Old Winchester Lever Action

[rugerman07]

A friend of mine has a Winchester 30/30 lever action rifle that was made in 1967. It looks to be in pretty good condition. He says he hasn't fired it in 20 years. Would it be safe to fire with modern day ammo or should he have a gunsmith check it out first?

 

[dodge]

I believe that you'll be good to go. If you have a doubts then have it checked by a gunsmith. It will handle today's loads.

 

[kentucky_smith]

I would think that a rifle made in 67 is modern.

While best to always err on the side of caution, I think you'll be alright there.

 

[rcmodel]

I was expecting a question about an old Winchester!

Unless someone has really Bubba'd it, it is as safe as the day it was made.

"Modern" 30-30 Winchester ammo hasn't changed much in the last 100 years, except for the Hornady rubber tipped bullets. And it is loaded to the same pressure limits as all other 30-30 ammo ever made.


rcmodel

 

[Shawnee]

I'll bet dollars to donuts a gunsmith is going to tell your friend it is just fine.

 

[Snarlingiron]

I shot mine last weekend. I hunt with it. It really likes the Lerverevolution ammo.

 

[ShakyJake]

Old Winchester Thutty-Thutty!!

Did some young whipper-snapper just dis me cause I'm over 40, maybe over 50, maybe over 60? I got a winchester model 1897 riot gun made in 1904 shoots fine. Keep it around cause its at least somethin' older than me.
TaKe CaRe
Ted

 

[SwampWolf]

The older I get the more time seems to shrink. If you happen to be twenty-something, a 1967 firearm is old (all forty-plus years old). If you're sixty-something like myself, I'm always astonished at how fast things get old. The other day I was reminded that the Ruger 10-22 is 44 years old. In my mind, it was-well, let's not go there...

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Old 94's to me are from the pre-WW-I period. Heck the 60's I even remember that cannot be old!

Clean it, lightly lube it up and bang away!

 

[mustanger98]

I'm 33 and my old Winchester .30-30 was made in 1971. It shoots real well for me. No issues with headspace.

I recall shooting another one though... somebody had probably hotrodded some ammo and knocked the headspace back a little. It was just enough it was bustin' cases. If I knew then what I know now, that would've been my project Winchester.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

My Winchester Model 94 was bought new (at the Fort Sill, Oklahoma PX) in December, 1964. I shoot it quite a bit.

My Winchester Model 70 (in .30-06) was made in 1939.

My Colt New Service was made in 1906.

I shoot them all, with ne'er a worry.

 

[Sistema1927]

It's not even a pre-64. I would be really surprised if it wasn't right as rain.

 

[lee n. field]

1967? That's not old. 1897 would be old.

 

[yakkingallover]

My boss inherited an older 94 that had been left in a Florida attic for who knows how long. Metal on exterior was rusted and the wood is bubbled and crusty, the barrel was full of dust and cobwebs, I cleaned and oiled it and it would put three rounds almost touching from 50 feet with rusty iron sights as fast as i could shoot it. I own a lovely marlin 336 and am now in the process of picking up a 94 after shooting that ratty old gun.. Clean it shoot it and love it.

 

[welldoya]

No issues at all. Your friend's 30/30 will shoot "modern" ammo just fine. My '94 made in '62 handles it just fine.

 

[srsmith]

One I have was built in 1899 & still does a good job on deer.
My Grandad's reloading kit came with it.

Have yours checked by a gunsmith if you are concerned.

Have fun & be safe !

-steve

 

[.45Guy]

Well, I just ran a bunch of rounds through my 102 year old 1905 and 79 year old model 8 today. I still have two eyes and ten fingers!

 

[bhk]

Let's see. Tonight I kissed the same woman I kissed in 1967 - she is sleeping by me as I type his. Today this same woman biked (like with a bicycle) 35 miles, a short ride for her. She does triatholons. Today I worked with my dogs, played with firewood, shot some guns, and talked with my college-aged son. This month I have quail hunted, coyoted hunted, and pheasant hunted - each on mulitple occasions. I graduated from high school in '67 - seems like yesterday. THAT IS NOT AN OLD GUN!!! I AM NOT OLD!!!! Not even close! (but maybe a bit defensive!)

 

[Oohrah]

Class of 58 and have a Model 74 that is pre 64 and fact two out of three
that are in the gun cabinate are of that age with a 70s one. All will shoot
any factory or reasonable reloads of that pressure of modern day ammo,
without a hitch Not old, just well seasoned

 

[joewill]

Wow, 1967, old. My 94, which I never considered old, was made about 1947 or 48. I guess I don't think of it as "old" is because I am somewhat older than that 94. Scary when I think of it. All in the eye of the beholder I suppose. As others have said, in realality ,both my 1947 and your 1967 are modern rifles and, with reasonable care, should be around and shooting for at least another 100 years.

 

[Gator]

My 94 was made in 1926 and it handles modern ammo just fine.

 

[CU74]

OLD 1967 Winchester lever-action?? Three-quarters of my rifles are older that that, and they ALL shoot quite well. Firearms only have two enemies - rust and politicians. If it isn't rusty, not having been fired in twenty years doesn't have much bearing - clean it first and then shoot it.