Winchester for Winchester?

Obturation

Obturation

Member
Joined
Dec 24, 2018
Messages
3,991
Location
Northern illinois
Hey all,
Hope everyone's feeling good.
I've got an offer to trade for a winchester 94 carbine in 30-30. This one was made in 1971 according to the owner and it appears to be basically unfired. It did however spend 8 years in a storage locker and has surface rust - light patchy dusty type that looks like it'll rub right off, action cycles super smooth and bore looks like a mirror. Overall looks like a good shooter.

I asked the guy what he wanted and he said "something I can afford to shoot". Well then...
I don't have much in willing to part with but I told him I have a winchester model 250 in 22lr that I believe was made in the late 60s or early 70s. It's the red headed stepchild of the brand, it's got plastic sights and is not super nice. I got it in trade for 100 rounds of 45 auto about 10 years ago. It's got a ruger air rifle scope on it and is actually very accurate . the guy seemed very interested and said he'd do it if it is as I say.

Seems like a no brainer , right? Just curious if anyone would turn this down for some reason i can't think of.

Thanks

20230408_083816.jpg
 
I got the trade done.
I think it was in my favor but now I got a couple things...
Here's the rifle-
20230415_071734.jpg

But there is rust ( I already knew)
20230415_071749.jpg 20230415_075402.jpg 20230415_071821.jpg

Tough to see maybe because I oiled her up immediately. There's rust around the barrel bands and speckling over all. The bore is like a mirror and the action is smooth. Looks like it was made in 1971.
I've had winchester 94s before, they suck to disassemble . I'm thinking a full tear down for cleaning and a good rub down with some 0000 steel wool & oil and some (non tinted) Danish oil for the wood. What do you guys think?
I've rubbed 0000 steel wool on rusty guns before but is this the best way?
This gun is going to be a shooter and I don't expect perfection but I do want to stop any active rust and get what I can knocked off of it.
Tips welcomed !
Thanks
 
troy fairweather said:
Looks like the 250s are going for $250-$300 for Pristine guns, there a deluxe on gb up to $255 tho I thought the deluxe had the Monte Carlo stock. Even a poor finish 94 will bring 400-500 bucks for a none pre-64.
Click to expand...
You’re a little low on the value of the 94. I just sold one, a couple of months ago, in good condition for $900.
I really didn’t need to sell it, so I put it on consignment at a LGS for $899.99. I thought it would be there for a while. It sold in less then two weeks.
It’s gotten to where you can’t find a 30-30 lever gun for under $600 in my area.
 
GunnyUSMC said:
You’re a little low on the value of the 94. I just sold one, a couple of months ago, in good condition for $900.
I really didn’t need to sell it, so I put it on consignment at a LGS for $899.99. I thought it would be there for a while. It sold in less then two weeks.
It’s gotten to where you can’t find a 30-30 lever gun for under $600 in my area.
Click to expand...
Hey gunny,
I wasn't going to summon you to this thread by tagging you but since you came on your own...
0000 steel wool for the rust and Danish oil on the wood ?
I've seen your cleanup jobs and I'd consider them top notch.
 
GunnyUSMC said:
You’re a little low on the value of the 94. I just sold one, a couple of months ago, in good condition for $900.
I really didn’t need to sell it, so I put it on consignment at a LGS for $899.99. I thought it would be there for a while. It sold in less then two weeks.
It’s gotten to where you can’t find a 30-30 lever gun for under $600 in my area.
Click to expand...
I was figuring a price for a beat up one still a good deer rifle but not pretty, kinda worse case still worth more then the 22. don't think I could ever pay more then $750 unless it's a pre 64.
 
troy fairweather said:
I was figuring a price for a beat up one still a good deer rifle but not pretty, kinda worse case still worth more then the 22. don't think I could ever pay more then $750 unless it's a pre 64.
Click to expand...
There was a well used 94, lots of wear, for $600 at the same shop. It sold within a month.
I think that people are paying to much for used lever guns.
 
Obturation said:
Hey gunny,
I wasn't going to summon you to this thread by tagging you but since you came on your own...
0000 steel wool for the rust and Danish oil on the wood ?
I've seen your cleanup jobs and I'd consider them top notch.
Click to expand...
First I would remove the wood from the gun.
Apply a good gun oil like Breakfree CLP to the metal and let sit for a couple of days. This will allow the oil to penetrate the rust and loosen it. Then use 0000 steel wool, but make sure to keep the steel wool wet with oil.
Don’t scrub hard.
If the wood is just dirty, Howard’s Feed-N-Wax will clean it up.
Apply a good wet coat and rub it in. Allow it to sit for 20 minutes, or longer. The oil will loosen any dirt and grime. Use a clean rag or paper towel to wipe off the stocks. Let it sit for another 20 minutes and then buff with a clean rag.
 
Obturation said:
I've rubbed 0000 steel wool on rusty guns before but is this the best way?
Click to expand...

No. It isn't the worst though either. Find yourself something made of something softer than steel. I like nickel, although people swear by the copper scrubbers too. Make sure it is really nickel or copper, not plated steel.

https://www.big45metalcleaner.com/

Or, an alternate approach, steam it first!
https://www.rustblue.com/about/instructions/

You can steam it without buying the solution. I'm not advocating that you refinish the whole gun, just steam it to make the existing rust convert.
 
As stated above, coat w/ gun oil or good penetrating oil and let sit for a couple of days. Then, rub with the side of a round bladed screw driver, applying some pressure. Add oil as indicated and watch the rust float away. The round blade will remove rust while being a lot easier on remaining blue.
This method was recommended to me by an old gunsmith friend; try it, you'll like it.
Regards,
hps
 
It's in the works!
A good amount of rust but none under the wood, none in the barrel or magazine tube. She'll never be brand new but it won't have big shankers on it either.
I just started out by rubbing with 0000 steel wool and penetrating oil, got all I could and wiped it clean. Recoated with oil for it to sit for a couple days. I'll keep y'all posted on its progress
20230415_155701.jpg
 
Leaves the question of what to do with it, once it is done.
Presume it's not angle eject, so you have the usual problem with old Winchesters; a scope will be an issue.
Can you shoot well with open sights? How do you feel about apertures, either on the receiver or on the tang?
Nice catch; enjoy.
Moon
 
Yeah, that trade was very much in your favor.

Fine steel wool and penetrating oil is still one of the best ways to deal with light rust on firearms. I would stay away from chemical rust removers, as they may affect bluing and also make pitting worse as they eat away every bit of oxidized steel, not just what's raised and visible.
 
halfmoonclip said:
Leaves the question of what to do with it, once it is done.
Presume it's not angle eject, so you have the usual problem with old Winchesters; a scope will be an issue.
Can you shoot well with open sights? How do you feel about apertures, either on the receiver or on the tang?
Nice catch; enjoy.
Moon
Click to expand...
I like open sights on a 94, light and slim is the way. I'd like an aperture but they can be pricey.
I think I'll just use it for a camp rifle , since it's never going to be new I won't feel too bad if it gets some bumps and bruises out there .
I've got a 336 that has a scope but Illinois is a straight wall state , so hunting with a 30-30 is out unless I travel to Wisconsin to hunt.
Just a fun gun to tinker with , leave it to one of my kids when I get old.
 
Obturation said:
I like open sights on a 94, light and slim is the way. I'd like an aperture but they can be pricey.
I think I'll just use it for a camp rifle , since it's never going to be new I won't feel too bad if it gets some bumps and bruises out there .
I've got a 336 that has a scope but Illinois is a straight wall state , so hunting with a 30-30 is out unless I travel to Wisconsin to hunt.
Just a fun gun to tinker with , leave it to one of my kids when I get old.
Click to expand...

I like full buckhorns. I use them as a ghost ring.
 
just go slow with the steel wool and rust removal. don't scrub it too much at one time, the rust particles - I've never seen it happen, but from my understanding can be abrasive so - light scrub with oil and 0000 steel wood, and then wipe it all off. you can just use patches also, just rub until no more red/rust comes off on the patches, then soak it a pentrating oil or whatever, and do a treatment again. for an older shooter, I just do touch ups of metal with Oxpho Blue, it is OK. Not great, but it blends OK, and it is quick and easy.
 
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