So did I do alright or no?

[Stopsign32v]

I've always wanted a 30-30 and I'm a closet lover for top eject lever rifles so I've always dreamed of a Winchester. I just refuse to pay the crazy prices these days and it seems I slept on them for too long to get one at a decent price. I don't know that much about them so really buying from an individual has me worried. So cruising Collectors this morning I saw this one... How do you guys think I did for sub $1,000 shipped? The stock could be a little nicer and honestly I probably will end up refinishing it. https://www.collectorsfirearms.com/p...30-w11313.html

[Mk42gunner]

As long as you are happy, you did good.

I think I'd shoot it a bit before I got too worried about refinishing the stock, it looks okay to me; until you decide it is keeper.

Don't expect MOA groups, minute of coffee cup is more realistic in my experience with run of the mill .30-30 carbines.

Robert

[cwtebay]

Value is in the eye of the purchaser. I have given far too many green pieces of paper for some that I couldn't live without and don't regret any of them (a rifle in my hands always seems to make me happier than the wad of paper in my pocket).
Most (could probably insert "all" here) of the obviously used lever guns I have aquired are in need of a deep cleaning of the mechanics before worrying about the aesthetics.
I don't see any reason to refinish! A couple of sessions with some tru oil and a rag and I'll bet she'll shine!

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[Ithaca Gunner]

With prices being what they are today, you did well. 1955 is the year of manufacture on yours, a good vintage! As stated above, 3'' groups at 100yds. is about what to expect from them, but they make up for that in carryabillity. They're a fantastic walk around or truck rifle, I've put some miles on mine loaded with 125gr. hollow points in groundhog fields in summers when I didn't want to carry a heavy bolt gun and even shoved it in my belt once like a revolver while dragging a deer. Mine is a well worn 1940 vintage gun not drilled for scope or receiver sight and I wouldn't want to ruin it's classic lines with either, although I do have a tang sight that came with it, but not presently on it.

Far as I'm concerned the RCBS 30-180-FN is the boolit to use with cast over IMR-4198, but there's loads of combinations possible. With jacketed, about any medium burn powder from IMR-3031 to Varget works very well and though I haven't tried it, ''Leverlution'' looks good for a little extra zip in all bullet weights. I normally use IMR-4064, W-748, or Varget in my .30WCF loading. Velocities may not look like much on paper, but coupled with the bullets designed for it, the old .30WCF. will handle any task put before it under 150yds, it truly is a ''carryi'n''/''walki'n around'' rifle, (carbine).

[Electrod47]

Looked up the serial number. range 1955-1956 2071101-2145297 with 74,196 units built 55' and 79,704 built in 56'
That's a super clean specimen and a great price for pre 1964. Skeeter would be proud.

PS Do not refinish it!!!

[Winger Ed.]

Yeah. You did well enough to gloat about it.

The bluing looks like it wasn't carried around much. And the bluing on the loading gate looks like it wasn't fired much either.
Since civilian ammunition was already pretty much using non-corrosive ammo by then,
the bore should also look new even if nobody ever cleaned it.

I wouldn't refinish the stock though.

[358429]

Get some core-lokts and make the steel plate sing!

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[dverna]

Do not refinish it

See how it shoots.

This is one caliber that seems a great cast bullet fit. It loses little if any velocity and accuracy should be close to the same as with jacketed

I have two top eject 94’s. Great woods rifle

[Texas by God]

I like your 94 a lot. AND yours is ready for a reciever sight! Dad gave me his 94 of similar vintage about ten years ago. I grew up borrowing it for brush hunting. A few years back I had Jes do his 38-55 magic on it and I like it even better now. 3 shots in 3 inches at 100yds will hunt, by Ned.

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[Wag]

Great looking rifle. I agree with the sentiment above that says, better to have the rifle than the paper wad in your pocket!!

My 94 is one of my favorite firearms in my safe and out on the range.

Go enjoy and tell us how it shoots!

--Wag--

[freakonaleash]

Don't mess with the finish.

[green mountain boy]

as a collector piece refinishing the stock will drastically lower the value; for 1955 it looks wonderful !!

[Markopolo]

part of the charm of an awesome old rifle like the winchester you are holding IS the dings and worn finishes. I call it character, and it will look good on ya!!!!

[DougGuy]

That has a naturally matured look to it, I would NOT refin the wood on it, it has a darkening where the hands hold it which is really to be expected so the wear there to patina is totally accurate, and it;s in fantastic shape for a 1955 model! You scored one that people dream about finding! Those pictures look like they came out of a museum!

[444ttd]

i agree with them, don't refinish!!!!!!

i have a 1972 win m94 in 35/30-30(JES Reboring) that needs a barrel reblued and the sintered steel action needs some refinishing too, but i don't know about sintered steel, maybe a color case hardening?

[midnight]

About 40 some years ago I was coming out of a junkyard with a bucket of wheelweights I had just pried off and a guy stopped me and asked if I was interested in guns. I said yes so he took me to his car and opened the trunk. He had a Win 97 16 ga modified and a Win 94 in a leather scabbard. I asked how much and he said $100 each and I said sold. The 94 was made in that group from 1941 tp 1945. The wood has almost no finish left but otherwise no dents or scratches. Bluing is mostly gone but zero rust. Scabbard is in excellent shape too. It shoots the first three into minute of coffee cup as said above but vertically strings any more. At the time I just thought I got a great deal from a guy who needed the cash but lately I wondered about the history of those two guns.

Bob

[Stopsign32v]

but lately I wondered about the history of those two guns.

Bob

What is your theory on them?

[smithnframe]

It depends on how far sub 1000.00!

[jonp]

Nice wood that I'd not refinish. Lot's of life left in that lever. As someone said before, get some Corelokts and get to work. I shot a number of whitetail and a black bear with a 30-30 and 150gr Corelokts or Super X. A Win like yours was my first big rifle and a Christmas present from my dad bought at the local hardware store. Shot my first deer with one and although I have many "bigger and newer" in the safe I have not been without at least one Win 30-30 ever since.

If there is something better than a 30-30 or 35Rem for cedar swamps or brush hunting I'm all ears.

[Stopsign32v]

It depends on how far sub 1000.00!

$895 shipped