.356/7-30 waters 94's

[021]

I bought two model 94's today, one is an XTR .356, the other a 24" barreled XTR 7-30 waters. Both look exceptional, and I'm always drawn to the unusual guns/calibers. Anyone have one of these, and if so---what do you think of them? Regards, 021

[pietro]

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While I've never owned/shot a 7-30 Waters, I know the 24" rifle is valued higher than the 20" carbine.

The regular-stock (non-canoe paddle) scoped .356 BB94AE I had was accurate (1-1/2MOA) out to at least 200yds (the farthest I ever shot it).

My .356 was an early one, before the later crossbolt safeties through the rear portion of the receiver - it was a pretty much "do all" rifle.


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[ZmanWakeForest]

I'd love to have one in 7-30 Waters! Nice finds!

[TXGunNut]

Congrats on both rifles! I've passed on two very nice 356 XTR's. Still kicking myself after doing a bit of research. The 7-30 is a cartridge I contemplated in my Contender phase but never pulled the trigger on it either. Both fascinating cartridges. I'll never pass on another 356. I don't have any use for the 7-30 as a CB shooter but it's a very interesting cartridge.

[021]

I should also say these are both pre-safety rifles. I 'll try to get pictures up shortly.

[Shawlerbrook]

I own a Win BB 356 and a rebored Marlin 356W. It is a great caliber that unfortunately never achieved consumer success for various reasons. Although a 7x30 levergun is on my bucket list, I do own a Contender carbine in that caliber and it is very accurate and a great Whitetail killer. You have 2 great, under appreciated lever guns. Congrats !

[021]

The 7-30 has real nice figure in the fore end. I'm the WORST photographer....

[TXGunNut]

Good enough pics, gotta love those XTR 94's. And if you'll check my posts you'll find you're NOT the world's worst photographer, lol.

[MT Gianni]

Last year I went to a place I work at very occasionally usually 3-6 days a year. I Picked up a nickle want ad and saw a used 7-30 Waters with box and partial box of shells. It was a carbine and the price was $385. I was crying as I texted knowing the ad was 4 days old and this had to be long gone. Yep, sold to the first person who called. He probably doubled his money the same day if he wanted to.

[FergusonTO35]

I should have bought one with the Win-Tuff laminated stock when they were available. I have always thought they are super cool.

[pmer]

I just picked up a BB .356 AE too! I ordered dies and brass from Grafs last night. I could not find 356 brass anywhere but Grafs has 444 brass in stock and I ordered 2 boxes for necking down. The grain in my butt stock would be a nice match for your 7-30 forend.

I can't wait to make some noise with mine. It has no safety either, someone put a recoil pad on it but it came with the original too. One time a local gun shop had a big bore in .375 Winchester. I passed on it then had a second thought but it was gone...

[ammohead]

021, Congratulations. You bought one of the best 94's ever made. I ordered my XTR 24" 7-30 Waters in 1985 and love it. I have taken several mule deer bucks and does and have never recovered a 139 gr flat point hornady loaded to 2550 fps. All went clean through. Problem is Hornady doesn't make that bullet anymore. In fact you may have a hard time finding any 7mm flat point jacketed components. I have been working up loads with the NOE 150 gr hunter flat point mould. 29 gr of 3031 gave some promising groups. My last effort was with RL-15 and 28 -31 gr loads. Not the best groups but you could hunt with it out to 100 yards or so. 28 gr gave just under 2000 fps and I chronoed near 2300 with the 31 gr load but groups were opening up. Next up will be WC844 surplus cause I have so much of it and also I will try imr 4350. Another option would be to have Mountain Moulds make you a custom mould in the 130-140 gr range with a flat point. You could always use spitzers if you limit yourself to one in the chamber and ONLY one in the magazine. These are way too rare to take a chance on pointy bullets in the tube. Have fun.

[AnthonyB]

I am a big fan of the 356 Winchester and have two. The M94 was customized by Brockman's Gunsmithing before I bought it and is one of my favorite rifles. Stock is painted black with some sort of embedded material for grip, and it has a Leupold Scout Scope in detachable Talley mounts. Second one is a Marlin Beagle found for me in Kentucky. I've been working on it for years and almost the laminated stock installed. Think that one will get a regular scope.
Both function fine with necked up 308 brass. I have a couple hundred pieces of 356 marked Winchester brass used when hunting, but the 308 brass works great and would also serve for hunting if you can't get the right brass. The RCBS 35-200 is your friend in either rifle, but ammo has to be kept separate due to chamber dimension. When I get a roundtoit I'll try some of the heavier bullets we have done with NOE and MiHa. I know the 3589 HP at 1900 fps from the little M94 will get your attention!
Tony

[FergusonTO35]

I always thought the 7-30 was a neat cartridge that could have been popular if the manufacturers had actually made an effort to promote it. As in, play up the higher velocity and flatter trajectory as Hornady has done so successfully with the Leverrevolution line.

[Lloyd Smale]

love my 356 big bore. I had reggie nonaman cut the barrel to 17 inch. Its a deer, pig and bear thumper extraordinaire. Loaded with 200 grain speers I don't recall a deer taking more then one leap before piling up. for that matter I don't recall traking ANY animal shot with it. Little thing will shoot 1 1/8 5 shot groups at a 100 yards if I put a scope on it to help these tired old eyes. It would be the last lever gun to leave my house.

[jlchucker]

I had one of those 24 inch 94's back in the late 1980's except that mine was a 330-30. I was not into cast boolits then, but it was impossible to get consistency with my j-word loads. Sometimes an inch at 100 yd, other times, with the same loads, I'd get 6 inch groups at the same distance. I wasn't able to figure out what was going on, so I sold the gun. Others have good luck with that model. I must have got a lemon.

[45-70 Chevroner]

I had a 7X30 Waters in a 21" TC barrel, it shot OK with J-Words but could no get it to shoot very well with cast, not enough patience I guess.

[pmer]

Well I learned not to resize full length 444 brass in the .356 die LOL. I curled or buckled the neck and tore the neck off the case to get it out the die. So I trim first close to .356 length then neck down and trim to length. Sized some 308 cases too and that went pretty good. Made a few rounds with AA2460 and Speer 180 grain flat points, got on paper and whacked a milk jug full of water too. I still have to get a mold for it then the corn crunchers will have to look out hehe.

[smokinfeathers]

I have a 356 n have had the 24 n 20" 7-30. I use 308 brass in my 356 n 307, it shoots greAt with cast n jword n thumps deer n pigs. Had the 7-30 n several encores as well as win hesters, greT caliber n easy to form from 30/30 brass. I cant rember which casf bullet i was shooting but had good accuracy forming cases

[shdwlkr]

Would love to have a early .356 winchester bb, would most likely put a longer barrel on it and mag tube, I like long barreled levers, would like to find a cheap .375 w bb also. Brass is a challenge but that is part of the fun of having these obsolete calibers. Besides winchester had a good idea with the BB but a really stupid marketing plan, poor press and most of all miss priced the ammo. Few I know who have shot the bb would give them up