1894 Prices

J

jambrdly

New member
Hello:

I bought a Winchester 30-30 model 1894 at a gunshow the other day for $250. There was some finish loss on the receiver but everything else was in very good to excellent shape - bore is cherry.

I have never owned a gun of this type before. This is a shame - I actually love the gun and wouldn't mind picking up one or two of its brothers in the future, should the opportunity present itself.

I know people are not fond of the cartridge these days but I wonder if they aren't mistaken. I am given to understand that the 30-30 has killed a great many deer over the years. Were the deer of yesteryear made of sterner stuff or are we just all too alpha male these days to accept a caliber that merely does its job?

Anyway, a quick look on Gunbroker convinced me that I won't be buying any model 1866s, 1876s or 1886s. Big $$$. A model 71 is still almost within reach (if I could get it while the wife was looking the other way) but the one time I got to shoot a 348 it practically took my head off. I mean, that was some fierce recoil.

Sooooo - what is the price range for model 94 winchesters in good - but not necessarilly perfect - knick? Is there a big difference pre and post-64? The one I bought was made in 1971.

Thanks

JCB
 
250 is a good price for a model 94 in the condition you describe.

There is a bit of a premium for pre-64 models but it doesn't have any thing to do with functionality. The mechanical changes in the model 94 weren't that great.

There were lots and lots of model 94s made and the price reflects that. So the main determinate for price is condition, followed by condition.
There are certain variations that demand a premium.

The current gun shortage has made the lever action more popular than it was just a few years ago, so the prices have gone up.

I would expect a floor of around 150 for a beat up shooter, to 500 for an average 99% gun and up to a couple thousand for a rare gun.

I don't think there is anyone who hates .30-30. Some people just prefer a different cartridge.
From personal experience I know .30-30 will kill Oregon blacktail all day long, bang dead.
What .30-30 won't do is shoot flat in the same way that modern cartridges will. But for most hunters that doesn't matter as the vast majority of deer are shot at ranges that are well with the .30-30s capability.

The .30-30 also doesn't have the same down range energy as more modern cartridges. But once again in most cases it has enough.
 
I agree, sounds like a pretty good deal based on how you describe it.

I own a 30-30 and I am fully confident its ability to kill deer. The reason mine usually sits in the safe is a lack of versatility. As mentioned, it doesn't have great range and because I'm in the army I shoot in many different places. Like right now I'm in Colorado and the normal distance I shoot at an animal is 300 yards or even a little farther. If I went back to my parents house and went hunting there, I'd take the 3030 without issue because shots are rarely 100 yards. Also my bolt Acton rifles are more accurate, which makes them for interesting to me. ;-)
 
Congrats on your new purchase, I enjoy the 30-30 round and it has been responsible for every deer I (and my sons) have ever killed. I do perfer the Marlin guns VS the Winchesters but that is a personal opinion due to mounting a scope to the gun. Most of the shots here are 150yrds or under so it works out fine, You may want to try the Leverevolution ammo form Hornady, my guns seem to like it and it helps get a little more distance out of the ole 30-30.
 
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Congrats on getting a dood deal, JCB - a bit of a challenge @ at funshow ! :p

While the pre-64 Model 94's WERE better made, AND of better materials (like forged steel receivers w/solid pins, machined lifter, etc), in 1970 Winchester responded to the complaint about the crappy changes of 1964 to a receiver of sintered metal, hollow roll pins in the action, and a sheet metal stamped lifter by changing the lifter to solid/cast, and some of the pins from hollow.
Your Carbine should reflect those upgrades. :)

Do not, however, attempt to refinish the receiver :( - it's not bluing as we know it (even though it looks like it).
The receiver is iron-plated, then coated with a finish that looks like bluing; so either oil the receiver & live with it as-is, or Dura-Kote, etc, it.

Be confident in your choice of the .30-30, though - It's been the Gold Standard for deer hunters for over 115 years, and for good reason.

FWIW, although I've owned/shot/hunted many different larger & smaller bores in the years since I was a tadpole, I've gone back to the .30-30 (about 7 years ago), since it's much easier on my shoulder, and just as effective as the boomers on whatever I shoot with it (out to about 250yds).

I'm fortunate, in that I can still use a receiver peep sight on mine - but I have had to move to a fibre-optic front bead.
(YMMV)




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