Anyone know a lot about Model 1894 30-30 Winchesters?

man, the powder they use today is a lot hotter than way back then, i would talk to a certified gunsmith, or call the company that made your ammo.

if lester or et are around they would be of help

The 30 30 cartridge is tapered if you look closely, and it is designed to take some force to seat in the chamber. Thats what the lever is for.

Not true, all model 94's will handle modern ammunistion

I think the safest and best advice is to have it inspected by a gunsmith. You only get one face.

I'll just strap the fucker down to a big log with some come-alongs and fire it from a distance with a string.

SDM

The 94 was chambered in more than one caliber, are you sure it's a 30 30?

. You sound like my father, he did that with a black powder rifle he made himself.

Yes, 100%. It does fit in the chamber perfectly, and the extractor grabs the round and flings it out fine. It just seems a little stiff getting the round chambered.

SDM

Where is you sense of adventure?

Thats no problem and it is the way it is supposed to be.

A 30-30 has a really low CUPS (Copper units of pressure) like 25,000 -35,000 which is really low for a rifle. That is the good news. You probably won't blow yourself up if the bore is clear and the chamber is sound.



The .30 30 was also the first sporting cartridge designed to use smokeless powder so it's pretty much what is use today. That's also good news.


The closest thing to a 30 30 is a .32 winchester and there is no mistaking the two.

30 30 ammo is 30 30 ammo and its universal. Get some Remington Core Lokt 150 grn. Remington has really soft brass and may cycle better.

BTW, OP, I have a 94 thats the same age as yours approximately and i have shot a few boxes of cartridges through it. I'll wager it says 'designed especially for smokeless powder' on the barrel by the rear sight. Youre rifle is safe to shoot

That`s right. The boys and I will figure a way to fire it safely (well, in our opinion anyway). I just don`t want to ruin the thing, it was my great grandpa`s. I just need to know if there was ever any variant on the 30-30 round, or if you get a round for a 30-30 lever thats it thats all?

SDM

I'll go check....


SDM

i was thinking the same thing. i would error on the side of caution
i had a double barrel shotgun from the same year, had i fired modern ammo through it, it would have been very ugly.

maybe you could feed a neighbor some beers and have them shoot it?

30-30 is a low pressure round, if there is no visible cracks or serious rust, there should be no problem.

Great little gun for camping and hikes.

If you try to fire it remotely dont put the stock against anything solid to resist the recoil or it will ruin your rifle.
If I were there I would just shoot it for you a few times.

op u good it,s probable in pretty good shape thats why it,s tight I killed 2 deer with one just like it this year .Best 30/30 ever made shoot the thing boy ..

It certainly does say that. Right above that it says "Nickel Steel barrel" and to the right of that it says 30 WCF.


SDM

You are good to go. .30 WCF for "Winchester Center Fire"

For some reason the .30 30 name stuck but its the same round.

damascus barrel, eh?
LMAO!
Stay away from me when you do shoot it

Right, and whatever you do dont ruin it by firing it clamped in a vice or something

Does yours have a long magazine (as long as the barrel) or is it the short magazine with the half octagonal/ half rounded barrel? If it is the later it is rare.

yep

looks nice up on the wall

Winchester ammo?

The loading of the 30-30 cartridge hasn't changed. It was the first cartridge designed for modern smokeless powder. The 30-30 is a 45,000 PSI cartridge and it has always been loaded to approximately the same specifications as the originals.

The 94 was one of the stronger actions. In fact, back in the day when the 30-30 was brought out, many of the hobby shooters complained because the 30-30 was only designed to handle smokeless powder and a lot of the hobby shooters like making their own powder and bullets. As such, the 30-30 wasn't well suited for them so winchester brought out the 32 Winchester Special, a .321 diameter, deep grooved bore, gun to shoot black powder and cast bullets.

I own 4 30-30s: 2 Marlin 336s, 1 Marlin 30a and a Winchester 94 (of early 2000s vintage). I also own a Winchester 94 in 32 Winchester Special.

As long as the gun doesn't look worn out or stressed you'd be good to go. As far as worrying about the ammunition, its the same.

Kudos to the guy, above, that said, "You only get one face..."

Very true. If in doubt, have a competent gun aficionado or gunsmith look at it.

(BTW, I highly recommend the 170gr Flat Nose Winchester Silvertip ammo. Accurate and powerful.)

(...well, not as accurate as the ammo *I* make, but good enough.)

Good luck! BTW, when you get back, you want to sell it?

I had to ask.

Yeah, what this poster said and the cartridge dimensions might be off for the sounds of function test. After all, you are firing an antique.

I think we're good to go. Just being careful. We're having a good shooting session this weekend. Lots of nice hardware...

Stock SKS
SKS w/ATI stock, harris bipod
30-30 winchester 1894
Remington VTR 700 .308
Mossberg SPX 500 Tactical/Red Dot
Remington 870 Express
Ruger 10/22
Assorted deer hunting rifles

Lots of skeets, a couple throwers a bonfire and a 12 bunk hunt camp on 250 acres 45 mins outside town. It's gonna be -29...

SDM

Good place for it. It is unimaginable to me why the manufacturers didn't change the cartridges when they switched over from black powder, it was a plot to prove darwins theory

How much is it worth lol? Never thought about it.

SDM