Winchester 94 3030 help

I'd go for it.

Hannah42 said:

He said something about side eject. Im confused I thought it was top ejected on the Winchester 94?

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it's probably and "angled" eject, technically. Mine is angled, anyway.

Originals were top eject, but (my understanding is) the mounting of scopes made that problematic so they angled the eject.

Purists will want top eject. Bozos like me just love lever guns

Older models were top eject. They went to an angle eject I believe in the late 70s. This was to facilitate clean ejection on rifles with scopes mounted.

I'd buy it.

The day I saw on this forum that the Winchester factory was closing, I went that afternoon and bought the last NIB Model 94 they had at a local Sportsman's Warehouse.

I will freely admit that it was a loose tolerance basket case of action sloppiness, plus with a very poorly fitted stock and bungled screw heads. It gave me no pride of ownership, and I sold it down river.

I am now looking for a nice 80's pre-cross bolt example to fill the gap.

Angled eject simply means the extractor was moved to the right side of the bolt and redesigned for that position. In addition the right side of the receiver was lowered maybe a quarter inch or so to allow the extractor to work. I have one I bought maybe 30 years ago.

I would prefer the old fashion top eject, but could find none available and my lever action love was just starting and I *had to have one* so I bought the side eject.


There's nothing wrong with them functionally .... more of an aesthetics sorta thing.

94AE for $500. I would pass or see if he would flex a bit. That is on the upper side of the scale. In the end it's your money.

2006 was the last year they were made in New Haven. Anything made after about 2000 was declining in quality, and the closer you get to 2006 the greater the odds of a lemon. It may be just fine, but you never know until you shoot it. I think $500 is too much to risk on a rifle of that vintage. The 1980's and 1990's Winchesters are pretty solid.

I hear John Wayne used a Top Eject...so that's what I have....500 seems ok in great shape...go for it, everyone needs a lever action 94 30/30, just seems right.

Referencing Robert C. Renneberg's book, Winchester Model 94; A Century of Craftsmanship, the author advised that the "Sixth Model" (6A-Angle Eject, 6B- Angle Eject with Button Safety, 6C-Angle Eject with Tang Safety) Model 94 was introduced in 1983, at serial numbers starting around 5,300,000.

When did they go USRA?
There also are different finishes....Ranger non walnut (iirc), walnut standard, high polish XTR ( checkered and noncheckered) plus laminates. This just in the newer stuff.

Theres a pre 64 clean at my LGS, but somebody added swivels.

Pops has a mid 60s w killer wood like new.
Bet he hasnt shot a box through it since hes had it......proly 40 yrs.

Pre USRA XTR fetch good money

Paul R Zartman said:

I hear John Wayne used a Top Eject...so that's what I have....500 seems ok in great shape...go for it, everyone needs a lever action 94 30/30, just seems right.

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John Wayne used an 1892 which was never made in angle-eject. If he used an 1894 it would necessarily have been built prior to the introduction of the angle-eject model.

Oldschool shooter said:

Older models were top eject. They went to an angle eject I believe in the late 70s. This was to facilitate clean ejection on rifles with scopes mounted.

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My 94 is a mid-50's version and is top eject, FWIW. Great rifle. Probably not objectively as good as my JM 336 in many ways, but I do like it better.

Three of my 1894 .30-30’s are top eject, the .44 Mag Trapper is a no-safety AE.

if it’s a no safety model, $500 +\- a bit is about what you’d expect to pay for a good used one. I’d buy it if it was in good shape. New ones are around $1,300 bucks now OTD... if you can find one.

Stay safe.

Good deal. Enjoy.

Hookeye said:

When did they go USRA?

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July 1, 1981.

Corpral_Agarn said:

Purists will want top eject.

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Oldschool shooter said:

Older models were top eject. They went to an angle eject I believe in the late 70s.

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Yep, I'm one of those "purists" Corpral_Agarn mentioned, so the year Winchester went to angle eject 94s, I went to a LGS and bought the last new top eject 94 they had in stock. Like Oldschool shooter, I think that was in the late '70s. Years later though (probably late '90s?) my wife bought a used, but like-new, top eject 94 chambered in 32 Special. It's a really nice little gun. It has a Williams tang-mounted aperture sight, it's easy to load for, and either of us can hold 2 - 3 inch groups at 100 any day with it.

I agree with the idea to do some more shopping or get the guy to lower the price. It doesn't matter which ejection process the 94 has unless you put a scope on it, but even then they make scope mounts for the left side of the receiver or you can install a scope mount where the rear sight is mounted. Good Luck!!!

I have top and side eject Winchesters and both work equally as well. If the rifle was in good shape, I would buy it. 30/30 is a great round, highly underrated IMHO, the rifles are light and handy, and makes a great companion for trips just about anywhere.

There are no decent Winchesters left around me right now and the ones I have seen are going for about 1K. I realize that prices are grossly inflated right now, but even when they are normal, 500 for a clean Winchester 94 seems about right.

Any post-64 Winchester 94 in 30-30 is not particularly rare. On the other hand, a really beat up one will seldom if ever go under 300, and a pristine one usually sells in the 400-450 range. So 500 isn’t absolutely crazy if it’s in great shape and available right now when you want it. Considering everything that goes bang is selling at a slight premium right now. I’d hope it’s got really excellent fit and finish and pretty wood on it though. If it seems like a Monday rifle, walk away or try to get 100 off the price.