Unfired Win 94 30-30... shoot or storage?

medicstimpy

medicstimpy

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Hi, all... I've been trying to decide what to do and I get a lot of different answers.

I got my hands on an unfired 1962 Winchester Model 94 30-30. I want one as a fun gun since levers are so much fun. I don't plan on shooting too much but at least a couple boxes per outing.

Some say cosmo and saran wrap it and leave it as an heirloom. Some say even if I shoot it, it will still be worth something since it's pre-64 but not as much as it's worth in it's present condition. Some say guns were meant to be shot so just shoot it no matter what.

Since pre and post 64 model 94's are still plentiful, should I just pack this one away and get a fired one for shooting?
 
If it's a plain old 94, I'd shoot it. I would think about keeping it if it was one of the commemorative models.

I'm in the same boat really. I bought an old 1969 Golden Spike. The guy told me it was only a winchester lever that had been kept in it's box. When I went to buy it I found out it was gold plated and never fired. So I kept it in its box unfired ever since. One of those situations where it's all I can do to keep from shooting it. Until I open the box and realize it's older than me and in better shape,... maybe it should just stay that way.
 
If it is a special commemmorative....perhaps keep for the future ...if it is a "new unfired" plain jane...I would enjoy the feel and joy of shooting it. the real dollar difference between a "unfired" and a well used yet in original configuration hardly makes it worthwhile not to enjoy. Also it is very difficult to discern if it has been fired or not (depending on the number of carts cycled thru it.) if it is kept clean and well cared for. The guns are test-fired at the factory so "unfired " really means since the gun was purchased. There is no positive way to prove either way. I asked this question from the WACA in the states.
 
If it's an old "plain jane"? Those are the rifles to put away right now and forget about shooting. It already has a premium tack on because of its condition and, there are a million or so commemoratives out there gathering dust in their pretty boxes. One way or another, 25 years down the road, other than a very few of the commeratives, that "plain jane" will be the stand out rifle.

It's the way of collectibles. The plain janes get used and abused while the special items get put away, makeing the plane janes rarest of the breed.

Put it away, in its original box if possible and buy another off the EE for half of what your pristine model is worth and probably in similar shape.

bearhunter
 
Thanks guys. It is a "plain Jane" model. I know they are worth something now but this one was in such good condition and the guys who sold it to me gave me a great deal on it. They have two other's that have been used so maybe I'll see about picking one of those up, too.

I'm not really a collector but this one has definately not been fired outside the factory. Just this one was so nice I don't know if I wanted to keep it or play with it. :)

Sorry, Hoser-eh... I wanted one ever since I was 8 or so.

Now off I go to locate an original box on the net for it...
 
I don't fire rifles just to fire them. I have some in my safe that have not been fired and a few that I haven't fired. Not that I would never say never, but I don't have to fire these rifles and enjoy looking at them. I have a 1960 savage 99F that has never been fired outside of the factory. How many of these are there out there??????????? Who knows, but I have one. I have numberous other rifles that will do the same thing so why fire it! Just my thoughts. If I had to use it, no problem, but I don't at this present time.
 
Fire it, use it, abuse it.
IMHO, one day, lieberals will be back in power (majority)
and they will go with a blanket ban. It's only a matter of time.
You will feel sorry for giving them
a gun that was unfired, pristine, blah, blah....
Get it out and shoot it. Enjoy it while you can.
 
SuperCub said:
Not being a collector myself, I'd sell it to a collector and buy a Marlin 336.
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X2

I wouldn't shoot it if it hasn't been fired.

I had a 1954 model '94 that had been beat to hell, and I sold it to a guy who really wanted a Winchester for a bush gun.

If it was mint, I either would have kept it as a collector's item, or sold it to someone who wanted it for the same reason.

There are lots of them out there that have been shot and are still in good shape. The pre 64's are better made I think, especially when you compare carriers (ie. milled vs. stamped.)

The nice things about Marlins though, is that I think you can top up the magazine tube while it had rounds in it (at least my friends .44 Rem Mag Marlin could.)

the Winchester you have to drain the magazine to reload. I don't like that.
 
MapleSugar said:
The nice things about Marlins though, is that I think you can top up the magazine tube while it had rounds in it (at least my friends .44 Rem Mag Marlin could.)

the Winchester you have to drain the magazine to reload. I don't like that.
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What?

I don't have to do this with my post 64 30/30 win. :confused:
 
is it worth it

Well this is my view so if you rap it up and hide it away will it really be worth the fun you lost not shooting it I say no are you a collector if you are you would have a shooter in the collection some where i take it thats not the case so shoot it enjoy it thats why they were made life is short my view :sniper:
 
Keep it mint, There's enough "used" Winchester 94's out there. Having a pre 64 in mint cond, even if it is plain Jane. I'll take a pre 64 pain Jane. Stocks are walnut, hand oiled, machined parts, original hot blue...

Here's one a Joe salters site, it's in the box and has all the papers, and located in the USA. But it's still sweet.. $2995.00 Wow

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There is nothing wrong with taking it shooting just treat it well all my rifles are still in excellent condition but I go shooting/hunting every week. I take them to the range/bush in a case but I treat them with respect. So have fun take care of your firearms and a certain pride comes with knowing your gun is still EXC. even though you have shot/hunted and enjoyed the hell out of them. My 2cents
Pete......
 
Calum said:
What?

I don't have to do this with my post 64 30/30 win. :confused:
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Hmm, they must have made a design change after '64.

Once I topped up my magazine tube and racked the lever, I couldn't load anymore shells until I either shot them all out, or jacked them all out.

I was impressed with my buddies .44 Marlin at the range, because he could keep topping up his tube.

There was a little indentation on the loading port of the Marlin, that kept the cartridges in the tube butted up against it, so you could reload constantly.

My '54 Model '94 didn't have that, and the cartridge slipped back past the loading port.
 
I've played with many 94's and they're all capable of being topped up. Some you need to push harder than others on the loading gate than others although.
 
Not to hijack this thread but: If the lever shows signs of wear to finish from racking it open & bolt & hammer show signs in finish from going back to a cocked open position, box or no box, how in the he11 are you going to prove to somebody that it has not been shot?
 
I see the gun that is pristine and as yet not been unwrapped....what a pity really...just for the cash...it can never be handled , shot or appreciated because the almighty profit will suffer. Most of these kinds of guns only pass between "collectors" not the wannabees ...the prices are too high and the profit margin rises between each buyer. Guns were built to enjoy not to be stuffed into a safe where noone can appreciate thier function.Most of my winchester lever guns were manufactured pre 1910 and each one in rotation are taken to the range and shot. Including a 38-55 saddle ring. hex barrel 30-30 rifle and Marlin 25-20. No safe babies here....I can look at them all and appreciate thier uniqueness and yet enjoy the recoil that they present each time I fire them..
 
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