94 accuracy?

Cole

Cole

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
34   0   0
Location
Cranbrook B.C.


Ok, I'm curious. I have an older 94, pre-angle eject in .30-30 and I just wanted some feed back as to how accurate they can be. I smoked 2 whitetails with mine this year and they were both at less than 100yds. I used factory Winchester PowerMax Bonded 150 grainers and they shoot pretty good, 3 shots were going into 1 1/2 inches @100yds. Is this about as good as it gets or does anybody have a 94 that just defies the " levergun" stigma about not being the most accurate gun on the block?
:D:canadaFlag::canadaFlag::canadaFlag::canadaFlag:
 
I'm assuming from what you wrote, you have a typical pre-64 Model 94. I have (had) a 1908 (if I recall correctly) manufactured 1894 in 38-55 that I could clover leaf with at 50 yards with my tang sight. A hundred yards I could put them into something toonie sized. That tang sight made a real difference for me though, I was not quite as sharp with iron sights. I know the older ones like this could be quite accurate, not sure about the later rifles as I never hunted with / shot the pre-64 style 94s with 20" barrels. I imagine the longer barrels in the old 1894 rifles helped.
Matt
 
ok you may not believe me and i don't tell many this because it shouldn't be believed but I have a 1969 model that i got not one, but 2 consecutive sub 1/2" 3 shot groups at 100 yards. I shot the first group, moved the sights a bit and shot the next group. This is with the crappy, coarse factory sights. The groups were shot with my handloads. I didn't take pictures and i didn't even save the targets. It's just easier to not tell people this story then to tell them and expect them to believe it. I'm not saying that I have an uber accurate 94 30-30 but I am saying that one day I shot two very small groups with it. I haven't shot it since that day but when I do shoot it next I'm not expecting .5 moa.
 
That was the first time I handloaded for the 30-30. I had never even really shot it before that other than just for fun. Not real sure of the load but it was 150gr sierra round nose and some amount of BL-C2. I think I remember crimping those ones with the lee crimper for some reason.
 
My 38-55 is more accurate than my 30-30.
I have shot several groups with the 38-55 that are right around 1" aat 100 meters.
My 30-30, a 1971 vintage rifle, shoots 1½" consistently with the old Winchester 170 Silvertip,
or with the 160 grain Hornady flex-tip, using IMR 4895.
I have receiver sights on both mine, combined with firesight fronts...helps my "older" eyes.
Eagleye.
 
My 94 will consistently do 2" or it used to. Even with peep sights I'm not that good anymore. Once I managed a .75" five shot group, witnessed no less. I considered that a fluke, but it did really like that load, and shot 1.25" the next five rounds.
Can't tell you the load right now, got it from the old Hercules web sight. R12 I think, with 170 grain Hornady Interlocks.
I've no idea what it shoots like with factory fodder, as I don't own any, and have not fired any for decades.
 
A trick to getting a 94 to shoot off the bench is to rest the receiver on the bag not the fore end .Picked that up from an article by John Barness.Works............Harold
 
I have a pre 64, my brother a post 64, and both are way more accurate than they need to be. My brother's has a scope fitted, and will shoot 1" @ 100 yds. if I'm having a good day. Mine has a peep, and the biggest limitation is my own eyesight. I don't know how lever guns ever got the reputation for being inaccurate.
 
Even more so, how does someone say their Model 94 with buckhorns is as accurate as say, a tuned Model 70. I don't know too many people with 10x vision. Almost all lever action rifles are twice as accurate as anyone that uses them with irons is capable of, so IMHO it's all moot.

IMHO scopes on levers is not only pointless, but butt ugly and blasphemus!!
 
Cleftwynd said:
Even more so, how does someone say their Model 94 with buckhorns is as accurate as say, a tuned Model 70. I don't know too many people with 10x vision. Almost all lever action rifles are twice as accurate as anyone that uses them with irons is capable of, so IMHO it's all moot.

IMHO scopes on levers is not only pointless, but butt ugly and blasphemus!!
Click to expand...

That's why I put a red dot on mine ! ! !
 
i've done a 3 shot quarter sized group with my handloads - 94 trapper, off a bench, 93 issue( angle eject) 100 yards- just plain luck, skill, whatever, you decide- 2 rounds were ocluded, 3rd slightly off to the right - maybe i breathed
 
I've successfully taken deer out to about 135 with the open buckhorns, and did a williams peep recently and finding it acceptable at 50 yards with lever evolution ammo.
 
Cleftwynd said:
Even more so, how does someone say their Model 94 with buckhorns is as accurate as say, a tuned Model 70. I don't know too many people with 10x vision. Almost all lever action rifles are twice as accurate as anyone that uses them with irons is capable of, so IMHO it's all moot.

IMHO scopes on levers is not only pointless, but butt ugly and blasphemus!!
Click to expand...

Butt ugly? Maybe....I think a scoped lever looks okay. Depends on the rifle and the scope.
Blasphemous? Well, sure, okay. I see your point.
Pointless? Not at all. If I can routinely shoot 4-inch groups with my bare lever with open sights (actual "buckhorns" are quite rare) and I can shoot consistent 1" groups with a scope, I'd say there's a point right there.
 
Point taken, I am just a little more nostalgic than most, and a beautiful lever is a fantastic piece in factory form. If I need the MoA accuracy, I pick up a bolt, if I am stalking whitetail at closer range in places thicker than the prairies, an iron sighted lever is a great companion.

It's all just my opinion and preference, which means squat here or anywhere else but in my own mind.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom