Mod 94

[Lethemgo]

I've found a winchester mod 94 from 95 or 96 in 38-55 5 digit serial # that I'm trying to pick up. Slugged the bore today while it was a fast job looks like it Slugged at .379 to .380. Need to do a better job later with slugging and mic but sure that is close. Just wondering what is some of your guys favorites for this rifle. Have never tried paper patching but thinking about giving it a try for my 45-70 shiloh sharps and this would give me some practice before I start on that one. I'd just like to get to shooting it as I think I can get a pretty good deal on it. Missing most of the blueing on it but wood is in good shape and bore seems to be good with some nice rifling left in it. I'll have to order some brass, dies, and a boolit mold.

[Texas by God]

Sounds collectible. I'm sure someone will help you shortly. By the way- please explain the borders of the State of Jefferson. Best, Thomas.

[Reverend Al]

For a while I had a Winchester 1894 round barreled rifle that was mfg in 1899. When I slugged the bore on that one it was .384"! You could push a Lyman .378" / .379" as cast bullet through the barrel by hand with a cleaning rod and it just lightly "skated" along the tops of the lands. I sold that one to a Winchester collector and bought another 94 with a slightly smaller bore ...

[northmn]

According to some sources, Winchester made a few 94's before smokeless barrel steel was perfected, and early ones were made for BP level loads. It might not be a rifle you would want to hot rod much.
Unique seems to be popular for the BP equivalent loads. If you buy cast bullets I would check on the alloys as many are hard cast. Softer bullets will slug up in OS bores to some extent with smokeless and better with BP. I would go Starline brass as it permits loading larger diameter bullets in some chambers. Paper patching requires a special mold and I do not know much about it, but a good 38-55 will shoot very well with standard bullets.

DEP

[fordwannabe]

You really don't want to mess with a 38-55, a 30 -30 would do you much better. In the interest of your safety you should give me the guys name though, so you don't talk yourself into it. Ok, I love the 38-55 and 10-11 grains of Unique is a great starting point with cast.

[runfiverun]

my bud has one of these he shoots 20-1 and Black.
airc the mold is the lyman 375447? it's not the 375449 which has the gas check.
but him and another bud both shoot it [I use the 449] the other uses 9.5grs of unique and I have shot both.
I prefer the 9.5grs of unique load.

[bob208]

I have a 94 5 number. it is a oct. barrel with pistol grip. I have to use .380-381 bullets in it. lucky my old lyman mold drops over size bullets.
you can use .375 Winchester dies to load .38-55.

[OlDeuce]

I've found a winchester mod 94 from 95 or 96 in 38-55 5 digit serial # that I'm trying to pick up. Slugged the bore today while it was a fast job looks like it Slugged at .379 to .380. Need to do a better job later with slugging and mic but sure that is close. Just wondering what is some of your guys favorites for this rifle. Have never tried paper patching but thinking about giving it a try for my 45-70 shiloh sharps and this would give me some practice before I start on that one. I'd just like to get to shooting it as I think I can get a pretty good deal on it. Missing most of the blueing on it but wood is in good shape and bore seems to be good with some nice rifling left in it. I'll have to order some brass, dies, and a boolit mold.

Does this 5 dig 1894 have the external rail screws????? If so Its VERY collectible.... :-) My rifle was made in June of 1895 and has a 4 dig # Ol Deuce:guntootsmiley:
187740

[smokeywolf]

Double set triggers is also something you don't see every day.

[runfiverun]

glad you said that,, I thought my eyes were all fuzzed up.

[bob208]

double set are hard to find I don't have any. but I do have some with single set.

[OlDeuce]

glad you said that,, I thought my eyes were all fuzzed up.

Hahaha When I found this rifle you think your eyes were FUZZED ?? The barrel got my attention before double set triggers or
the external rail screws! It was 32'' long and in 38-55 talk about a head spin ................Ol Deuce

[Lethemgo]

So here's some pics I just took quick...going to clean it all up today since I don't have any ammo to shot it. Doesn't look like it has as many screws so must not have the external rail screws. She it's missing the forend cap screw. I'll see what the inside looks like today but it's my buddies gun and he said he shot it quite a few years ago so sure everything is ok. Serial #37xxx

http://i947.photobucket.com/albums/ad317/lethemgo/20170211_100345.jpg (http://s947.photobucket.com/user/lethemgo/media/20170211_100345.jpg.html)
http://i947.photobucket.com/albums/ad317/lethemgo/20170211_100403.jpg (http://s947.photobucket.com/user/lethemgo/media/20170211_100403.jpg.html)
http://i947.photobucket.com/albums/ad317/lethemgo/20170211_100421.jpg (http://s947.photobucket.com/user/lethemgo/media/20170211_100421.jpg.html)

[Lethemgo]

The state of Jefferson is growing. At this point there's 21 counties that have signed and turned in to the state capital paperwork (don't remember what it's called) basically saying were unhappy and want to separate. Right now it's counties just north of Sacramento east to Nevada border west towards coast but not including all the ones right along coast...of course. In other words the fly over lands with lower population and no say so in state decisions. Will it ever happen....some say no but for sure will not if we don't try. Just pray it does for for my kids and grandchildren. Get to move to another state without leaving my house!
http://i947.photobucket.com/albums/ad317/lethemgo/ae5ab311df1ad54c1e1c931714e286fe.jpg (http://s947.photobucket.com/user/lethemgo/media/ae5ab311df1ad54c1e1c931714e286fe.jpg.html)

[Chill Wills]

I would like to see the part of California south of Jefferson just up and declare themselves a sovereign country and get out of our hair. Only problem is they would be ripe for invasion and the USA would still have to protect them for our own protection. That and we would have to extend the wall...

I have two of the four digit 1894's in 38-55 and one made in 1906. Both early ones are 1895 production. They have the widows peak hammer. Both are 0.380" groove and shoot soft 0.379" to hard(er) 0.381 bullets well.
Unique is a good powder choice but I would really think twice about going much over 9 grains in these older Winchesters. No need really -we don't live on the frontier - we just want to shoot and enjoy them.

I have an old Walt era 6-cavity NEI mold, casts a 0.380" -275gr bullet and a Old West 3 cavity 265 grainer that makes 0.381" diameter bullets. Both are great. I have a RCBS 37-250 GC that will throw 0.379" max and it will shoot OK too. Just don't like the GC in the older soft steel.
Chambers works well with original 2.3" length brass and the Starline long 38-55 will be great. Shorter cases works too but you will have a gap.

Watch the muzzle when buying these old Winchesters. Unlike the Marlin, the Winchesters are not so easy to clean from the breach and they were often worn badly by cleaning from the muzzle. Many an otherwise wonderful old rifle was wrecked by making a blunderbuss out of the last two inches of the barrel.

[Lethemgo]

Since there's a barrel band that looks soldered on mag tube...I'm figuring it's pinned in. By the looks of it that's what's up. Just don't want to try knocking it out without knowing for sure. Just years of no cleaning and crud old oils and general build up between it and barrel. I could use and brush but want to try to give it some lovin' and some clean up.

Well I knocked the pin out but while doing it is see the band is dovetailed into barrel. Band doesn't look like it's soldered is guess it's just possible that after 130 years that has gotten stuck (maybe rusted) to tube. Should I mess with it or just try to clean up as good as possible between tube and barrel. I'd really like to get it off so I could clean up under forend wood. Just me being petty...

[Chill Wills]

It's pined as you now know. On these very early 1894's, if you shoot stout loads, that pin will iron over the mag tube until the mag tube slides forward out of place. Your first clue will be the end of the mag tube will be in front of the muzzle.

If that mag tube of yours does not want to give - good! You might be very sorry if it starts moving. Only that small crease in the tube and the cross pin hold it back from recoil.

I have had more than one repaired.
Later rifles don't seem to have this issue.
1886's use a completely different restraint. The 1894 would have benefited from that system.

[OlDeuce]

187832187833My Hammer and inside has a spring in the Left rail!!! :-) Ol Deuce

[bob208]

the tube is not dovetailed in to the barrel. you have to turn the mag tube 90 deg. after it clears the forearm.

[FergusonTO35]

I have found that alot of Lee molds drop fat from the get go, and with judicious Leementing you can get 'em even fatter. Might be worth buying the 379-250 for $20.00 and give it a try. My 358-125-RF drops right at .360 and my 1894C loves 'em.

Wish you the best with the State of Jefferson. I can think of some other places that would probably love to form their own state. Southern Illinois and Western New York come to mind.

[Big Mak]

FYI, I have a 1983 Win 94 in 38-55 and have had great success with .379 diam 245 gr powder coated bullets and AA5744 smokeless powder.
I started off with BP loads and lubed lead bullets but the clean up maintenance was a PITA with linkage, etc. So now it's strictly a smokeless shooter.

This is a Crazy Horse commemorative but I bought it for a shooter, and very cheap. (I have a no-virgins policy with my collection ;) )

https://photos.smugmug.com/Winchester-94-Crazy-Horse-1983/n-krr8RF/i-gs7LTqJ/0/XL/i-gs7LTqJ-XL.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/Winchester-94-Crazy-Horse-1983/n-krr8RF/i-WPnRdVB/0/XL/i-WPnRdVB-XL.jpg
https://photos.smugmug.com/38-55/i-nQw4smM/0/O/20160902_184143_resized.jpg

[OlDeuce]

Big Mak......sure glade to see you shooting your 38-55! Pretty Rifle!!! I've been shooting my engraved gun also....sure doesn't hurt value this day and age!!!! They sure are fun :-) :-)

Ol Deuce

[missionary5155]

Greetings lethemgo
Nice old Winchester ! Screws are easy to come up with. The rifle is the jewel. You will have years of fine shooting once you learn the ways to get it shooting. Do get the real groove diameter figured. And I would never shoot jacketed in ours. Those old barrels are soft steel and wear faster. Cast will polish it to slick as ice.

Have a cousin made in 96.
Our groove is about .383+. Tried all sorts of fat cast. Best accuracy came with using 30-1 (Ideal 375248) sized at .380 and as much 3F as could be "tapped" (rim on bench top) into case. Cereal box wad (Wheaties) under bullet base. 2.5 inches at 100 yards off cross sticks. Never found a smokeless load that could beat those groups.
I do swab the chamber/throat with a damp test tube brush every two shots. Third shot gets sticky a bit. For shooting 5-10 rounds without swabbing .379 cast 40-1 works but looses a little accuracy. But still is an easy corn cruncher wacker. This Ideal mold is Lapped out to drop fatter cast. No regrets !

Smokeless.. .382 Is the absolute fattest cast It will seat and that with a slight lever nudge. .381+ slides right in but accuracy with even 40-1 was awful even at 50 yards. Unique through 2400. Best solution I found was charge, cereal box wad, cream of wheat (COW) and bullet. Enough COW so it compressed the load 1/16 inch. That will shoot 4 inches at 100 yards which again is minute of corn cruncher.
So with out neck trimming cases or remaining the chamber smokeless worked out OK to plink or wack steel.

I have no aversion to shooting 3F Goex. There is no fouling into the action. The cases are not smudged on the outside. 2F was awful. Fellers talk about OL'Einsford and Swiss. But have not tried those as my stock of Goex 3F is still holding me together.

So do your home work before you fire a shot and you will not get aggravated beyond being a gentleman at the range. Fat throats and grooves are manageable within the confines of when and for what that rifle was made. You gonna have a bunch of shooting fun !
Mike in Peru

[northmn]

I shot GOEX for years as it was really the only game in town for me. Swiss is a better powder that will give moister fouling and less wiping than GOEX and has become a favorite for BPC competition. Also Swiss tend to give more velocity. Some claim it needs a gentle primer where GOEX is often sued with magnum primers. Some claim otherwise? Another thing about BP is that lubes are very critical. SPG is a standard and others make BOP only lubes. Before I found that out I could only get patterns out of a 45-70. I don't know how well BP subs do to slug bores but I have found 777 to be pretty good. Pydrodex is more corrosive than BP. You have to load Subs by volume, but I used to weigh 4 or 5 units out of the BP powder measure and then weight them. For instance 70 grains BP measure of Pyrodex might weigh 58 grains. Don't go by that and do the measure/weigh thing as they may not be consistent from lot to lot.
COW makes a good poor mans gas check and is best in a straight case and it does keep the bore polished. It also draws weavels and can cake up and form a plug in a case, which is not an issue with a straight walled case. I have a bottle of plastic buffer used for shot gun loads that I use instead. Its lighter and does not solidify. I cut out two wads and place one on the powder and one under the bullet with it in between. As mentioned the load NEEDS to be compressed slightly with either. COW is less expensive and has been used for years but the buffer keeps on the shelf longer. Either way it helps in worn throats in OS bores.

DEP

[Texas by God]

That is a VERY nice rifle. If Hillary had won, perhaps Texas would have seceded to become a country again. Then Jefferson could be the 50th state and the flag could remain unchanged. Good luck to Jefferson. I love California but won't waste a dime in LA or SF. The real people are in the flyover country as you say. Best, Thomas.

[Big Mak]

Big Mak......sure glade to see you shooting your 38-55! Pretty Rifle!!! I've been shooting my engraved gun also....sure doesn't hurt value this day and age!!!! They sure are fun :-) :-)

Ol Deuce
Agreed! I put a Williams peep site with an .050 disk and it sure did improve the accuracy!

[OlDeuce]

Agreed! I put a Williams peep site with an .050 disk and it sure did improve the accuracy!

For me those peep sights are the only way to go !! But.........the Full Rocky Mountain Buck Horn also really works for "open" sights
188202

[DanishM1Garand]

You really don't want to mess with a 38-55, a 30 -30 would do you much better. In the interest of your safety you should give me the guys name though, so you don't talk yourself into it. Ok, I love the 38-55 and 10-11 grains of Unique is a great starting point with cast.
38-55 is deer legal in Ohio. 30-30 isn't. I have two in .30-30 I've thought about getting one reamed to 38-55.

[OlDeuce]

38-55 is deer legal in Ohio. 30-30 isn't. I have two in .30-30 I've thought about getting one reamed to 38-55.

Are your Winchesters Carbines or Rifles !!! To reline the rifle is way cool ! The carbine I think you can buy an Early barrel in 38-55 for less than a
reline!!!! :-) Ol Deuce