what to do!

[tdoyka]

i got roughly $500 to spend on my most favorite thing off all....guns!!! i do not know what i can do. my list is rather short(i'm disabled from a stroke) yet it can grow alot more!!! here they are...

1. i've got an winchester model 94( in 1973) in 30-30 that really needs to sent away to reblue it. reciever, barrel, and magazine has a bit of rust on it, it doesn't come off. i want to put a peep sight on it too. i've been thinking(oh c**p look out!!!), jes reboring might get another gun to work on. if i do rebore it, it will be for the 38-55.... then dies, brass, cast boolits and then it can grow alot more!!!:bigsmyl2:

2. i've also been thinking(OH NO!!!) of either a 1903a3 or 1917 enfield for the 30-06. i have the dies and brass that is just sitting here, so its alright. what i want is a old '06 with a wooden stock(my tc encore has a synethic stock, i just don't like them), a roughly 24" barrel and peep sights. it will just be to shoot cast boolits out to 200 yards at targets. :razz:

3. i've also been thinking(LOOK OUT!!!) of buy an old rifle with/without scope in either the '06 or the 35 whelen. more likely it will be in the old '06. it will definitly have a wooden stock and roughly 24" barrel. it will also shoot cast boolits out to 200 yards and deer and black bear along with targets. and then it can be the rem 721 or savage 110 or ruger 77 or...? if it does become a 35 whelen then dies, brass, cast boolits.....why me?!:shock::-o

no.2 looks good to me, but no.1 def. needs reblued and no.3 just looks right to me.
what do i do!!![smilie=b::dung_hits_fan:

[NC_JEFF]

You can get the Win 94 at the price your wanting to spend without having to buy one that obviously needs a lot of work.
I def like the '06 option, in either platform you choose. One of the least expensive, but with a good rep, is a Savage. I would think you could even buy a newer but used savage , replace the synthetic stock and stay below $500.

[runfiverun]

I'd buy a mold or two some brass primers lead and powder.
then I'd try and wear out that model 94.
no re-bluing, maybe a recoil pad, and maybe a peep sight.
shooting one gun a lot has a quality all it's own.

[Moonie]

The neat thing about the Savage 110 platform in 30-06 is you can simply get a barrel for 35 Whelen (about $200 for the barrel, wrench and go/no-go guages) and swap them back and forth.

[tdoyka]

The neat thing about the Savage 110 platform in 30-06 is you can simply get a barrel for 35 Whelen (about $200 for the barrel, wrench and go/no-go guages) and swap them back and forth.

MUST.....NOT........THINK........ABOUT...........T HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i'm trying not to do that!!!![smilie=l::lol:

[CHeatermk3]

Keep your eyes open for a sporterized M1917 Enfield you ought to be able to pick one up for $300 or a bit +-.

[starmac]

I'm with run5, just go shoot, and enjoy life.

[tdoyka]

I'm with run5, just go shoot, and enjoy life.

my m94 just might. i noticed the front sight is broke, another williams fire sight will fix it up. a williams aperture sight(don't think it will need drilled and tapped) will probably be put on. i guess i'll have to slug it, i have .311" for my 30-40 krag. it doesn't really need reblued, its just not right. 20+ years ago i put it between two bed matturous'(sp) for two or three days. when i took the m94 out, it was covered in rust. i did everything i could, but the damage was done. inside the barrel looks like it was made the day before yesterday. its been sitting there for 20+ years. the old 30-30 would probably shoot cast boolits really well. i've been thinking about it for awhile now.

i could use the 30-30, but what am i to do...

[Wayne Smith]

I just had delivered a Husky 98 Mauser (small ring) sporter in 9.3x57. Got it from Simpsons Ltd and it has the tiniest import stamp on it I've ever seen! Looks like it's roll stamped, too. Very clean, this one had Weaver scope bases mounted and the bolt bent. Just under $300! Undoubtedly the best deal going today. Beautiful rifle that will need some dents steamed out of the stock but that's about it. Need everything else, though.

[Gtek]

If it has rust that will not come off, there will be pits that will not fill up with re-blue. I will admit that there are a couple firearms here that were blasted externally and painted, yes I said painted. Proper preparation is key and they do not rust anymore (externally), I have one that has the Duracoat finish for foul weather trips. Shoots just as good and does not rust on the outside. I saw one that was soft blasted and entire rifle/scope coated with Rustoleum Red primer and satin brown in a camo pattern using leaves. Dropped in the fall Appalachian leaves, walked ten feet away and had to strain to see it. Tear down, find somebody with blast cabinet and you would still have about $480 bucks for other THINGS!

[RKJ]

The 30-30 will still have the pitting (heck that gives it character) but oxpho-blue from Brownells ( http://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-tools-supplies/metal-prep-coloring/metal-bluing/liquid-cold-bluing-chemicals/oxpho-blue--prod1072.aspx ) will do a bang up job on it. It wont have a factory shine to it but will have a nice deep black hue to it. I think it looks very nice. I don't know how much mobility you have after your stroke but applying it was pretty easy, and to get a shine all I did was use some oil and 000 steel wool. That would get your rifle back to presentable and leave more $$$ for other things. However, sometimes a guy just needs a new rifle and (contrary to what my wife says) that's okay. :)

[pietro]

.

Here's my $0.02, worth every penny. ;)

You can drill down more on your druthers......................... I would suggest that you "dance with who brung ya", and work with the Winchester 94, since a .30-30 will fill most needs in the lower 48, as it's done for over a century.

Regarding the 1973 Winchester 94 you already have, that you say needs rebluing: Those receivers cannot be reblued by conventional bluing methods, due to them being formed of powdered metal via a process called "sintering", and not forged from a steel billet.

Those receivers were iron-plated after forming, then coated/colored with several different materials, depending upon the "model" of Winchester 94 being made (The Antique model, one of several commerative models, etc).

One of those coating is what your rifle has - the finish only looks like bluing, but is not.

While there are (very) few specialist gunsmiths out there, who can successfully re-finish your Model 94, it's much less expensive & easier to either buff the rust from the receiver (free), leaving it shiny, or coat the receiver with DuraCoat (or another similar coating process) for less than $100.

IMO, either using it as a .30-30 (which works great with cast boolits) or having Jes Ompaugh rebore it to .38-55 ($250) are both very viable options.

Although YMMV, I would stay away from a .30-06 or .35 Whelan, due to the recoil. (I'm not a recoil junky)

Even though I (fortunately) don't have the physical challenges that you have, at my age (early 70's) I refuse to subject my body any longer to the punishment stout-recoiling rifles can administer ( I've had all manner of standard & magnum rifles) - even a .30-06 - and have divested myself of all my loudenboomers, staying with a .30-30, a .35 Rem, a .22-250 and a .250 Savage for my CF shooting & hunting.

In any event, I wish you well in your endeavors ! :)


.

[starmac]

Lots of the m94's of that vintage around that woon't be winning any fashion contests, so just shoot it as that was it's intended use was when it was built.

[tdoyka]

pietro,
thank you for your 2cents!!! i ought to have you around more often. i always thought that the m94 was blued, i never gave it a thought that it was not. now i know!!! i'm really thinking of letting it stay the way it is, although buffing does give me another choice.
i'm not a recoil junkie either. the hardest thing that kicks is my tc encore with 23" MGM heavy factory barrel in 444 marlin. i'm currently shooting a 265gr hornady fn with h4198 around 2000fps, soon it will change to 280gr ranch dog at around 1800-2000fps. i shot it around 2200fps but the barrel flipped off of the tripod, yeah my right side including my arm doesn't work, so i took her down to 2000fps and it stayed on the tripod.
i'll have to think about reboring to the 38-55 very hard!!! i have a 30-40 krag (1898 spr. armory) that was given to me from my pap and i'm trying to find a real good cast boolit for it.
i haven't used an '06 in about 15 or so years. i had a rem mountian rifle which i traded for a left handed savage m116 in the old '06. the savage was a great shooter, unfortunatly i needed money for a divorce. i think using cast boolits at 1800- 2000fps will be alright. esp for shooting targets out to 200 yards.

anyway, its either the 38-55 or another '06....i think:wink:[smilie=1:

[starmac]

Ha Ha, I do not have any disabilities or at least any that count so far, but have always been somewhat of a recoil wuss, compared to a lot of you guys. I have never gotten into the bench thing, and just never enjoyed plinking with heavy recoilers, even more so, since I have started playing with cast. Lately 22 hornets, 222's, even downloaded 45 colt has more interest than my big boomers.
The 38/55 is more interesting to me, but I am somewhat of a lever junky. Partly because that is what I started with, and partly because I shoot left handed and do not run across lefty bolts very often.

[tdoyka]

Ha Ha, I do not have any disabilities or at least any that count so far, but have always been somewhat of a recoil wuss, compared to a lot of you guys. I have never gotten into the bench thing, and just never enjoyed plinking with heavy recoilers, even more so, since I have started playing with cast. Lately 22 hornets, 222's, even downloaded 45 colt has more interest than my big boomers.
The 38/55 is more interesting to me, but I am somewhat of a lever junky. Partly because that is what I started with, and partly because I shoot left handed and do not run across lefty bolts very often.

i know the feeling, i shoot leftie too! my stroke never took that ablity away, thank God. i don't know what i would do if i had to shot right handed!!![smilie=l: i shot a couple of real heavy recoilers in my day. the 460 weatherby mag had to be the worst!!!my friend has a 338 rem ultra mag that he brought for a couple of targets. i'll be the first to admit it, the danged thing hurt...i only shot it once, but the dang thing hurt!!! did i mention the dang thing hurt[smilie=l:?

since my stroke i have had the opportunity to shoot my 444 and my handi-rifle in 45-70 using lite-med loads. now my 20 vartarg and 22-250ai(tc encore both with MGM barrels) go bxxxs to the wall. my other two rifles(270 win in ruger #1 and 6.5 creedmoor in tc encore with MGM barrel) use j-words to take down deer. i haven't shot a thing with my m94 since i put it away. i mean the 30-30 killed alot of deer, so i gave it a place in the wall of memory.

i think its time that the wall might have to wait a little bit longer....

[starmac]

I have both a 338 mag and 375 mag, only because they are left handed and I ran across good deals on them. I shoot neither of them much at all, in fact my son shoots the 338 much more than I do. I gave him a nice 338, but it is right handed so he kind of consficated mine. lol

[tdoyka]

starmac,
your son and my son ought to get together!!! he has a semi custom '98 mauser with a timney trigger, 20" douglas premium barrel, a wood-like syntheic stock and a 3-9x swift in 7x57. it was mine until it too was consficated!!![smilie=l:

[starmac]

Over the years, I have given him several, but the lefty is just on loan. They are just too hard to come by. In all reality I have way more than I need or can get out and shoot anyway.

[tdoyka]

i "gave" it to my oldest boy too. and you are right, they're to hard to come by. i guess i could go with my encore with two barrels(20 vartarg and 444 marlin), but wheres the fun in that!!!:wink::lol:

[tdoyka]

I just had delivered a Husky 98 Mauser (small ring) sporter in 9.3x57. Got it from Simpsons Ltd and it has the tiniest import stamp on it I've ever seen! Looks like it's roll stamped, too. Very clean, this one had Weaver scope bases mounted and the bolt bent. Just under $300! Undoubtedly the best deal going today. Beautiful rifle that will need some dents steamed out of the stock but that's about it. Need everything else, though.

you sir....i......you......:kidding::lol:

i never even thought of husqvarna!!! i checked quite a few of them out. i'm going to a gun store(grices gun shop) in a week or two, if they don't have anything, i'm seriously considering a husky from simpsons!!!
thank you!!!

[Lloyd Smale]

some will no doubt argue with my thoughts but ive shot a couple deer with cast bullets;-) Ive only shot 4 with .30 cal because if found them lacking and stopped. Ive had much better luck with quick kills using the 35s. If I wanted a true cast bullet shooting deer rifle my search would start with 35 rems. IF I wanted an 06 to do both cast and jacketed bullets and I had 500 bucks to spend id go and buy a brand new 700 sps or a savage 110. Your probably going to get a better shooting gun that way. one ready for a scope and if you do get bored with it in the furture it wont be near as hard to sell.

[Moonie]

MUST.....NOT........THINK........ABOUT...........T HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i'm trying not to do that!!!![smilie=l::lol:

Heck, you can even change the bolt head and you aren't limited to '06 sized cartridges...

[Frank46]

Keep the 94 winnie as is and just shoot the snot out of it. If looking for either a '03 or A3 springfield try find one that has been sporterized but still with the 24" bbl and get a "C" stock (has a pistol grip) and shoot that one also. Snot kidding. Frank