Early 70's Winchester Model 94- Good, Bad or Indifferent?

[.455_Hunter]

Greetings!

A LGS has a plane jane .30-30 Model 94 made in 1971 on consignment for $425. It has been there for almost a month, so lower offers ($300 to $350) might be entertained. Doing a quick once-over of the rifle, I found the following:

- Action is very tight for a "normal" Model 94, and far tighter than my "end of an era" New Haven production Model 94 I bought the day that the plant closure was announced.

- Bore is mint shiny.

- A few light nicks and scratches on metal and wood finish, indicating maybe it went hunting a few times. The finish on the action wear points is hardly scratched.

- One of the most egregious "Post-64" errors has already been fixed- the gun does NOT have a stamped lifter.

Would this be a good rifle to pick-up for a general "knock around" camping and hunting gun? What else should I check on it?

I don't want to buy it and then find out I have a potential basket case of poor design and poor quality components. I understand the rifle is not as fundamentally sound as a good "Pre-64", but I am not really looking for a hardcore collector piece.

Thanks!

Hunter

 

[Float Pilot]

The metal on those receivers was finished in a weird way which keeps them from being successfully re-blued. Plus they had some odd fit and finish problems every now and then. On a rifle to rifle basis.
But I think that you already know that if you can buy it for $350-$375 you will have a good deal.

 

[Agsalaska]

Sounds like a good one. $425 is not outrageous, but it is on the higher end of reasonable. Sometimes I see 94s in that kind of condition priced $500+, but I doubt they ever sell for that. Its probably a $400 gun so your good.

 

[CraigC]

One of my favorite rifles is a 94 made in 1971.

 

[DPris]

Keep the outside of the frame oiled & check it periodically for rust.
Shootable gun, I'd rate it as "indifferent".
Denis

 

[Sunray]

Had one of those in the early 70's. Found the felt recoil to be excessive for the power of the cartridge. Relatively light weight with a narrow butt stock. Had no trouble selling it though.
Don't think I'd ever part with $425 for any Win 94.
"...understand the rifle is not as fundamentally sound as a..." It's as sound as any Win 94 mead before or since. The changes made in '64 were not about quality. They were about manufacturing costs.

 

[GAMEOVER44]

Its a Winchester. Nuff said.

 

[ford8nr]

Its a Winchester. Nuff said.

Is that good or bad?

 

[DPris]

The changes in '64 DID result in a drop in quality.
Denis

 

[243winxb]

It needs a mechanical safety to make it worth buying.

 

[CraigC]

1964 did mark a change in quality.

http://onesticky.levergunscommunity.org/how_to/pre_post-64_winchesters.html

 

[jmr40]

All Winchesters made from the 50's up to the 1980's were spotty at best. There were design changes in 1964 that were obvious, but the quality had been slipping since WW-2.

Winchester was sold in 1979 or 1980 and quality did pick up, at least until sometime after about 2000. The closer you get to a 2006 made gun the more likely you are to get a bad one.

The rifles made in the 1960's and 70's were low's for Winchester, but even most of those are acceptable. You just never know until you buy one and start shooting it. Most are fine, but the odds of a bad one in those years is higher.

 

[Agsalaska]

All Winchesters made from the 50's up to the 1980's were spotty at best. There were design changes in 1964 that were obvious, but the quality had been slipping since WW-2.

Winchester was sold in 1979 or 1980 and quality did pick up, at least until sometime after about 2000. The closer you get to a 2006 made gun the more likely you are to get a bad one.

The rifles made in the 1960's and 70's were low's for Winchester, but even most of those are acceptable. You just never know until you buy one and start shooting it. Most are fine, but the odds of a bad one in those years is higher.

Until now. The rifles with the Winchester name on them today are very nice. Best in 20 years.

 

[AR-15Nutt]

my M-94 was made in 1937AD, i would NOT trade it for a truck load of "94's" made after 1964AD

 

[Elkins45]

my M-94 was made in 1937AD, i would NOT trade it for a truck load of "94's" made after 1964AD

I'm pretty sure no one is asking you to.

 

[Jackal]

They are a great $300 rifle...

 

[BCRider]

Until now. The rifles with the Winchester name on them today are very nice. Best in 20 years.

Sadly they are "Winchester" in name only. They're made by Miroku out of Japan.