Should I trade my pre-64 Win 94 for used Mossberg 935 turkey gun?

[Scrumbag]

Thanks for the reality check fellas. I'll hang onto the Winny and worry about a longer range shotgun next spring.

I appreciate the good and obvious advice.

Give it a few months and there will be lots of unsold "turkey guns" in dealer's shelves and they will be "last seasons" colours / specs by the time 2014 spring season roles around. See if you can't cut a deal then

 

[AKElroy]

Pm some pics of that 94. You might get your cash plus a little jingle for ammo.

 

[planetmobius]

No.

 

[ottsixx]

I guess it depends on what your shooting needs are but I think I would.

 

[TreeDoc]

Not just no, but hell no.

 

[David Clark]

Do you have any idea what that 94 is worth ?? You could buy 2 New 935s for what good one are going for these days
Dave

 

[HOOfan_1]

Do you have any idea what that 94 is worth ?? You could buy 2 New 935s for what good one are going for these days
Dave

Yeah...if he doesn't want it, he should sell it...but get a better deal than he outlined.

If no one sold their pre 64 Winchesters, then there would be none on the market for anyone else to buy

 

[DeadFlies]

Keep and shoot your M94. They're a ton of fun, especially if you handload. Love mine.

 

[silicosys4]

I see mossberg turkey guns going for $150-200 all the time.
The last one I bought was a 3 1/2" magnum 835 that I paid $150 for, a few years ago. Not worth the trade.

 

[peacemaker45]

Trading at a gun shop is nearly always a good deal for the shop, but a bad one for the trader. If you're not appreciating the 94, maybe you really ought to send it down the road to someone who will. As you may have noticed from these comments, there are plenty who will.

So, sell it to someone who'll love it like it deserves, buy your turkey gun, and pocket the difference. Everyone wins, except maybe the turkeys.

 

[788Ham]

Bluegrass,

Heres another thing to think about : That 3.5" shotgun is going to have way more recoil than that 20 ga. Remington does....... think maybe thats why its for sale? Keep the Win. 94, buy a 12 ga. shotgun, they make all kinds to do the job. You don't need a 3.5" shelled shotgun to kill a turkey!

 

[BluegrassDan]

Do you have any idea what that 94 is worth ?? You could buy 2 New 935s for what good one are going for these days
Dave

Thanks for all the good advice, everyone. I made some extra money over the past two days producing a recording session which I'll use to buy the Mossberg, rather than trading the 94. So, I'll have both. Nevertheless, I do have some thoughts based on your comments and questions.

I suspect my 94 worth $450 - $600 depending on who wants it. Considering a Mossberg 935 Magnum Turkey is $700 brand new, I would think the price point would be a fair trade on a used Mossberg plus extras (aftermarket sights, sling, a few boxes of ammo, couple of choke tubes). So, I believe my original question was valid, regardless of whether or not one is more collectable than the other.

I can understand why to keep the 94 (which is what I'm going to do). It is a beautiful rifle, handles nicely, shoots great, desirable era of manufacture, etc. I really like the thing. But they are neither rare nor hard to come by. There were over 2,700,000 made pre-64, and there are dozens of pre 64s right now on Gunbroker is similar condition in the $400-$600 range with zero bids. My dad also has a 1956 Win 94, although his was his first rifle, and I found mine in a local gun store for $450 about two years ago.

I put in a whole lot of hours chasing longbeards for the past six weeks and came up empty handed. Two nice birds hung up just out of 20ga 3" range, and I'd be willing to put some time into trying the 3" or 3.5" 12 ga, patterning different loads, and coming up with something to extend the distance to around 50 yards (optimistically). The patterns on my 20 ga show that I should keep it under 30 yards, and that has made the difference this season.

Was hoping to hear more love for the Mossberg. It appears to be what I'd like to have in a turkey gun. Back bored, shorter overall length, camo, choke system, semi auto, higher payload. I'd spend more time with it in the woods than with my Win 94, which I might take in the woods once per deer season, if that.

So, those are my thoughts. Thanks a lot for the advice, guys!

 

[Scrumbag]

Hi Dan,

Glad you got the Mossy and hope you have many hours of happy hunting with her!

Now, get out there and work up those loads!

Scrummy

 

[Longrifle2506]

That would be a trade you would live to regret. Good thing you kept it. It may not seem worth much now; but the day will come when you will be glad you kept it.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

I sold a Mossberg 835 for $250. The gun was too specialized for me to get that much use.

I have a Marlin 336 .30-30, but if I did not have it, a servicable pre-64 1894 would be worth more than the 835 and 336 together.

In the long run though, I guess it boils down to what is of most use to you.

 

[pricedo]

I have a 1955 94 in 30-30 that I'll own the day I die.
I own a 1973 made 94 in 30-30 that I like also.
Just purchased a Winchester 94 (Miroku) Trails End takedown in 450 Marlin.
I own 94s from all 3 major epochs in Winchester 94 evolution.
Pre 64 New Haven
Post 64 New Haven
Post 2006 Miroku