Just bought an old Winchester 94 30WCF

Diverdan · Post by **Diverdan** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 2:52 pm

I picked up an old Winchester 30-30 (1945 or so by the serial number). When I was a kid growing up hunting with my Granddad (300 Savage) and my Dad (Marlin 30-30), this is the first lever gun I have owned. I have a 30.06 that I am very partial to. My question, is there a round that is better than the other for that rifle? Is there anything I need to know about this rifle. I know there are alot of them floating around and seemed to have proven themselves. Anything I need to know or look for when hunting with this gun? Thanks is advance for any advise.

Terry Murbach · Post by **Terry Murbach** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 3:24 pm

WHAT DO YOU MEAN "AN OLD WINCHESTER 30-30"??!!

I'VE GOT BOOTS THAT OLD...

I'VE GOT GUN BELTS THAT OLD...

I'VE GOT HOLSTERS LOTS OLDER THAN THAT...

I'VE GOT CARRY GUNS OLDER THAN THAT...

HELLESBELLS, I AM A LOT OLDER THAN THAT, WHIPPERSNAPPER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YOU LOAD IT WITH W-W, R-P, OR FEDERAL 30-30 170gr AMMUNITION AND IF YOU CAN SHOOT WORTH A WHOOP IT'LL KILL EVERYTHING IN SIGHT. IF YOU CAN'T YOU'RE S O L ....don't make me explain the latter...

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 3:34 pm

TERRY IS FEELING BETTER...I CAN TELL

Get a box of each and see which ones shoot gooder...every shooter is different

I like 170s, and some don't. They all work

mescalero1 · Post by **mescalero1** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 3:35 pm

Yeah, he certainly seems to be

Ben_Rumson · Post by **Ben_Rumson** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 3:55 pm

BTW Welcome to the forum! Terry always writes in caps..

Post by **Hobie** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 3:57 pm

Terry is, of course, right.

homefront · Post by **homefront** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 4:06 pm

Clean the bore and chamber, take apart clean and lube the action.
Remove the stock and forearm, remove any rust you find and apply a thin coat of oil (ATF is good).
Throw a Williams FP, or a Marbles tang sight on it.
Get into handloading - get a manual, start collecting brass, buy a bullet mold (or two!), try a few different powders (by the book, of course). There's much to be learned at this forum, and at http://castboolits.gunloads.com/ as well.
The .30-30 can be shot well with store-bought ammo, but where's the fun in that? You've done more than started hunting with another rifle; you've picked up a piece of history. For me, the real interest was learning how things USED to be done. A rifle like that is something you get close to and live with. What loads does it like? Which bullet profiles/weights? Which powders? How can you improve that rifle, and maybe your shooting, and keep it's historical character?

By the way, how about a picture?

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 5:24 pm

Diverdan wrote:I picked up an old Winchester 30-30 (1945 or so by the serial number). When I was a kid growing up hunting with my Granddad (300 Savage) and my Dad (Marlin 30-30), this is the first lever gun I have owned. I have a 30.06 that I am very partial to. My question, is there a round that is better than the other for that rifle? Is there anything I need to know about this rifle. I know there are alot of them floating around and seemed to have proven themselves. Anything I need to know or look for when hunting with this gun? Thanks is advance for any advise.

Dan,

Welcome to the forum.

I won't even think of arguing with Terry, but I've never warmed up to the 170gr loads. I'm partial to the 150s.
As for cleaning homefront pretty much covered it. I'll just add to make sure the carrier screws, carrier spring and contact point on the carrier, and the lever to bolt cross pin are not badly worn. I've seen nearly worn in half. I've also seen the carrier spring and carrier worn down to a rounded nubbin. All this due to a lack of lube.
You don't have to float 'em in oil, but they need some.

Joe

Bogie35 · Post by **Bogie35** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 5:41 pm

Welcome Dan! Enjoy the ride, but keep your hands and feet safely inside the vehicle at all times!

bogie

shdwlkr · Post by **shdwlkr** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 8:49 pm

Dan
welcome to the group and I have 30-30's that are much older than the one you got by decades and they still shoot well. Find what it likes and go enjoy.

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 8:59 pm

Welcome aboard! Hope you stay a while, and post a picture of that new-to-you lever!

pokey · Post by **pokey** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 10:08 pm

another wanderer makes it home.

welcome, step down, come in and set a spell.

you just purchased the best walking/riding around rifle there is IMHO.
light, easy to carry, and "will kill anything you look at".
like was mentioned try several makers of ammo/make your own, and
see what she likes.

good luck, pokey

BigSky56 · Post by **BigSky56** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 10:21 pm

Howdy Dan, welcome. danny

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 1:37 am

and Welcome to THE Forum. Yer almost new .30WCF Winchester 94 is probably going to like the stuff TERRY raves about... and he's right dang near all the time, but I like to slip in a plug for the 150grain bullet weights also. Some of them .30-30s like that flavor also.

Best to get a box of each... and see which YOUR "new-to-you" rifle likes. I recommend you start out strong by reading Paco's article Accurizing the Leveraction Rifle

Then, if you can find a copy, Sam Fadala's book Winchester 94 America's Rifle

And from there, well... that's a good beginning! Don't wanna overload ya just yet!

El Chivo · Post by **El Chivo** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 3:21 am

Remington Green Box 150's - the deadliest mushroom in the woods.

Yodar · Post by **Yodar** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 3:16 pm

Hi Diverdan,

I saw a book in our local library this morning you might be interested in. It is: Winchester's 30-30 Model 94, by Sam Fadala. It is a Stackpole book circa 1986. It will tell you just about everything you would want to know about the '94.

Enjoy.

Post by **Old Savage** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 4:27 pm

You go TERRY!

Diverdan · Post by **Diverdan** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 9:00 am

Thanks for all the advise. I am looking forward to putting some rounds down range with this rifle. I appreciate Terry's point of view. The term "old" being a relative description of something older than me, and I being a Grandfather and considered "old" in the eyes of some, although younger than others, meant nothing derogatory, (a term of endearment I assure you). Sooo, my thanks to all once again and look forward to visiting this forum for information and networking.

rangerider7 · Post by **rangerider7** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 9:34 am

Diverdan, if indeed it was made in 1945 you have a very, very, very special Winchester "94". Why you say, because that's the year I was born!

Terry Murbach · Post by **Terry Murbach** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 10:04 am

rangerider7 wrote:Diverdan, if indeed it was made in 1945 you have a very, very, very special Winchester "94". Why you say, because that's the year I was born!

YOU WERE BORN IN '45.....?? WHIPPERSNAPPER....

rangerider7 · Post by **rangerider7** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 10:14 am

Your right I am a wippersnapper!

rjohns94 · Post by **rjohns94** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 12:06 pm

Welcome to the fire and I hope you enjoy. no need to repeat what is already said about your rifle except ....... post pictures! we are a very visual group. blessings

cshold · Post by **cshold** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 2:12 pm

+1 We indeed like pictures.

Tom Richardson · Post by **Tom Richardson** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 5:52 pm

You are right Terry. Rangerider7 is a double WHIPPERSNAPER.
He is probably a post-war 1945 model.
Old Harry S. was a Pre-War model like some of us.

Diverdan · Post by **Diverdan** » Fri Jul 24, 2009 8:23 am

I have cleaned it, but it was very well kept, and found it hard to find anything that hadn't been touched already. It was lubricated well, and the action on it is very smooth. I'll get some pictures of it posted very soon.

Just bought an old Winchester 94 30WCF

Just bought an old Winchester 94 30WCF

Re: Just bought an old Winchester 94 30WCF

Re: Just bought an old Winchester 94 30WCF

Re: Just bought an old Winchester 94 30WCF

Re: Just bought an old Winchester 94 30WCF

Re: Just bought an old Winchester 94 30WCF

Re: Just bought an old Winchester 94 30WCF

Re: Just bought an old Winchester 94 30WCF

Re: Just bought an old Winchester 94 30WCF

Re: Just bought an old Winchester 94 30WCF

Re: Just bought an old Winchester 94 30WCF

Re: Just bought an old Winchester 94 30WCF

Re: Just bought an old Winchester 94 30WCF

Re: Just bought an old Winchester 94 30WCF

Re: Just bought an old Winchester 94 30WCF

Re: Just bought an old Winchester 94 30WCF

Re: Just bought an old Winchester 94 30WCF

Re: Just bought an old Winchester 94 30WCF

Re: Just bought an old Winchester 94 30WCF

Re: Just bought an old Winchester 94 30WCF

Re: Just bought an old Winchester 94 30WCF

Re: Just bought an old Winchester 94 30WCF

Re: Just bought an old Winchester 94 30WCF

Re: Just bought an old Winchester 94 30WCF

Re: Just bought an old Winchester 94 30WCF