Winchester 94 trigger job

[Rupestris]

I recently picked up a newer (about 10 years old but in new condition. Only 20 rounds through it) Winchester 94. Its an AE model with the cross bolt safety. I've mounted a Simmons 3-9X scope and finally got a chance to take it to the range Saturday. It chambers and fires beautifully. Once dialed in I was getting five shot groups of 1" to 1.5" at 50 yards, and five shot groups in the 3"-3.5" range with my best being a 2-5/8" group at 100 yards. All were with Remington Corelokt 170 gr. factory ammo. All were off a bench.
I'm sure this rifle can shoot better than that. The problem I found is that the trigger, while breaking clean, has a pull in what I'm guessing to be the 6 to 7 lb. range. It has to be the hardest factory trigger I've owned yet.
My question is, can anything be done to the Win 94 triggers? I've called two companies that offer trigger jobs and neither seemed to anxious to deal with the Win 94. One even told me "there isn't much we can do with those but we'll give it a try" then quoted me $65.
Has anyone had a trigger job done on a 94? How were the results? and, never having trigger job done to any of my long guns, how much should I expect to spend?
I've done a search here and at TFL and have come up with little in the way of Win 94 trigger-jobs.
Thanks,
Rupe

 

[Preacherman]

Try Clark Custom Guns in Louisiana. They do action jobs on Winchester and Marlin long guns for Cowboy Action shooters, and I've had several Marlins done by them (for hunting) with good results. You could also look for Cowboy Action gunsmiths closer to you - they do action jobs on lever-action guns all the time. For a contact list, see the Single Action Shooting Society Web site, and look at their "Affiliated Merchants" listing for gun stores and gunsmiths listed there. Their forum is also a good place to do a search on this subject, and/or to ask questions.

 

[Jim K]

One of the reasons gunsmiths don't like to work on that trigger is that it is a floating trigger, which acts on a separate sear. The gun is made that way so the lever has to be closed before the gun will fire.

This can be overcome, and the trigger-sear made into a single piece unit, but it will not be cheap. As far as lightening the pull, a little careful stoning and some good oil or grease will do wonders. Note that taking down a 94 is much easier than putting it back together, so don't try it unless you have good screwdrivers and a good idea of what is involved.

Trigger pull aside, the Model 94 Winchester usually will not shoot well unless the barrel is freed of the constraint imposed by the barrel band. That means reaming the top "O" of the band, and carefully fitting the band screw so it retains the foreend without binding the barrel. Offhand, I don't know anyone who can/will do this work, simply because so few 94 owners know it can be done and most consider the 94 a short range woods gun with 4-6" 100 yd groups to be expected.

Actually, a tuned Model 94, given good bullets, will shoot into or close to MOA groups. It would do best with pointed bullets, but I don't recommend those in a tubular magazine.

Jim

 

[BEARMAN]

YOU COULD GO TO [ http://marauder13.homestead.com/irons.html ] then go to " RIFLE TUNEUPS " Tells how someone tuned up their 94 for COWBOY ACTION SHOOTING. GOOD LUCK .