To shoot, or not to shoot...

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centurion94

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Good evening and Merry Christmas to all!

My question to the forum regards a Winchester Mod. 94, but could apply to a variety of weapons so I decided to post here. The way I figure, there's probably several dozen eons worth of experience here, and I may get several opinions, but that's part of the fun, right?

My grandfather's uncle was a Texas Ranger. The rifle I inherited was his working gun - a Model 94 in .30-30 which according to the serial number left the factory in 1896. It's in great shape, wood is excellent, bluing about 90-95%. Last time it was fired was by my dad to kill a muley in South Dakota in 1967. My first venison - mighty tasty, too!

Here's the question - would you guys shoot it or just take it out and fondle it from time to time. I keep going back and forth on this and I figured it was about time to get an opinion. What say ye all? And thanks for your collective input!

don
 
I would shoot it if you want to. It is not going to affect its value by shooting it on occasion.
 
The gun was bought as a user, and has already seen plenty of use. It isn't pristine such that shooting it will hurt its value. It isn't an especially fragile design and sounds like it is in very good shape. I'd shoot it occasionally without any worries.

(I'd also pretty religiously keep it clean and oiled and give it less of the utilitarian use my normal range guns see.)
 
I'd have a gunsmith confirm it is safe to fire and then shoot a few rounds through it every now and then. It's a family heirloom and it's already been fired. You won't be selling it so I would enjoy it from time to time.
 
I would most definitely shoot it from time to time and reflect about the other family members who also shot it while doing so.

It's beautiful and it's history but it is still meant to be shot.
 
I have my granddad's Winchester 1890 .22 short, and my dad's Remington M10 Trap Grade, both fragile guns without much parts support.

I shoot both of them. It just wouldn't do to let them sit. If something breaks, I figure I'll solve that problem when it happens.
 
Take her outside, load her up, find a target, gather your family around you, pull out both the video camera AND the Nikon and then take some memorable lasting shots while you take some memorable shots. Afterwards? Group photo...and then have it doctored up at the photo lab with a nice message at the bottom of the pic describing the four W's. Who, Why, When, What.....:D
 
Sam1911 said:
The gun was bought as a user, and has already seen plenty of use. It isn't pristine such that shooting it will hurt its value. It isn't an especially fragile design and sounds like it is in very good shape. I'd shoot it occasionally without any worries.

(I'd also pretty religiously keep it clean and oiled and give it less of the utilitarian use my normal range guns see.)
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Agreed.
 
May as well shoot it. Now that you've told us about it you owe us a range report anyway. With pictures. :)
 
Shoot it. It's what it was made for. I probably wouldn't shoot it TOO much, but a few rounds now and again won't hurt it, and you'll appreciate it that much more. Maybe take it hunting (properly lubed and protected of course).
 
I bet your grandfather and his uncle would be happy to look down on you and see you bag yourself a muley with it. I hunt with my grandfathers ithaca m37 from '71. Its cool to know he took deer with it also.

To quote the alligator hunter Troy Landry

"Shoot 'ER!"
 
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I would definitely take it to a competent gunsmith and have the headspace checked. Older Winchester 94's are known to stretch and/or get loose.
 
Sam1911 said:
The gun was bought as a user, and has already seen plenty of use. It isn't pristine such that shooting it will hurt its value. It isn't an especially fragile design and sounds like it is in very good shape. I'd shoot it occasionally without any worries.

(I'd also pretty religiously keep it clean and oiled and give it less of the utilitarian use my normal range guns see.)
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^^^

This is sound advice IMO.
 
'96 barrels are fairly soft. For me she would ba a safe queen - at the 96% level each percent is worth quite a bit. A few rounds won't hurt, but if a 120 year old gun gets shot 10 rounds a year....it adds up.
 
'96 barrels are fairly soft. For me she would ba a safe queen - at the 96% level each percent is worth quite a bit. A few rounds won't hurt, but if a 120 year old gun gets shot 10 rounds a year....it adds up.
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I'm not gonna say out right your WRONG. But as long as it passed a check up from a gunsmith I'm afraid I dont follow your logic. whats a '96 barrel? If rifling looks good and theres no pitting, I dont see a problem.
 
30 WCF caliber in the '94 was introduced in 1896. If the barrel is marked "Nickel steel" or unmarked it's still not a modern barrel steel, but is reasonably durable. If it is an "extra steel" marking - it's very soft. Winchester tried extra steel (1% nickel vs 5%) due to problems working nickel steel. The extra steel barrels are very erosion prone and soft, wichester soon discontinued them. If you have an extra steel barrel, it's a rare collector item. I have one nickel steel rifle that I know the history of, it has been a crooked shooter since the 1930's - made in '98, jacketed bullets did that one in. No throat left, not much for rifling either. I have an extra steel 30wcf rifle in the 80,000 ranger that had a broken front sight and apparently never got shot much - I put the correct sight on, the gun is 98+%, bore is mint.
 
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