Winchester Model 94 John Wayne Commemorative 32-40

[mad mucus]

G'day all, been a while.

Does anyone here have knowledge/experience with this rifle and caliber?
One has come up for sale locally, new in box.

Thanks,
Mark

[mad mucus]

Nothing.....

Something wrong with it, taboo?

[Don McDowell]

Of all the ones I know of, only one has been shot, the rest are kept as investments. But the one that has been shot works pretty well on Blackhills Whitetail and mule deer.

[earlmck]

I don't know why you haven't got feedback, Mark. Maybe the dang things bring so much "new in box" that everybody that gets one is afraid to shoot it. I see they have sold for $1200 to $1500 in "gunbroker" during the last month, all essentially "NIB".

I'd like to have one but I would want it as a shooter. So I need to watch for one that is kinda' beat up, maybe has a peep sight on it already, and selling for a whole bunch less than these collector pieces.

[Griff]

The .32-40 is famous as a long ranch BP target round. In single shots it almost stands by itself as THE cartridge for Schuetzen competitions.

In the little carbine mdl 94, it holds its own against a .30-30 if properly loaded. Factory ammo is fairly anemic. The JW Commemorative is virtually the only commemorative that's held its own or increased in value since its introduction.

The very few that I've seen that have been shot (2, maybe 3), have been just another mdl 94 Winchester... a bit fancier tho'!

[DunRanull]

Im not a dealer... but Ive gotten the impression that the "commemoratives" were more a scam to sell rifles than an actual investment. Knew one guy who had a 94 commemorative something or other back in the 70's. It was the cheapest -looking clackety clack rifle I ever did see. That year the guy got our only venison! My BLR let me down, due to operator error...

[RIHMFIRE]

I am looking at one too..
but cash is scarse....
If the price is around 1000 to 1200 US
and it is brand new in the box with the sleeve
in excellent shape, with hang tag and papers....
buy it and sit on it...
Dont shoot it...good investment...

[Aussie Chris]

I must be the only bloke that bloody shoots one! Have 12 other commemoratives

Got mine 2nd hand with ,many slugs, brass, comm ammo, redding dies for 800 aus

its fun blasting away with that big lever

[gundownunder]

I'm told that the commemorative ones don't shoot anywhere near as good as the originals. I've shot an original and they are a real pleasure to shoot with a much lighter recoil than a 30-30 for the same performance ( with hand-loads ), which I believe is because of the case's straight taper as opposed to the shoulder on the 30-30 which causes higher pressure. Brass can be formed from either 30-30 or 38-55 cases with neither of them causing any problems. From all I've read it appears that the 32-40 is the ultimate cast bullet shooter, which is possibly due to the fact that the twist rate in the originals is perfect for cast bullets.

UsedGuns currently have 3 listed
An Oklahoma Diamond Jubilee for $2700
An original with a 26" barrel for $1250
and a John Wayne commemorative for $2500

If I had $1250 available at the moment only 2 of those would still be listed