Winchester 94 question..

[Jst1mr]

I recently inherited a Model 94 30-30, manufacture date 1958. The history of use would be a lot like 2-3 shots per year to check sights, then 2-3 deer for the freezer. With at least 15 years of total non-use. Probably less than 200 shots lifetime. Probably very little in the way of cleaning, at best a mop down the bore very occasionally. I'm kind of a detail cleaning guy, but know little about tearing down a lever action...difficult or not? Or should I just clean what I can reach and be done with it?

 

[pluspea]

I've had mine since 1969 and have not taken it apart. Mine has been shot less that a hundred times, and I have never discovered hardly any fowling in the action. I just put a little oil on moving parts, then clean what I can when necessary.

 

[feralmerril]

Js1mt, I have your exact gun! I grew up near berlin wisconsin. I think I bought mine new as a 16 year old in 1957. I shot a number of deer with it in wisconsin and several in california with it. I have many other rifles so cant say I shot it much more than yours. I was a big kid and put the pad on for LOP. I also had the williams fool proof put on at the same time. I have never had to correct the adjustment on the sight. It still is spot on after 53 years! With that sight I can still get 2" groups at 100 yards. In california the last deer I shot with it was a good 220 yards in very bad conditions. Just carefully clean the barrel as best as you can, unless it had other unusual problems like havening been neglected. I have never tore mine down and its still in fine shape, not a speck of rust. However while I never was a gun cleaning fanatic, I always lightly wipe down all my guns after use. Works for me, I probley have 50 various guns and have owned over 200 in my past.

 

[Jst1mr]

Thanks, guys. Function and all is fine, so I guess I'll clean what I can reach, lube it, and be done. Feral, that's pretty impressive shootin' with the old 30-30...although they made a zillion of 'em, they'll always be a classic.

 

[Skeeziks]

Welcome to the forum!

My '94 was also inherited. It was mnfg. in 1953 and bought buy my uncle.
Anyway...I'm in agreement with Feralmerril & Pluspea. The only thing I have to add is that I use the Otis flex-cable cleaning system to clean from breech to muzzle on guns that are a pain to disassemble. I never, ever clean from the muzzle with a rod. And it's not because I'm afraid of marring the crown (they have rod guides for that,) it's because you never want to push the fouling out the breech and into the action.

BTW...Feralmerril knows what he's talking about; so what ever he says here you can pretty much take to the bank.
And he's a really great guy, too.

 

[2152hq]

There's not a simple field strip for the '94, it's not designed as such. The disassembly is quite involved,,lots of parts, screws & pins.
Pre-64's have the cartridge guides screwed into place from the inside of the receiver making them tougher to remove w/o the proper tools and just figuring out how the bolt and lever are disassembled from one another can stump alot of people w/o some directions.

Feralmerril's advise is good,,Unless there is a mechanical problem, it diffinetly shows rust or has some other accumulations inside you can't get out of there,,, clean it up, lube it and have fun.

That's a nice inheritance and nice that it's appreciated. More often than not it's gone for beer and pizza $$ these days.

 

[walnutred]

IF you don't have a pull through type of bore cleaner, like a Bore Snake, you can still safely use a traditional rod with bore guide. Run the rod through the muzzle with rod guide in place, but no patch. Once the rod tip is into the action you put the patch on and pull the rod back out. You have to use the oval shaped rod tip for this obviously. Sheeziks was right about wanting to avoid shoving crud into the action.

 

[mtgianni]

IMO, cleaning has ruined more guns than shooting them. If it ain't broke.... and the groups are OK let it be.

 

[Skeeziks]

IMO, cleaning has ruined more guns than shooting them. If it ain't broke.... and the groups are OK let it be.

Which is why I suggested the Otis cable system...no fear of damaging the rifling or the crown.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

All I can add is to put a peep sight on it like Ferrell has on his. I've got a 1974 vintage 94 with a williams peep sight and absolutely love it.

 

[Jst1mr]

I love the peep sight idea, just want to make sure it mounts up without any modification so it can return to "original" as desired. The gun is not perfect, but being it was my Dad's deer gun for many years, I would not erase a single scratch or dent - they all tell a story.

 

[2152hq]

The factory drilled and tapped the recv'rs for (Lyman?) receiver sights after a certain time but I'm not sure when that was. Redfield and Williams may have also made models that fit the factory hole spacing.
In the upper right hand corner of the left hand side of the receiver there will be 2 small holes about 3/4" apart. Usually still filled with small plug screws from the factory if it came that way.
Many more were D&T'd after they left the factory to take the sight.
No other mods are done in the process, just the two #6 holes in the receiver wall.

 

[feralmerril]

Jst1mr, I wrote mine was bought in 1957. I looked at some notes I have and it says 1958. Thats what you said yours is. Mine is # 2359216. Check that against yours. I am next to positive it didnt need to be D&T. It has been 52 years so its possible I am wrong, but I dont think so. A williams foolproof or lyman should fit. They do wonders for accuracy. I also post over at levergunner as booger bill. Someone showed this site over there and it looks very intrigeing to me. I am thinking of getting one and trying it on a .357 mag 92 copy I have. Check it out! FastFire II Receiver Mount - Model 1894 - Turnbull Mfg. Co.

http://www.opticsplanet.net/burris-...a-dot-mat-fastfire-sight.html?cmp=burris-bing

 

[sw44spl]

you can get a book that shows you how to detail strip it down I have one because I collect model 94s.and they do get dirty from sitting in a closet.Id say strip it down and clean it at least once.

 

[oldman45]

Pardon the intrusion here but my books say the 94 was not produced until 1964 and has a pistol grip stock.

It is much like the 64 that was produced from the 30's to 1957 and then revived in the 70's.

So given the dates in the thread, are we discussing a Winchester 94? If so, it was not even made before 1964.

 

[sw44spl]

the 94 was made in 1894 to present.they made small changes along the production run.in 1964 the steel in the receiver was changed.teddy roosevelt hunted with model 94s in 30-30.

 

[2152hq]

On the market in November or Dec. of 1894.
Originally marked 'Model 1894'.
That was changed to 'Model 94' around ser# 500,000.

Pistol grip stock and any number of options were available for the 94 at different times in it's production..

 

[Gutpile Charlie]

I've got one and I've never done a "tear down" or detail cleaning. Just to much stuff to get buggered up, and if it works, don't mess with it.

I'm sure some of the solvents that you can spray will get in there and clean out any accumulated gunk. Just keep it off the wood.

I look at lever action rifles like SA and DA revolvers. Just leave the innards alone!

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Don't do it. Just leave the gun alone and clean it the best you can from the outside. Tearing apart a 94 is not recommended.

My 58 is quite accurate.

50 shots, 100 yrds off the bench.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

I love the peep sight idea, just want to make sure it mounts up without any modification so it can return to "original" as desired. The gun is not perfect, but being it was my Dad's deer gun for many years, I would not erase a single scratch or dent - they all tell a story.

Look at the left hand side of the receiver. See those two little screws near the top??? Take out the filler screws and that's where you screw in the peep sight.