Win. 100 .308 or Win 94 30-30

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4T4MAG

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I am faced with the huge dilemma of having to choose between two firearms from my father. HELP!

Winchester model 100. Semi-Auto .308. Built in 1951, the stock could be refinished. It fires properly, open irons, drilled and tapped (unfortunately, not the best job) for a scope. The bluing is in pretty good shape.

Winchester model 94 .30-30. Built in 1956. Nice stock and cycles very smoothly. Bluing is in good shape, no scope.

Until a few weeks ago neither one has been fired for several years. The bbl on the .308 was a little rusty. The chamber is in great shape on both.

I have no real reason to go either way.
 
My opinion on this matter is worth every dime I'm going to charge you for it!!

Which one picks you?

As you describe them,the 94 is probably worth more(seat of the pants guess)

There are some hunting situations where the modern .308 is better...but the old 30-30 will go deer hunting just fine generally to around 150 yds or so.

If twas me.it isn't,I'd disregard some practical matters and figure out which one is better to hold when you remember your dad,or which do you want to pass down.Which has more of what you cannot buy?I can't tell you
 
Given the choice I'd take the 94. The 308 is a better all round hunting cartridge, but the 100's have no appeal to me personally.
 
The Model 100 was not introduced until 1961. I killed my first deer with one in Michigan in November of 1964. Mine functioned reliably, was plenty accurate, handled nicely in the woods and was a good-looking rifle in the "classic" sense. The trigger left something to be desired though and, years ago, Winchester initiated a recall on this rifle concerning the danger posed by a broken firing pin (I believe).

I still have my Model 94, chambered in 30-30, and it wears a Williams "FoolProof" receiver sight.

If you plan on hunting with either rifle you end up with and intend to use a scope with said rifle, imo, your choice is an easy one: get the Model 100. Too, as others have noted, the .308 cartridge is a more versatile round than is the 30-30 and will offer at least fifty yards or so more (further) in effective hunting range
 
Go with the Win 100. I have several and they all function reliabily. I still used one each year in the WI deer season. Winchester quit making them because of the cost of production. Since they are a semi-auto, they do require more maintence (cleaning), but that is no big deal. Once you learn how to disassemble them, it is a piece of cake. Disassemble, spray with solvent and wipe or blow out with compressed air, oil and re-assemble. I clean mine after each deer season, whether I shoot it or not; 15 minutes no more. They got a bad rap for jamming years ago. Jamming was most likely due to dirty guns and people too lazy to clean them. The second reason they might jam today is a weaken extractor spring that fail to clear the fired case from the action, these are approximately 50 year old guns. Any gunsmith can replace this spring for a few dollars. I replace my own extractor springs with a slightly stiffer spring, zero problems with jams. Accuracy of the Win 100's can be improved by glass bedding, a 4 phase process. I forgot the name of the individual who first described the bedding process, but I had reposted it on this forum 4 or 5 years ago. I did this to my Win 100 carbine which I hunt with and it easily shoots 2" groups. Plenty accurate for northern WI deer. A clean Win 100 will function just as smoothly as a 94 and probably has a great resale value.
 
Mod 94!

Go with the '94. You'll love it. Can't possibly go wrong with one of those older '94's, especially in good condition.:)
 
First you have to decide what you are going to do with your rifle! Keep it as a showpiece,(sounds like its in much better shape) hunt with it without a scope for deer or bear at 100 yards or less. The Winchester Model 94 might be the best choice.(this would be my choice) If you want to scope the rifle and use it for longer range, the Win. 100 in .308 might be a better choice, but you will have to put some money into it.(scope, repair of stock, or whatever) Good luck! Ken:confused:
 
I am reminded of a comment I once read that came from an internal dispute at Ford Motor Company. It came at the time they were about to buy Jaguar, but cancel the Mustang from the Ford lineup: "Anyone will tell you a Jaguar is a cat, and a Mustang is a Ford."

The Model 94 is iconic Winchester in a way the 100 never will be. I vote for that, regardless of the relative value of both.

Regards,
Tom
 
Simple,

EITHER!

If the M100, contact olin Corp., as there was a recall on the firing pin for beakage that ight cause doubling.

Simple to replace. Also locate extra magazines google "Widner's" as they have new made off the old dies from Winchester but not marked as such.

Part aresparse but Brownell's has new gas pistons.

the pre -64 94 would be nice, parts are sparse too!

What a choice to have, Good Luck.
 
My dad passed along 2 M100 Winchesters to me. They are pretty good shooters in a nice hunting cartridge. Values in my blue book say they no cheap date in original form. Be sure to get the firing pin recall done. It was painless.

Hard to bump an old 94 outta the saddle so it really comes down to what fits your style of shooting. Wont go wrong with either, in my opinion. For me, I'm a 308 kinda guy for longer range. Good luck finding what you like.
 
I've had both.

I was pretty enamored of the model 100. Eventually I got it to be reliable enough. But by the time I got the bugs out of it, it had lost it's charm entirely. I felt fortunate to get my money back out of it and was glad to have it go. In retrospect it was probably a very good rifle when I sold it. But when I got it it wouldn't make it through a single magazine without failures to extract or eject. In fact, two shots in a row was its best accomplishment. The model 94's on the other hand, never failed me whether clean or dirty. I would much prefer that pre-64 model 94 over the model 100. If you go with the model 100, expect it to be a project gun and perhaps you won't be disappointed. The best idea is to take both. If you can only have one, choose wisely.
 
I'd go with the Model 94 - in fact I already have, since I've found out that, as I age, I much prefer the light weight & mild recoil/report of it to a Model 100 (I've owned both & more, previously) & the greater weight/louder "bang".

Both cartridges will take any game I'm likely to meet before I meet my maker. :p

.
 
I always liked the looks of the 100s but given that choice, I'd grab the '94. Its gonna continue to go up in value considering its year of manufacture.
 
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