeper. OK so I have a bad attitude....

[ojibweindian]

Keep the Winchester, save up for the .22Mag.

[PJR]

Sell it if you have no further need for it. Then make sure you define the need very carefully. Do you need to have a short brush gun to hunt deer or hogs? Do you need a back up rifle if one of your others needs work during the season. Do you need to get out and plink with an open-sighted lever action? Do you need this rifle because 30-30 ammo is reasonable and you still have a lot. Do have have other rifles that can fulfill ALL the needs met by the Winchester?

Do you need this .22 mag more than the Winchester?

Actually by asking the question here you've answered it. What you will find here are only reasons to keep the rifle.

[Newt]

All good replys and thanks to all for the input. As far as having a backup deer rifle, I have a Savage 30-06, Winchester 30-30, Remington .260 and a Tikka .243. I have plenty of deer rifles so the 30-30 isn't a necessity. A .22 lr you ask? I have 2 of them as well, but have never owned a .22 mag. I had a couple bad experiences with the 30-30 and will probably never take it back to the deer stand (I'm not bashing the Win. 30-30, just stating the facts.) It's a fun gun to shoot but doesn't get much range time or hunting time for that matter. It mostly just collects dust on the gun rack, so I was thinking... wouldn't I be better off selling and buying something that may get more use? Any other practical purposes for a .22 mag other than plinking? Thanks for the input.

Newt

[ojibweindian]

Okay.

Now, armed with a little more information, I'd like to change my answer. Dump the .30-30 and get the .22Mag.

[TallPine]

I've owned a Winchester Model 94 30-30 for some years now.

Some years ...? Like maybe before background checks and Form 4473 ...?

In that case, keep it and find a good place to hide it, along with a few hundred rounds of 30-30 ammo.

Might come in handy someday ;)

[ojibweindian]

Form 4473 only documents the original owner of a firearm purchased after that stupid law was passed.

Out of all the guns I've bought in the last several years, not one has managed to stay; I traded them, along with cash, in private transactions to acquire better guns.

So, if the "boys" ever come to me and say "We have a list of the guns you own, turn them over" I can honestly answer "I don't have them, look for yourself" :D

[King]

Never Sell......hang onto them all....acquire as manyt as you can.

[jar]

I have regretted every gun that I've ever sold except for the PPKs and Millenniums. BUT...

if you had a bad experince with that rifle that's a whole different story. Dump that sucker and leave the regrets for tomorrow.

[Daryl]

I have sold and traded many firearms in order to up-grade my "collection". Except for, maybe one or two, I have no regrets.