Winchester Model 94 "NRA Centennial Musket", Got it! With range report and pics...

[canoeguy]

Winchester Model 94 "NRA Centennial Musket", Got it! With range report and pics...

Picked up my 1971 vintage Model 1894 "NRA Centennial Musket" that I had on layaway at my local gun shop. A neat rifle, 30/30 caliber, musket wood all the way to the muzzle, long range vernier sight, straight stock and steel buttplate. Got it for $495, box and literature included.

I don't place a lot of value in the Commemorative nature of the rifle, but the sights, musket wood and 26" barrel do interest me.

The rifle is like new, probably unfired as most commemoratives are. I resolved that by taking it to the range today and running some rounds through it, shows promise to be a good cast lead shooter. Unfortunately, the cast lead rounds that I have loaded and tailored for another Winchester 94 (an 80's vintage "Ranger") wouldn't chamber in this rifle, guess I'll have to mess with the seating depth to tailor some cast lead rounds for this rifle. I did have some jacketed 150 grain reloads that shot well, sights were regulated dead on at 100 yards, here's ten rounds fired from the prone postion at 100 yards:

The trigger is a little on the heavy side as are most Model 94 rifles, this one is a top eject, emptys form a little pile just behind you. The sights are better than most model 94's, blade front and square notch rear, long sight radius for aging eyes to focus on the front sight, and no bead to obscure the target.

Long range vernier sight, this is what is going to make this rifle a good long range cast lead shooter:

I'm looking forward to experimenting and finding a good cast lead round to target shoot with this rifle....

 

[35Rem]

I believe that's a standard carbine rear sight. Neat looking rifle. Enjoy.

 

[Maximumbob54]

You may know this already but if not... Check out Ranch Dog's sight for some interesting cast bullet molds. I bought one and I'm loving it so far. I need to figure a better alloy though before I can say perfection has been achieved...

 

[pilgrim6a]

I have always wanted one of those for the same reason. That lovely long barrel. Guns of that vintage were factory drilled and tapped for Lyman or Williams receiver peep sights. One of these will greatly improve your groups. Lyman still mfg the #2 Tang Sight if you want to go for a more traditional look.

 

[Sebago Son]

Getting the most out of your rifle...

35 Rem is right. That's a standard 'Carbine' barrel sight. A "Vernier" sight is usually mounted on the tang with a screw adjustment to elevation and sometimes with a windage adjustable base.

In my experiance, in order to get the most accuracy out of an iron sighted lever gun, you need a Lyman 66 reciever sight and a fine (1/16") gold bead.

These are meat guns and they do alot of killing every year at ranges up to 200 yards.

Given that your NRA Musket is already drilled and tapped you are halfway there already....

 

[canoeguy]

I think I will go for a Lyman reciever sight. I saw the two holes in the reciever and filled with blank off screws, figured they were for a reciever sight. I'll have to look at Lymans web site today and see what one costs...

 

[Wyatt Burp]

What a nice rifle. The Lyman sight would be a nice touch making that a very unique, yet practicle 30-30.

 

[leftyleif]

hi all,

I recently inherited a 1971 Winchester NRA Centennial Musket - but it's been missing it's front site for a very, very long time.

Anyone able to accurately measure the height of the plain blade front sight dovetailed into the barrel? the supplier I have contacted wasn't able to find part numbers or heights for the sights dovetailed into the barrel such as this. Any known part numbers would be great to know as well.

thanks!