Newbie becomming a good shot with a '94?

El Guapo

El Guapo

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OK, here's another question for you folks. I would like to become a very good shot with my Winchester '94 at 100 yards. I know that the path to this goal is practice, but what with the price of ammo and the barrel heating up so quickly I can see that this will take a long time.

I have heard that it's a good idea to practice using a .22 of the same make and model as your hunting rifle (for economic reasons, for recoil, barrel temp, etc) and was wondering if it would be a good idea to try to practice at 100 yards with a .22 Winchester '94 or one of those NORINCO .22 '94 copies. In theory - all things being equal - doing target work with a .22 '94 should be just as good practice as using my 30-30 as the sights, weight, etc should all the be same.

I'm sure a tang sight would also help, but they're half the price of a used rifle. :eek:

I am sincerely looking for advice here, so any constructive opinions would be appreciated.
 
You're right about the tang sight, they are worth the $ for the improvement they make.
You can also make some mods to your '94.
If it needs it.
Try shooting it with the forend and magazine removed. If groups improve dramatically, there are pressure points on the barrel that need attention.
 
Shooting with a .22 is a good idea. But the only way you will have intimate knowledge of your 30-30, and all its quirks, will be by practicing with it. Start reloading with cast lead bullets. Invest in the equipment with a couple of friends to spread out the cost. You will make up the $ in ammo cost saved in no time!
 
Practice with a .22 helps especially if it is a similar action to your main rifle. The tang sight (or a receiver sight) would help also. Reloading your own ammo would help also--especially if you load practice rounds with cast bullets ( you can buy them from places like the "Bullet Barn") or you might find someone who would custom cast you some.

44Bore.
 
El Guapo said:
Maybe I should be practicing at 50 yards instead of 100 to start with?
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Good Idea, I practice with 22's in the offseason and they are excellent in keeping your trigger finger in shape. They are as hard to hold as any rifle and much more affected by wind. The biggest help in shooting your 30-30 is changing the rear sight. A Lyman or Marbles used peep sight is not expensive and it will greatly improve your accuracy.
bigbull
 
I would install a gallows style peep like the Williams or Lyman, which would attach to the left side of the reciever just ahead of the hammer. I would also change the front sight to a square post style - but if you prefer a bead you can stay with that. I do not believe that anyone can shoot up to the limit of that rifle with a semi-buckhorn rear sight.

.30-30 brass is cheap and plentiful, the case holds a meduim charge of powder (compared to some) so I think reloading is something you should consider. You could be cranking out good quality .30-30 ammo for much less than the price of a 94/22, and you can make or buy lead bullets as a further saving - which is not really a saving because you'll just make more ammo - which is good. On the other hand if you need a .22 it might as well be the same type as your centerfire.

Once you have found a load you like - store bought or handload - sight in at 25 yards. Now fire with the same hold at 100 yards - bullets should hit close to the same point of aim. Unscrew the center peep out of the sight - put the post on the target and dot the i. No matter what concentrate on the front sight. You should fire 3-shot groups until you find that your results are consistant.

Now just to keep things interesting, shoot at 10 yard intervals from 10 to 100 yards, and write down where the point of impact is from your point of aim at each distance. You could continue to about 250 yards or until you are unable to keep all your shots on an 18" piece of paper. Your aiming point should increase in size as you move out from 100 yards - perhaps 4 MOA - or 8" at 200 yards.

Now you know the rise and drop of your point of impact out as far out as you are likely to shoot, and these can be memorized or written on an index card and taped to the stock for quick reference.

Now you can begin working on what will make you a good shot. Shoot from field positions, and pay attention to how firing from different positions effects your group size. 4" off hand at 100 yards is the best I've been able to do, but you might do better.

Get used to loading and unloading without looking at the rifle - keep your eyes on the target. Any firearm which uses an elevator to raise the cartridge from a tube magazine to the chamber can be unloaded without running the ammo through the chamber - when the cartridge pops out of the magazine tube - flip the rifle upside down and the cartridge will drop to the ground. Get in the habit of keeping the muzzle pointed where you are looking - this will reduce your reaction time when you are hunting.

At this stage I would stop worrying about group size - shoot at paper pie plates, and pay attention to how far the bullet lands from your intended point of aim. The one shot group is all that matters now.

Work on snap shooting. Keep the range short - and the target large. Perhaps you could parctice this at 25 yards. Hold the rifle in both hands and at the signal of your partner put the front sight on the target ands fire.

There are lots of things you can do the challenge yourself, but begin by getting that rifle properly sighted, then work on making your shooting consistant. Notice there is nothing here which will result in heating up your barrel - a barrage of fire does nothing to improve your marksmanship. Hopefully you live where regular practice is not a burden.
 
The way to become a good rifle shooter is to shoot a rifle - lots. You need to learn breath control, sighting, developing a steady hold, trigger control, etc. Pick up any kind of .22, it doesn't have to be a 9422. The familiarity will help, but it's not critical. And get a couple of bricks of .22LR. Shoot as much as time will allow. Heck, get a BB gun and shoot in your basement all winter long! Learn to shoot from all positions; prone, sitting, kneeling, standing, with and without a rest. These skills will transfer over to any other rifle.

Now move onto your 94. Yes, the trigger will feel a little different, and it'll have different balance and weight, but you'll adapt very quickly. If you are going to hunt with it, don't expect to have a bench and sandbags with you when a deer pops up. Practise until you can hit a 100 yd target from a standing position. Or any position.

Tip: .30-30 ammo is common, check the local Buy & Sell, lots of places put it on sale in the fall, etc.

A tang or a receiver sight is an excellent idea for improving accuracy.

Have fun, shoot lots!

Grouse Man
 
Have you shot it yet?

At 100 yards the 30/30 is a real piece of work!!

Trying to use a .22cal to move up to a 30/30,makes about as much since as useing a buckmark to get you on target with a Colt Goverment model .45 acp!!!

A 30/30 is a 38-55 necked down to 30 cal.!! The 30/30 kicks harder than the 38-55 or the .375 Win!

Learn to shoot the 30/30 round,it is quite accurate at 100 yards with iron sights!

Bob
 
bobbyjack said:
Trying to use a .22cal to move up to a 30/30,makes about as much since as useing a buckmark to get you on target with a Colt Goverment model .45 acp!!! Bob
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Yeah, how in the world did I ever learn to shoot? :rolleyes:

Grouse Man
 
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