Nothin' wrong with a thutty-thutty as a car gun
Some years back I acquired an early fifties vintage Winchester '94 that was my idea of what a basic lever gun should be. While functionally perfect, the aging carbine had already been modified, and showed enough wear that I didn't worry about desecrating a primo pre-64 collector's item. The barrel had been cut to just a fraction over sixteen inches and the magazine cut to match. It already had a solid aperture sight screwed to the receiver.
I exchanged the brass bead front sight for a plain post, installed swivels and a one-inch carry strap. I sighted it in for Remington CoreLokt 150 gr. ammo, two inches high at 100 yards and near enough dead-on at 150. I kept five rounds in the magazine, chamber empty, and another ten rounds in a butt cuff. Compact and light, handy as a walking cane, it was a comfort while serving warrants, and on the occasional manhunt. It didn't cause too much excitement while wandering around neighborhoods
It rode in a padded soft case, well coated with Break Free, and I wiped it down every couple of weeks. Only once did I develop a little rust on the checked steel butt plate, and this easily cleaned off. I did a detail cleaning about every year, whether it needed it or not. I'd shoot a target every few months, and did the County qualification once a year. I always held my own with the patrol guys and their issue Mini-14s, some of which were scoped. I had occasion to take sight on four felons with this little piece, but never had to fire it.
I have better deer rifles, I suppose, and certainly more suitable varmint guns and "big game" rifles, and, for that matter, more specialized fighting guns. But for a pack it every day, all around car gun, a man could do worse than that old '94.
Best,
Johnny
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