I just brought my 1894 30wcf manufactured in 1906 to the gun range a couple weeks ago and put a couple rounds through it. The range officer said he would never shoot a antique like that. I told him this rifle has been in my family for over 100 years and is just as good as the day it was made.
I get that a lot when people see me shooting my 1943 Remington-Rand 1911 GI issue. I don't shoot higher pressure rounds through it but it was built to shoot 230 gr 45 acp ball ammo for eternity lol.
GOOD for you! I have every intention of taking Granddad's 25-35 SRC to the range, and shooting a few rounds in his memory. It, too, was manufactured in 1906! Best wishes!
I got addicted to the 1894 back in the early 1970s, when I bought a "vintage" rifle (28" barrel, crescent butt plate) in 38-55 caliber. I never looked back, and bought a few more 94s, including one in "antique" finish in 30-30, which I didn't keep. But I have a Trapper model in 38-55, and my Grandfather's 94 SRC in 25-35, which he carried with him in his duties as a Royal Northwest Mounted Police constable in 1906 - 1909. *THAT* one is a priceless family heirloom!
I wholeheartedly agree with your splendid video! I have hunted North American game with the Winchester model 94 chambered in 30-30 for more than 50 years. It has never let me down. It has taken whitetail, elk, moose, and bear without fail. Thank you sir for this video.
I have an older 94 in 30-30 from 1907 which my uncle had. The stock is cracked and repaired with a wood screw. He ran out of rounds when tracking a wounded coyote in 1920 which attacked him and his dog so he hit it over the head and broke the stock. Still seems secure even with a simple wood screw. 10 years ago I bought another one which is a 1957 30-30 with a rubber butt plate. I took it to the range and at a hundred yards it shot a 2'' group all day from sand bags. That is pretty impressive for iron sights and my 75 year old eyes. These are fabulous rifles in many ways.
Mine is from 1953, it was my Dads. So I grew up hunting in PA with it. I still target shoot with it. Couldn’t find the ammo for a long time. Saw some recently. WOW. But I’ll keep it in my gun cabinet. It’s part of the family. 👍
@@richardkelley1646 Only because it is a true historic piece, so many so-call experts have told me how shooting it would greatly devalue it. Do you say different?
Excellent video presentation on a fantastic rifle! I have a model 1894 chambered in 30 WCF (Winchester Center Fire), also known as 30-30. Mine was made in 1902 according to the Winchester serial number lookup. It is a great gun. !!
I've owned 3 since the late 50's and also several marlins. I prefer the marlin. 6 to one, 1/2 dozen to another. they are both absolutely great rifles. one cannot make a bad choice with either.
Mine is a manufacture date of 1898 in 30-30 with octagonal barrel and "express" flip site, barrel-length magazine. I love it and shoot it often both for hunting and just for fun. The quality of the early and nearly hand-built rifles is amazing. I also own an 1892 manufactured in 1896 in 44-40 that is equally as nice. I shoot them and enjoy them and like introducing folks to leverguns with them (the 44-40 is almost recoilless) as they can never believe the manufacture dates!
In 30-30 I give my vote to the Winchester ,lighter, slimmer and just looks cool ...the iconic American deer rifle. I have a 1957 and I wouldn't feel bad about a Miroku made rifle after hearing from folks that own them they say they too are qaulity bulit lever guns. Marlins are great too-smooth and accurate . Nice video of a classic.
My Winchester 94 is from 1956. I put a Marbles Peep on it due to diminishing eye sight. I like the sight a lot. I hand load for mine using Trail Boss powder and powder coated cast bullets.
I have an few older 1894s (1902 & 1913) that have been in the family for a long time. Both are still good shooters even though they only get fired a few times on special occasions... I have a few newer ones that make it to the range more often. It's still fun to shoot the rifles you grew up with. Thanks for making the video!
Thank you for this perspective on the Winchester '94. It is a respectful and non biased opinion of a fine rifle that is a true American classic. - Also, Thank you, Dad for passing on the family Win '94 ('55) to me and my son and NO, it will never be for sale.
I have 3 94s, all in 30-30. My favorite is the one I got when Dad passed. It's a 1919 model 1894 with a 24 or 26 in octagon barrel and crescent butt plate. He bought in California after he came home from WW2 and carried it with him to Alaska in 1954. It was his main rifle and he took, I couldn't even guess how many moose with it. One side of it is a little rusty from when it fell over in a pig pen in the late 40's They were butchering hogs and they left without noticing they didn't have the rifle with them lol. It made a good story though. The original gloss is worn off the bottom of the stock and the bluing is worn off the magazine tube. I think it got that way from riding in a scabbard on some ranch in California before my dad bought it. .
I had met this guy prior a few months ago for a different reason and told him he was asking too little for it. I couldn't jump on it that day but I called back to see if he still had it - and offered more than he had been asking previously. Good guy, still a really good deal and everyone seems happy
My first ever deer rifle was a .30-30 caliber Winchester 94. That didn't last long, Dave, and for decades my preference in a centerfire lever-action has been Marlin.
well my preference is pre-Remington Marlins. We'll not see finishes and wood stocks like that on forged receivers again. Same with the pre-64 Winchesters. Different ballgame back then
In Japan they have been Masters of Steel long before anyone, It would be excellent if in America Excellence would triumph over "Cost" so a Rising Sun Lever Action Rifle Not so bad, they they have made the best Swords the 🌎 have seen... I remember my Grandfather 30-32 similar to yours. Nice 👍 Memories!!!
Like many things these days, the 94 was designed for its times...a great rifle, but like you said they didn't have scopes back then and the Marlin seems to me to be a better rifle. I am not a big fan of Micro Grove but its not that hard to change the barrel...
@@66smithra I totally agree! I have several levers, one is a Marlin 1894 JM made in 97 and I bought it used and had a scope on it, shot great, micro grooved barrel is very accurate, tight groups. BUT, I just kept thinking I gotta take that scope off! So I did, put a semi buckhorn 2 wks ago on it and it looks the way IT SHOULD, in my opinion.
The Marlin 1893 was the competitor of the Winchester 1894 until Marlin changed to the 336 designator. The Marlin 1893 was more robust and easier to take down than the 1894.
Ammo is certainly finicky sometimes in lever actions. Example my '73 has zero issues with 250 grain rnfp ammo but it sometimes has issues with 255 grain rnfp ammo. The 255 has a slightly bigger bullet face and the bullet is less rounded so that ammo catches on the face of the chamber sometimes.
I have a couple “foreign made” Winchesters (made in Japan) and I would say that they are as good if not better in some ways than the originals. People often argue if they are “real” Winchesters. I would say they are. Where there made isn’t the determining factor in my mind. It’s if they are made to spec. I would suggest they are.
A few polishing passes with 2-4,000 grit wet dry will smooth that block up. Same issue- as well as some other spots- and my '94's action is much more smooth.
Great rifle. Your rear sight elevator is missing! (Saw you mentioned it at the end) eBay has what you need. I carry a mod 94 made in 1946 and chambered in 30 wcf every week. Congrats.
The recycling issue is due to a bit of "limp-wristedness" - Don't try to speed cycle this 1894 design, just be direct and smooth ! - It's fast enough as a lever action. Really.
It cool it's been around for years I had 3 of the model 94 i don't care for the shells flying at me now and then it's pretty accurate no doubt but nothing compared to my 336 micro groove Marlin it just puts every bullet in one area when my three model 94s are way out left high low and right no comparison whatsoever the micro groove keeps that bullet spinning for the far distance and when it hits a Target it's usually right on the money the 94s do not do that I own three of them for 30 years now you think I don't know what I'm talking about don't get me wrong I love the model 94 and that's why I own three of them but if I was to grab a lever action and head out my door it's going to be by Marlin 336 iron sights no scope
Why would you even want a bulky scope on a rifle that is best used at 200 yards or less. You can be just as accurate with a tang sight and globe front sight.
You're the second RUclipsr today that I've heard say that the magazine tube holds 6 rounds. Are you sure it doesn't hold 7? I think it does. Mine certainly does.
I understand why a collector would want a good original example in terms of design and manufacturing processes! That said I would rather have a new Toyota Camera than an all orignal 1970's AAR Hemi Cuda! I like things that work and are reliable and durable. If a new manufactured one will do all of that why waste time with a rifle that has it's best years of use behind it outside of collector value. I gurantee if that 1960's Winchester 94 was used a lot it will soon need some TLC from a gunsmith and maybe a few springs and good luck finding them! More than likely someone will need to make them. It might need some other small parts again good luck finding them!
You could get scope mounts in the 70s and 80s. Before the Angle Eject came out. But the scope was offset waaaayyy to the left! I shoot lefty so I did without. Actually bought a used Marlin first but the "Micro-groove" rifling was completely shot out!
fatass is what I call it. I had a knee replaced and starting to get active again. but the skinny version of me is 230 so yeah not much felt recoil from most rifles. 45-70.....different story
@@drdrake63 Dave, you have a video with a 1873 Uberti and I have the same one, one of my favorites of my levers. I was really surprised when you said in a later video that you sold it.
I think I would delete the video because it just repeats the basics there's so many have repeated already. Make a new video and tell people what they do not know.
I just brought my 1894 30wcf manufactured in 1906 to the gun range a couple weeks ago and put a couple rounds through it. The range officer said he would never shoot a antique like that. I told him this rifle has been in my family for over 100 years and is just as good as the day it was made.
I get that a lot when people see me shooting my 1943 Remington-Rand 1911 GI issue. I don't shoot higher pressure rounds through it but it was built to shoot 230 gr 45 acp ball ammo for eternity lol.
GOOD for you! I have every intention of taking Granddad's 25-35 SRC to the range, and shooting a few rounds in his memory. It, too, was manufactured in 1906! Best wishes!
Pussies
In a word... iconic.
I got addicted to the 1894 back in the early 1970s, when I bought a "vintage" rifle (28" barrel, crescent butt plate) in 38-55 caliber. I never looked back, and bought a few more 94s, including one in "antique" finish in 30-30, which I didn't keep.
But I have a Trapper model in 38-55, and my Grandfather's 94 SRC in 25-35, which he carried with him in his duties as a Royal Northwest Mounted Police constable in 1906 - 1909. *THAT* one is a priceless family heirloom!
I wholeheartedly agree with your splendid video! I have hunted North American game with the Winchester model 94 chambered in 30-30 for more than 50 years. It has never let me down. It has taken whitetail, elk, moose, and bear without fail. Thank you sir for this video.
I have both of them a waffle top Marlin and a Pre 64 94...........both are 30-30, they are both fun to shoot ....Thanks for sharing !!
For the big woods hunter in the northeast, where shot are often at 50 yards, the 94 is still hard to beat.
I have an older 94 in 30-30 from 1907 which my uncle had. The stock is cracked and repaired with a wood screw. He ran out of rounds when tracking a wounded coyote in 1920 which attacked him and his dog so he hit it over the head and broke the stock. Still seems secure even with a simple wood screw. 10 years ago I bought another one which is a 1957 30-30 with a rubber butt plate. I took it to the range and at a hundred yards it shot a 2'' group all day from sand bags. That is pretty impressive for iron sights and my 75 year old eyes. These are fabulous rifles in many ways.
I like way the 94 shoulders. Just right for my length of pull. Good post!
What a beautiful gun. Pure Americana.
Was a gorgeous day out to go out to the range. :) Hoping tomorrow is just as nice.
Mine is from 1953, it was my Dads. So I grew up hunting in PA with it. I still target shoot with it. Couldn’t find the ammo for a long time. Saw some recently. WOW. But I’ll keep it in my gun cabinet. It’s part of the family. 👍
I have one I got from my Uncle. It was built in 1946 and has never been shot. My Uncle always berated me for not shooting it, but others say don't!
. . . . not shoot it ? excuse me, . . . . I'm gonna cry !
@@richardkelley1646 Only because it is a true historic piece, so many so-call experts have told me how shooting it would greatly devalue it. Do you say different?
@@coleparker
I see your point and can't fault you for it. It's is just difficult for me to see value in something not used for its intended purpose.
@@richardkelley1646 Believe me, I am torn about it and I know my late Uncle is somewhere and is mad at me.
@@richardkelley1646 I AGREE and so does Hickok45. He has lots of collectable guns and shoots them. If I have a gun, it's going to get shot. Or sold.
My FAVE rifle!!! Bar NONE!
Excellent video presentation on a fantastic rifle! I have a model 1894 chambered in 30 WCF (Winchester Center Fire), also known as 30-30. Mine was made in 1902 according to the Winchester serial number lookup. It is a great gun. !!
I've owned 3 since the late 50's and also several marlins. I prefer the marlin. 6 to one, 1/2 dozen to another. they are both absolutely great rifles. one cannot make a bad choice with either.
Mine is a manufacture date of 1898 in 30-30 with octagonal barrel and "express" flip site, barrel-length magazine. I love it and shoot it often both for hunting and just for fun. The quality of the early and nearly hand-built rifles is amazing. I also own an 1892 manufactured in 1896 in 44-40 that is equally as nice. I shoot them and enjoy them and like introducing folks to leverguns with them (the 44-40 is almost recoilless) as they can never believe the manufacture dates!
You should be able to get another 1 in the magazine tube. My 1953 94 is 7+1.
Same with mine. I think the Marlin 20" full tube rifles only hold 6, but all my Marlins have the short magazine.
I love my model 94s. Compared to them my Marlins feel to me like carrying and operating a 2x4.
In 30-30 I give my vote to the Winchester ,lighter, slimmer and just looks cool ...the iconic American deer rifle.
I have a 1957 and I wouldn't feel bad about a Miroku made rifle after hearing from folks that own them they say they too are qaulity bulit lever guns.
Marlins are great too-smooth and accurate . Nice video of a classic.
My Winchester 94 is from 1956.
I put a Marbles Peep on it due to diminishing eye sight.
I like the sight a lot.
I hand load for mine using Trail Boss powder and powder coated cast bullets.
Have my grandpa’s 1955 model 94 in 30-30. Best gun I like to use. Been dropping deer for 68 years and many more to come.
I’ve got a 1975 model. Runs and shoots beautifully. I own guns worth 5 times as much, but the 94 is my favourite rifle I own.
I have an few older 1894s (1902 & 1913) that have been in the family for a long time. Both are still good shooters even though they only get fired a few times on special occasions... I have a few newer ones that make it to the range more often. It's still fun to shoot the rifles you grew up with. Thanks for making the video!
Absolute work of art and history.
Thank you for this perspective on the Winchester '94. It is a respectful and non biased opinion of a fine rifle that is a true American classic. - Also, Thank you, Dad for passing on the family Win '94 ('55) to me and my son and NO, it will never be for sale.
I have 3 94s, all in 30-30. My favorite is the one I got when Dad passed. It's a 1919 model 1894 with a 24 or 26 in octagon barrel and crescent butt plate. He bought in California after he came home from WW2 and carried it with him to Alaska in 1954. It was his main rifle and he took, I couldn't even guess how many moose with it. One side of it is a little rusty from when it fell over in a pig pen in the late 40's They were butchering hogs and they left without noticing they didn't have the rifle with them lol. It made a good story though. The original gloss is worn off the bottom of the stock and the bluing is worn off the magazine tube. I think it got that way from riding in a scabbard on some ranch in California before my dad bought it.
.
My favorite rifle in the world.
Awesome! Congratulations !👍🏽😀❤️🇺🇸
Not only did they go to side ejection in the early 1980s but they also returned to pre-64 production methods using steel for the receiver.
Good looking rifle. Thanks for the video.
I have two of these great shooters, .30-30, and .32WS. I wouldn't part with either one of 'em! Great gun for thick cover hunting here in WI.
Beautiful rifle. Whatever you paid for it was a bargain.
I had met this guy prior a few months ago for a different reason and told him he was asking too little for it. I couldn't jump on it that day but I called back to see if he still had it - and offered more than he had been asking previously. Good guy, still a really good deal and everyone seems happy
Awesome gun! I just picked up an AE version
I have my wife’s grandfather’s old 1894. Nice rifle and it will go to my boys one day. But I will take my JM Marlin or Henry any day.
Nice review. I also love lever gun's they are fun to shoot and collect!!
You've got yourself a beautiful rifle... I'm jealous... Thanks for sharing👍👍👍🍻
A beauty 😊
My model 94 is probably my favorite rifle. It’s a do it all tool.
I own 2 of them and a marlin 336 love all of them
My first ever deer rifle was a .30-30 caliber Winchester 94. That didn't last long, Dave, and for decades my preference in a centerfire lever-action has been Marlin.
well my preference is pre-Remington Marlins. We'll not see finishes and wood stocks like that on forged receivers again. Same with the pre-64 Winchesters. Different ballgame back then
In Japan they have been Masters of Steel long before anyone, It would be excellent if in America Excellence would triumph over "Cost" so a Rising Sun Lever Action Rifle Not so bad, they they have made the best Swords the 🌎 have seen...
I remember my Grandfather 30-32 similar to yours.
Nice 👍 Memories!!!
A true classic. It’s a perfect rifle.
Love your channel!
Like many things these days, the 94 was designed for its times...a great rifle, but like you said they didn't have scopes back then and the Marlin seems to me to be a better rifle. I am not a big fan of Micro Grove but its not that hard to change the barrel...
A scope on a lever gun just doesn’t seem right. :)
@@66smithra I totally agree! I have several levers, one is a Marlin 1894 JM made in 97 and I bought it used and had a scope on it, shot great, micro grooved barrel is very accurate, tight groups. BUT, I just kept thinking I gotta take that scope off! So I did, put a semi buckhorn 2 wks ago on it and it looks the way IT SHOULD, in my opinion.
The Marlin 1893 was the competitor of the Winchester 1894 until Marlin changed to the 336 designator. The Marlin 1893 was more robust and easier to take down than the 1894.
Ammo is certainly finicky sometimes in lever actions. Example my '73 has zero issues with 250 grain rnfp ammo but it sometimes has issues with 255 grain rnfp ammo. The 255 has a slightly bigger bullet face and the bullet is less rounded so that ammo catches on the face of the chamber sometimes.
I have a couple “foreign made” Winchesters (made in Japan) and I would say that they are as good if not better in some ways than the originals. People often argue if they are “real” Winchesters. I would say they are. Where there made isn’t the determining factor in my mind. It’s if they are made to spec. I would suggest they are.
For me you do not put a scope on a lever action. It’s a fast rifle for short range shooting.
Got one made 1907,. 26" octagon barrel. And a 25.35, made 1905.
I love mine
I have one just like it except mine was made in 55 and your finish is nicer.
A few polishing passes with 2-4,000 grit wet dry will smooth that block up. Same issue- as well as some other spots- and my '94's action is much more smooth.
Great rifle. Your rear sight elevator is missing! (Saw you mentioned it at the end) eBay has what you need. I carry a mod 94 made in 1946 and chambered in 30 wcf every week. Congrats.
The recycling issue is due to a bit of "limp-wristedness" - Don't try to speed cycle this 1894 design, just be direct and smooth ! - It's fast enough as a lever action. Really.
It cool it's been around for years I had 3 of the model 94 i don't care for the shells flying at me now and then it's pretty accurate no doubt but nothing compared to my 336 micro groove Marlin it just puts every bullet in one area when my three model 94s are way out left high low and right no comparison whatsoever the micro groove keeps that bullet spinning for the far distance and when it hits a Target it's usually right on the money the 94s do not do that I own three of them for 30 years now you think I don't know what I'm talking about don't get me wrong I love the model 94 and that's why I own three of them but if I was to grab a lever action and head out my door it's going to be by Marlin 336 iron sights no scope
AE ! Angle Eject! 👍🏽😀❤️🇺🇸
Seems like about every gun design out there has some Browning in it.
I still favor the Marlins. But I like the Early 1950's ones with the Ballard rifling or the square bolt 1936's
Why would you even want a bulky scope on a rifle that is best used at 200 yards or less. You can be just as accurate with a tang sight and globe front sight.
You're the second RUclipsr today that I've heard say that the magazine tube holds 6 rounds. Are you sure it doesn't hold 7? I think it does. Mine certainly does.
You bought this from a guy in 1960 before he went into the army? That was 62 years ago. How old were you when you bought it?
nope. I bought it from the original owner - who purchased it in 1960
I understand why a collector would want a good original example in terms of design and manufacturing processes! That said I would rather have a new Toyota Camera than an all orignal 1970's AAR Hemi Cuda! I like things that work and are reliable and durable. If a new manufactured one will do all of that why waste time with a rifle that has it's best years of use behind it outside of collector value. I gurantee if that 1960's Winchester 94 was used a lot it will soon need some TLC from a gunsmith and maybe a few springs and good luck finding them! More than likely someone will need to make them. It might need some other small parts again good luck finding them!
The model 94 was the most widely produced hunting rifle ever made. 7+ million made. Parts are not hard to come by fortunately.
Anyone know who would have post 64 firing pins? TIA
I love my mine but the lever safety is a bit annoying...my marlin doesn't have that
You could get scope mounts in the 70s and 80s. Before the Angle Eject came out. But the scope was offset waaaayyy to the left! I shoot lefty so I did without. Actually bought a used Marlin first but the "Micro-groove" rifling was completely shot out!
You are a little husky so the recoil should not be to uncontrollable. I was going to say portly but husky sounds a bit better.
fatass is what I call it. I had a knee replaced and starting to get active again. but the skinny version of me is 230 so yeah not much felt recoil from most rifles. 45-70.....different story
@@drdrake63 Dave, you have a video with a 1873 Uberti and I have the same one, one of my favorites of my levers. I was really surprised when you said in a later video that you sold it.
I think I would delete the video because it just repeats the basics there's so many have repeated already. Make a new video and tell people what they do not know.