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I don't need any ideas ! That's such a good deal I may just do it
Winchester for Winchester?
- Thread starter Obturation
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I got the 94 all cleaned up. The worst shanker was on the magazine tube. I scraped at it with a 1979 penny and some oil after soaking it for over a week.
It ended up looking like this
Not horrible and that is at the barrel band so not that visible when assembled.
I tried to convert the rust on the band's and mag plug by boiling them in distilled water as seen from my favorite internet gunsmith uTube channel (mark novak). It did work some but I doubt I prepared the surface sufficiently . rust more fell off than turned black. Not too worried about it, this gun is going to be a shooter and I don't even have $50 into it, not bad. The barrel had one spot that was pitted , it's minor and in direct conjunction with the magazine wart. It's so minor that I'm not concerned with barrel integrity at all.
I also put a coat of Danish oil on the wood because it was apart and was dry as a bone like the rest of the rifle. I buffed it down with 0000 steel wool when I was done and it has a bit of a dull shine now but it's cleaner, I'm sure ther was existing finish that prevented the oil from really getting in there but the inside soaked it all in and that makes me feel better (I think).
The receiver is unusual, I know the post 64 steel doesn't blue well or that the finish is easily discolored. So after giving it the oil steel wood treatment it looked....... Exactly the same. There was never any rust you could scratch at, it was smooth as can be but discolored from the start. It looks like this
I don't honestly think it's active corrosion but more like discoloration . the inside of the barrel and receiver look good as new, crisp and shiney to the point that I'm certain this rifle hasn't had but a few rounds ever fired out of it. No rush in the bore, I gave it a thorough cleaning and just got some carbon out, nothing orange.
As for the rest, it's good to go I think. I've owned 94s before but have never taken one all the way down, it wasn't great, I struggled to get the tiny pieces and screws in the correct orientation . I had the two pieces (cartridge guides?) In and out several times trying to get the correct side up and right side of the rifle and all that and I fought the lower tang/ hammer reinstall , had it one time and thought it was good but hammer wouldn't cock. Got that straightened out and it cycles smooth and puts cartridges in and out like butter.
Looking forward to getting this one out. Any advice on keeping rust away from already pitted areas? I was thinking maybe some wax but I don't know. I had to put it all together because my mother's coming for a visit Tuesday and my basement was stinking like penetrating oil and hoppes from this thing in a million pieces sitting in cups of oil. I'll take it back apart to address the pitted area when I have time, until then I'm not going to worry about it, it's clean and oily and sitting in my safe muzzle down.
It ended up looking like this
Not horrible and that is at the barrel band so not that visible when assembled.
I tried to convert the rust on the band's and mag plug by boiling them in distilled water as seen from my favorite internet gunsmith uTube channel (mark novak). It did work some but I doubt I prepared the surface sufficiently . rust more fell off than turned black. Not too worried about it, this gun is going to be a shooter and I don't even have $50 into it, not bad. The barrel had one spot that was pitted , it's minor and in direct conjunction with the magazine wart. It's so minor that I'm not concerned with barrel integrity at all.
I also put a coat of Danish oil on the wood because it was apart and was dry as a bone like the rest of the rifle. I buffed it down with 0000 steel wool when I was done and it has a bit of a dull shine now but it's cleaner, I'm sure ther was existing finish that prevented the oil from really getting in there but the inside soaked it all in and that makes me feel better (I think).
The receiver is unusual, I know the post 64 steel doesn't blue well or that the finish is easily discolored. So after giving it the oil steel wood treatment it looked....... Exactly the same. There was never any rust you could scratch at, it was smooth as can be but discolored from the start. It looks like this
I don't honestly think it's active corrosion but more like discoloration . the inside of the barrel and receiver look good as new, crisp and shiney to the point that I'm certain this rifle hasn't had but a few rounds ever fired out of it. No rush in the bore, I gave it a thorough cleaning and just got some carbon out, nothing orange.
As for the rest, it's good to go I think. I've owned 94s before but have never taken one all the way down, it wasn't great, I struggled to get the tiny pieces and screws in the correct orientation . I had the two pieces (cartridge guides?) In and out several times trying to get the correct side up and right side of the rifle and all that and I fought the lower tang/ hammer reinstall , had it one time and thought it was good but hammer wouldn't cock. Got that straightened out and it cycles smooth and puts cartridges in and out like butter.
Looking forward to getting this one out. Any advice on keeping rust away from already pitted areas? I was thinking maybe some wax but I don't know. I had to put it all together because my mother's coming for a visit Tuesday and my basement was stinking like penetrating oil and hoppes from this thing in a million pieces sitting in cups of oil. I'll take it back apart to address the pitted area when I have time, until then I'm not going to worry about it, it's clean and oily and sitting in my safe muzzle down.
OP
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one more thing, I was surprised at the color of the inside of the receiver that had no corrosion- plumb colored. Never saw that on this type of gun, all the rest of the blued parts with intact finish are glossy black.
Pat Riot
Contributing Member
Congrats on a great deal. 
Years ago an idiot friend of mine said “These coolers don’t leak. They’re great! Trust me.”
They leaked and all the water found it’s way into the dip in floor just in front of the 3rd row seating where my 94 carbine was stashed in a cloth gun rug.
After a week of traipsing around the Great Northwest my gun was covered in surface rust. It was a lot worse than your photos. I decided to Cerakote it. It came out great. I forgot to include one little part with the parts I sent to the Cerakoter but that’s okay. I like it.
Years ago an idiot friend of mine said “These coolers don’t leak. They’re great! Trust me.”
They leaked and all the water found it’s way into the dip in floor just in front of the 3rd row seating where my 94 carbine was stashed in a cloth gun rug.
After a week of traipsing around the Great Northwest my gun was covered in surface rust. It was a lot worse than your photos. I decided to Cerakote it. It came out great. I forgot to include one little part with the parts I sent to the Cerakoter but that’s okay. I like it.
OP
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I wanted to update this thread instead of starting a new one to talk about nearly nothing.
Finally got to shoot the 94 today, I'm busy...
That's 5 rounds of handloads at 75' (furthest distance at local indoor range) standing unsupported . Second string I fired, first was at 30' just to see where the sights were. I put the rear sight up one notch and fired 5. I'm no marksman but from that rifle, I'll take it. I'll get it out to the 100 yard range soon bit I'm glad to see it shoots well.
I did have 2 things I noticed that my previous 94s didn't do if I remember right. The main one being that when a round is pushed completely through the loading gate it doesn't remain in the magazine but falls into the loading gate and I can't load another but if I leave the rim in the gate and push it in completely with the subsequent round it's fine. Cycles normally and runs without an issue. Maybe a cartridge stop issue? I'm not great on figuring out winchester.
The only other issue was that on one round I couldn't pull the trigger because the lever safety could not be depressed. I ejected the round and the next worked fine, I put the one I ejected into the chamber and it fired fine (wouldn't think it's cartridge related). Couldn't replicate it again, maybe just some crust that fell in somewhere and worked itself out.
Overall very happy with this unloved 94
Finally got to shoot the 94 today, I'm busy...
That's 5 rounds of handloads at 75' (furthest distance at local indoor range) standing unsupported . Second string I fired, first was at 30' just to see where the sights were. I put the rear sight up one notch and fired 5. I'm no marksman but from that rifle, I'll take it. I'll get it out to the 100 yard range soon bit I'm glad to see it shoots well.
I did have 2 things I noticed that my previous 94s didn't do if I remember right. The main one being that when a round is pushed completely through the loading gate it doesn't remain in the magazine but falls into the loading gate and I can't load another but if I leave the rim in the gate and push it in completely with the subsequent round it's fine. Cycles normally and runs without an issue. Maybe a cartridge stop issue? I'm not great on figuring out winchester.
The only other issue was that on one round I couldn't pull the trigger because the lever safety could not be depressed. I ejected the round and the next worked fine, I put the one I ejected into the chamber and it fired fine (wouldn't think it's cartridge related). Couldn't replicate it again, maybe just some crust that fell in somewhere and worked itself out.
Overall very happy with this unloved 94
Hugger-4641
Member
If you couldn't pull the lever safety in, that round was probably not fully chambered.
As for loading, when you push a round thru the side gate it will "settle" a little, but you should be able to force the side gate back in past that round and load another. I usually just leave the rim of the first rd sticking out of the gate a little and push each round in with the next. You could have a cartridge stop issue or a loose gate.
hawg
Member
A worn cartridge stop will load fine but once you work the lever to chamber the first one it will let rounds slip under the carrier and jamming it up. I'd say it's probably a loading gate problem. I've always used the next round to push the last one in.
