Winchester model 94 as home defense gun.

Status
Not open for further replies.
I don't mean to be hostile, but when somebody brings up "cool factor" when talking self-defense, I just lose all notions of taking them seriously.

Decent quality pump shotguns are noted for NOT jamming...Of course, any fool can short-stroke--and can mess up with a lever gun, as well.

Since the shot pattern at in-house distances is little more than some 3" or 4" in diameter, never believe that a shotgun is a "can't miss" critter.

Art
 
But a .223 will also defeat soft armor with lesser danger to neighbors or family members. So why not just get a .223 semiauto?
Click to expand...

I don't have money for those expensive toys made by Bushmaster. .223 is a varmint cartridge anyways.

I don't mean to be hostile, but when somebody brings up "cool factor" when talking self-defense, I just lose all notions of taking them seriously.
Click to expand...

Yes, yes, I was only joking. Please, enough already, I don't need to hear ten more guys tell me what a stupid statment it was. Thanks.
 
I don't have money for those expensive toys made by Bushmaster. .223 is a varmint cartridge anyways.
Click to expand...

The Mini-14 I mentioned is made by Ruger, not Bushmaster. A decent used example runs in the $350 range, at least in my area of the country. This is less than, say, a Browning P35 like the one you previously owned and were apparently able to afford.

.223 has shown itself to be reasonably effective on two-legged varmints, if you choose the right ammo. I agree that it isn't quite as effective as a .30-caliber rifle, but I'd take it in a heartbeat over any handgun, including a magnum single action revolver.

Mike
 
I stand by my $150 Winchester 94 purchase w/50 rounds of ammo versus the $350 Mini-14.

Mini's barrels heat up too quickly, they are not as accurate as a model 94 which is important for a dual purpose weapon, and Mini's are not going to be as reliable as a lever gun. And model 94 fires a much better cartridge.

No, I'll stick with my new 30/30.
 
but don't you have to have a IR/holo/redot sight on a rifle and paint it black before its "tactical".;)
 
Disclaimer: I have never been in a home-defense situation. I am not a cop, lawyer or ballistics expert. I have read the occasional book (from Ayoob - or somebody on the topic). His claim is that a 12G shotgun is the single best overall home defense weapon (ideally w/ 00 or 000 buckshot) - period.

Examine the scenarios:
1. masked gunmen w/ body armour enters your house
2. bad guy w/ gun/knife enters your house
3. some unarmed yahoo enters your house

Response to 1. : shoot for the face
Response to 2. : upper body cavity
Response to 3. : Nothing - and I mean nothing- in the world sounds like a pump action shotgun being raked. It is guaranteed to produce the sphincter reaction you are looking for from the invader without firing a shot.

A round which penetrates, does not transfer energy as well as a round which does not. A 12G 00 not only fires several "bullets" with a single trigger pull, but it transfer a tremendous amount of energy. You'll knock them down...

Lastly, a sxs will fire 2 rounds before needing a reload. Pump action will fire 5. My verdict: Remington 870 express magnum. Cheap, super reliable, devastating. I hope I only ever have to use it on deer, but I can very reliably put a slug on a 3x5 card @ 50 yards.

And whoever says you "can't miss" at close range, even w/ a 12 G is selling you something you don't want to buy.
 
Well, the option that nobody has mentioned is different and/or custom ammo for the 30-30.

If you were to reload, you could "download" the 30-30 to about 357 magnum levels for home defense - even hollowpoints.

Then there is "cowboy" ammo - lead bullets at lower velocities. The recoil is really light. I don't know what the penetration is like, but it would have to be less than a jacketed hunting round.

You better figure out where it hits tho - the cowboy ammo is about 6 inches low (in comparison, that is) at 25 yards. Nice thing bout those 94 sights is that you can change to a different "step" and be right back where you were before, as long as you remember which step is for which ammo.

Otherwise, I agree with everyone else - the 30-30 penetration is crazy for home defense.

But a winchester or marlin in 45 LC ... :)
 
Funny thread. Give WonderNine a break.

I'd be satisfied with an M-94 as my house gun given the reqirements listed in the initial post:

1. Need defense weapon
2. Low capital out lay
And----
3. It is a private party transfer of firearm

While not my choice for concealed carry ;) and will you have to be aware of target and back stop hand guns have this requirement too.

There are some reduced load ammunition and one light bullet load for the 30/30 available.

A 30/30 with garden variety 150 grain softpoints come close to one of the few guns one can own in some urban areas, just because it is a "deer" rifle. It is common as heck, ammo can be found at any Wal Mart and it is not on anyone's "high capacity assult pistol" list. It is not an assult rifle. It does not have much of a fear factor inherent in its design--at least not in this century.

Personally, I like my M92 Winchester (Rossi) in 45 Colt for the same reasons

Get to the range, know where it shoots at 5, 15 and 25 yards and it will make a useful house gun just like it did for most of the last century.

BTW check on this load:

Federal 3030C Hi-Shok Hollow Point 30-30 Win. It is a thin jacketed, hollow point load which may be part of your ammo solution.

Another option would be PMC's Cowboy:
PMC 3030 170 LFP
Mfg #PMC30-30CB

It is a hard-cast, 170 grain, lead flat point. Velocity: 1300 ft./sec.

This one is down to about .357 Magnum power levels....

Not a bad choice after all.
 
Another excellent option for defensive ammo. is the Remington Accelerator load in .30-30. This is a 55gr. softpoint .223 bullet in a .30 caliber plastic sabot. It churns out of a .30-30 barrel at HIGHER velocities than a standard .223 achieves out of a 20" AR15, and has just as powerful an impact - but WITHOUT the overpenetration problem of the standard .30-30 load. IMHO, this is the ideal home defence load for the .30-30.
 
Hey--WonderNine--

What kind or area do you live in anyway--?
That's not giving anything away--

IE-- Condo/Apt------------Suburb/lot size------Suburb/acre size
Rural/Farm---etc--

How close is your nearest neighbor??


I live on a wetland where I'm NOT concerned about over-penetration
with a home closer to work--Condo-- Where I am VERY over penetration conscious-- Just a 38 spec with Glasers there--

I think the 30-30 is fine if you live in the right area--

Give us a bit more specifics-- Unless you're uncomfortable with letting that cat outof the bag--
 
Preacherman,

IIRC you can only load 2 Accelerators into a tubular magazine lever gun. I surely wouldn't want the tubular magazine to explode on recoil! Yikes! I could be wrong however...
 
I just have to keep my mouth shut on this thread---anything I would have to say would just be construed(sp?) as a personal attack on our ill-informed friend.

DaveMc---where are you??
 
If you believe that an attack from 3 armed and armored bad guys is a valid and likely threat, I can't imagine what has happened. I have to assume that they or their employers have formed a distinct dislike for you and as such are going to be professional, well informed, well armed and highly determined. I hope you are in touch with the police. This is combat. I'd need claymores, an M79 and an M60, at least. You're cooked with a '94. Don't fool yourself. Everything else is irrelevant. Talk to the authorities.
 
I have shot through 8" diameter trees at 10 yards with a 30-30. Three shots and I could have pushed it over. Would I use a 30-30 as a HD weapon because I live on 3.5 ac. of a heavily wooded lake lot and the nearest neighbor is 150 yards away? NO, because there is still enough potential left for disaster. I don't want to be anyone's biotch in the graybar hotel. I would never try and test fate with luck, go for a proven HD caliber and then practice often. Go hunting with the 30-30.
 
Oh, there is no need to cop an attitude, People here only try to help and give advice because it only takes one bad incident to tarnish the entire sport.
And with this sport comes RESPONSIBILITY !
 
WonderNine,

Seriously, all joking aside, here is the deal.

If you and I are in the same house or, you and anyone, and I have a HD 12ga 3" mag shotgun and you have a lever 30-30, you are at a disadvantage based on firearm. That is really the bottom line answer to your question. And, it is a much safer choice too.

Regardless, congrats on your Win 94 lever gun! They are nice guns, enjoy! ;)
 
If you live inn a rock house then all you have to worry about is windows and doors, but if you live in a frame house you will not believe how far a 30-30 will travel after it has exited your house.
You mentioned a Mauser, worse as I have shot one through 1/2 steel ( by accedent it was behind the target stand) buried in the berm. A pump 12 is a good choice as I have been shooting one for 50 years and it has never failed through that many bird seasons.
 
i use an 8 3/8" S&W 500 for home defense. vests with the best rauma plates money can buy?.....NO PROBLEM. killing my neighbors in the next 5 houses next to me because of over penitration?;........probable....no such thing as "over penetration", at least that what she says.
 
i use a kimber pro carry for home defense, but i honestly cant remember what i used when the thread starter asked the question.

i believe it was a colt governement model at at time.
 
WonderNine said:
Sooooo....I've finally settled on buying my father's 1974 30/30 caliber Winchester model 94 w/50 rounds of 150 grain ammo for $150 7 + 1 rounds of rifle caliber ammo. Can't go wrong there.
Click to expand...

I think some of y'all are missing the point here.

For the money he's spent I'd say his lever gun is probably just about the best home defense weapon he could get.

No sir, can't go wrong there.

Maybe its not the absolute optimum home defense weapon, but there are a lot of folk defending their homes with a lot worse (.22lr revolvers, PGO shotguns, bolt action deer rifles, harsh language).

Frankly I'd rather have the 94 in 30/30 than a coach gun any day of the week.




EDIT
Aw hell ... just realized this is a serious case of Thread Necromancy ... shesh :rolleyes:
 
I wonder if the op is still around? I use my old off-duty S&W .38 Chiefs Special AirWeight loaded with two shotshells. From my bed to the bedroom door is about 16'.
In the dark, not fully awake, I doubt if I'd miss. It won't kill anyone, but it'll get their attention. The 3rd to 5th rounds are hp's.
Eddie
 
Have you ever shot a 10 guage? A 12 is more than enough and a 20 is great with the right load. For home defense, I'd take a shotgun over a rifle within the home anyday.
 
It's a reliable, proven, and aesthetically pleasing gun.
It is fun for the range, an excellent and long-lived hunting firearm, and perfectly capable of home protection.

Yes.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

L
  • Locked
30 30 150gr hp for home defense
2
Replies
34
Views
2K
GySgt
G
Obturation
  • Locked
Winchester 94 value??
Replies
15
Views
3K
Mosin77
Mosin77
SG1
  • Locked
Looking for info on a Winchester 94
Replies
9
Views
676
Norseland
N
D
  • Locked
Winchester 94?
Replies
14
Views
2K
six 4 sure
S
Mastrogiacomo
  • Locked
Winchester Model 94 questions
Replies
15
Views
1K
mustanger98
M
Back
Top