Checking an old Winchester 94

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JonMorganHill

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Morgan Hill, CA
I have an old and well used model 1894 - serial dates it to 1913. My wife found it in an antique mall a number of years ago and bought it for me.
I'd love to try shooting it, but don't know that it's in that kind of condition. Any feedback on what to look for? I've added a couple of photos to so some of the wear.
Action seems smooth enough, nothing is binding.

1894-1.jpg 1894-2.jpg 1894-3.jpg 1894-4.jpg
 
30-30.

I haven't had much luck finding a gunsmith, especially with the restrictions. I'm not even sure why I want to shoot it, I have other guns - I guess it's just the history and curiosity.
 
Why I'm shooting a couple of old (132 and 134 year old) '73 Winchester's, I'd shoot the darned thing. My FIL gave me his father's 30-30 (1915 prod.) and it's in far worse condition than yours, showing evidence of having been bucked out of a saddle scabbard (Don't ask me how I know this o_O). Shoots great though.

KiujIsbl.jpg Fuaks95l.jpg

So, shoot it and report back here!

35W
 
No gun brings a twinkle to my eye faster than a well-used, vintage 1894 Winchester. The look, the history, the stories it could tell always make me want to pick them up and go shooting. :thumbup:

Let us know how you do with it once you get out there. :)

Stay safe.
 
Cool rifle. I'd hang onto the wife too.

Headspace with a field gauge and if that's ok, you can shoot it. What's the bore like? Unless it's completely pitted, it may shoot. With 30-30 ammo at > $3/round, if you can find it, some cast bullets (like the Lyman 311 291) at .311" reloaded to a sedate 1500 fps is where I would start.
 
Cool rifle. I'd hang onto the wife too.

Headspace with a field gauge and if that's ok, you can shoot it. What's the bore like? Unless it's completely pitted, it may shoot. With 30-30 ammo at > $3/round, if you can find it, some cast bullets (like the Lyman 311 291) at .311" reloaded to a sedate 1500 fps is where I would start.
42 years, I think she's a habit I won't be kicking. Bore looks better than the outside. I'll check the headspace and see what I've got.
 
30-30, 32 Sp, 32-40, 38-55?

The barrel is marked 30WCF which is the early name of the 30-30 cartridge.

Nice looking old piece. Octagon barrel is a little bit unusual. Rifle configuration, not a carbine.

My routine for testing out an old rifle is to walk up to the berm, load it with one round only, and point the rifle at the berm. I only hold it with one hand, and extend that arm as far forward as possible. My other hand is nowhere near the rifle. Hopefully if anything lets go my other hand is nowhere near the barrel.

Be sure it locks up tight, the firing pin is not frozen, don't recall right now if the firing pin on an old '94 is spring loaded or free floating.
 
If you reload, you might start with light ammo and work up. Good luck buying factory 'reduced' recoil ammo these days.
 
Exterior is not bad at all. It being 30wcf smokeless round, I'm sure bore is decent. Even if bore is not perfect, 30wcf is still plenty accurate. If it were 32 special different matter. 32 special is black powder round, good chance of pitted bore and 32 accuracy suffers greatly from worn bore. This is rifle configuration, octagon barrel common earlier production. I would love to have that rifle, I would hunt with it too. Good hunting.
 
I do reload, but for the number of times I'd shoot this, I doubt I'll get the dies for 30-30

Well dang - guns are meant to be shot. Anyway, the ammo will show back up in a month or so. I just found primers yesterday for the first time in a long time at Bass Pro Shop. Everybody will calm down soon and you can get Hornady reduced recoil 30-30 for it.
 
As previously stated by some, I’d go ahead and shoot it regardless of bore condition.

This Winchester model 1894 dates from 1898 and is chambered in 30/30 and its bore cold only be described as “rotten” and it shoots just fine.

6 rounds at 100 yards.
E541FD47-7D57-4C21-81D4-2BE747C51CC3.jpg
It has no discernible rifling in its bore. It’s just a moonscape of pits and craters with a few high spots that used to be lands that the bullet “rubs” on as it makes it way towards the muzzle.
 
If there's no bore obstruction, and the action locks up as it should, I would just wear a pair of leather gloves, eye and ear pro and shoot it.
 
As previously stated by some, I’d go ahead and shoot it regardless of bore condition.

This Winchester model 1894 dates from 1898 and is chambered in 30/30 and its bore cold only be described as “rotten” and it shoots just fine.

6 rounds at 100 yards.
View attachment 954339
It has no discernible rifling in its bore. It’s just a moonscape of pits and craters with a few high spots that used to be lands that the bullet “rubs” on as it makes it way towards the muzzle.
That's a nice looking one. I haven't done any cleaning up of the hardware or wood pieces, that was part of the charm for me.
All in all, I think she made a good find for about $75
 
If I had a question about safety, after inspection and seeing if everything seems OK, I would put it in a rest and remotely fire it a few times.

That’s what I did with my 50 BMG when I first built it, used string to pull the trigger.

Since I have made electronic ones just for fun.
 
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