Winchester Mod 94 lever action

[azroaddust]

Reading various comments and reviews on various sites, I have been led to believe that if I wanted a really good lever action, a PRE-1964 Winchester Model 94 is probably a good place to start. The pre's are made with forged steel parts and the post 64's are from machined steel.

Any comments input, verification, caveats etc. on this?

Thanks!
:usa:

[gunrun45]

I don't know enough about them to clarify the forged vs machined steel part but I can tell you my thought about the pre-64 vs the newest ones.

My pre-64 doesn't have the tang safety, squeeze safety grip or half the safety warnings on it. It just feels right in your hands and reminds me of stuff like sun brewed tea, durable pick-up truck, dusty roads and warm summers.

My newer 94 shoots jsut as straight and has fewer dings in it, but it seems more like a politically correct version of a 1965 mustang with air bags, smog and the like.

I'll take my pre-64 any day. They both are reliable and durable guns as far as I can tell.

Can you believe the Winchester plant is closing? Broke my heart when I read the news article. It talked about the families that still have 3 generations of family working there. It felt like a piece of america was dieing.

[Boogyman]

I had a pre-64 Winchester 94 .30-30, and a post-64 one. They both jammed a lot and had hard-working actions. I sold both of them because my Marlin 336 .30-30 and .35 Rem. were much more reliable, accurate, and mounted scopes much better. My wife has a Ruger Mod. 96 lever-action carbine in.44 Mag that's even sweeter, short-throw, never james, good scope mount.
But my favorite lever-gun of all time is my Savage Mod. 99 in .250-3000. Smoothest, fastest action and most accurate at ranges over 400 yards.
Mine is over 50 years old, so I can't vouch for the newer 99's.
I've shot Browning BLR's in .243 and .308 and they were also much better than the Winchesters.

[adaman04]

It seems as though Marlin has taken over the Lever market. They are GREAT lever guns. The pre-64 94 are pretty good for being 40+ years old minimun, but I still would choose a Marlin. The post-64 model feels more like a mass produced gun with a lot of shortcuts in fit and finish.

[rugmar]

I've heard the same thing about the pre 64 Winchesters. Supposedly they were far better back then. I can only tell you that several years ago I spent a month or two researching lever guns on the internet and talking to friends and friends of friends. I went to numerous gun stores and handled the goods and from what I found out, the Marlin lever gun is the one to have. Unless you just have to have a Winchester, (in which case I would definately look at an older one cause they are nice) I would check out the Marlin. Most people with nice pre 64s will want an arm and a leg for them.

I have two Marlin lever guns and love them both. One in .450 and one in .44 mag. I am thinking of picking up a third in 30-30.

I like the BLR as well and I'm sure they are excellent rifles but if I am puttin down the money I want it to be a little more traditional style. The major advantage of the BLR is mostly gone with the introduction of the new ammo from Hornady.

I've heard many good things about Ruger's lever gun but I just can't get past the looks. I'm sure it shoots fine.

Let us know what you decide.

[azroaddust]

Thanks for all of your opinions. I think I will give as serious look at a Marlin. The pre-64 Winchesters are spendy! I was giving them 1st consideration because Winchester is no more and I wanted a piece of the past, but a good one. Most in realy good condition are too rich for this pauper!

[gunrun45]

You also have to consider that Winchester is going out of buisness. Most retail spots are running out of them fast. Pre-64 Winchesters also went up recently in price in my area due to this.
I own both the Winchester and teh Marlin. I have to say that I'd take the Marlin in a reliability and function. But there is just something about that Winchester. You have to really slam that lever to make it dance. Kinda like a chevy truck door. Something about them though. I've said on other theads that guns are just tools and I will put them away at the end of the day just like a hammer or screw driver. But winchester pattern lever action rifles and ruger single action revolvers will always hold a slecial place in my heart :)

[azroaddust]

I just ended up buying an engraved NRA Commemerative edition made in 1971. It cost more than a post 1964 plain version, but less than a good used pre 1964 edition. It is NEW and unfired, but no box. That's OK because i plan to shoot it!

[rugmar]

Awesome az! How long is that barrel? What caliber is it? I don't think I've ever seen one like that.

I'm sure you will enjoy it.

[gunrun45]

I just ended up buying an engraved NRA Commemerative edition made in 1971. It cost more than a post 1964 plain version, but less than a good used pre 1964 edition. It is NEW and unfired, but no box. That's OK because i plan to shoot it!

If you bought that rifle for less than a pre-64 standard Winchester, you got one HELL of a deal. If you ever want to sell it drop me a line.
Caliber?

[azroaddust]

RUGMAR: It is a 26" barrel with full forend wooden stock, hence the "musket" designation I think.

GUNRUN45: I bought it on Gunbroker for $425.00 including shipping. I was also watching a 1943-1945 year MOD 94 in "good" condition and it went for $310.00. I have seen the musket as high as $700.00, but that was with the original box and papers, and this has neither. I may have paid a tad high, but I think it will apppreciate in a few years since even the plain-jane 94 model is getting very hard to find even at Wallyworld.

There was a matched S/N set of the same NRA Commemerative Centennial MOD 94 Carbine (20") and the Musket (26") listed somewhere for $900 for the set but I can't find it now.

Also the caliber is WFC .30 a.k.a .30:.30 In my pre-purchase research, I found that it's called 30:30 more often than Winchester 30 because it is a 30 caliber and originally had a 125 grain bullet with...... YES! 30 grains of powder. There is your factoid for the day.:)

[gunman42782]

I have owned both a pre64 and a new one with the tang safety. I prefered the pre 64. However, I much prefer a Marlin. The Marlin is in all respects a better gun. It had a better trigger, slicker action, and better stock fit with a rubber recoil pad instead of a hard plastic butt pad. As much as I admire the history or Winchesters, the Marlin just wins hands down for me.

[azroaddust]

I have owned both a pre64 and a new one with the tang safety. I prefered the pre 64. However, I much prefer a Marlin. The Marlin is in all respects a better gun. It had a better trigger, slicker action, and better stock fit with a rubber recoil pad instead of a hard plastic butt pad. As much as I admire the history or Winchesters, the Marlin just wins hands down for me.

Indeed I have heard many good things about the Marlin and don't question your feelings about it, but I wanted Winchester for the name, and this one was a commemerative one so I decided what the heck.

In fact, I told my wife I was through buying guns as of last year. But......
I still kick myself in the rump for not buying a genuine Colt AR15 before the ban. I thought $700.00 was too high at the time but look at em now!:confused: