Winchester 94 Questions??

waynewjw

waynewjw

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Picked up a Model 94, apparently made in 1978 (haven't had time to confirm). Anyway, this lever doesn't look like it has ever been fired and I had to clean off the factory grease around the action as it was a bit sticky after 30 years. So the questions?

I notice 125,150 & 170 grain bullets. Anyone have recommendations on what this rifle seems to prefer?? Looking to save the expense of buying 1 or 2 boxes of each and trying it out.

How accurate are the sights on this series of rifle?

If I am going to keep it, what's the better option a) a lower power (4X) scope vs. a Lyman peep?

Stock maintain, were these oiled? This one looks to be but I don't want to guess.

Do I keep it or do I sell it? And what would be the value? This guy doesn't appear to have any wear on the bluing, and the stock is pretty much perfect except for one small ding on the forearm.
 
Mine prefers 150 grain bullets and I have excellent accuracy with a lyman peep sight. I would say that would be worth 400-450 dollars, at least that's what I've seen most priced at gun shows. I would seriously consider keeping it cause to find one in as good as shape as you are describing is fairly rare, they usually end up as scabbered guns, or bouncing around in a pick-up. Just my opinion.
 
A Williams Foolproof works well on this rifle, bit a scope does not, since it ejects upwards.

I find all weights of bullets shoot just about the same in mine. About 2" at 100 with peep sights off sandbags.
 
I have the exact year rifle and it loves 170 grain Winchester Silvertips,if you can still buy them?I have several 10 year old boxes of these.

Win 94,are you changing your user name?do not understand your hatred.The 30-30 is a fabulous stray dog up to starving deer round.
 
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trade it for a pre 64;) jk they are great guns I have a post 64 trapper (16in barrel) and it is bang on with the original sights and loved the 170gr bullets.
enjoy
 
i go to the range with all my '94s and use primarily 150s. what a joy to shoot. most of mine are pre 1911 vintage and a variety of rifles and carbines as well as SRCs.

being a post 64...it is hard to tell if it is unfired but will make a great short distance game rifle. Whats it worth moniterily can vary from $350-$550. I use a scope and sidemount on mine with good results. And a good wax should suffice for maintenance.
 
The 170 grain bullet with lots of lead showing, was an old time favourite, usually accurate and a great game bullet.
I will venture to say the accuracy with either 150 or 170 is better than you can prove with the factory sights. In other words, it will be more accurate with either than you can shoot it with the factory sights.
The old Williams Fool Proof was an excellent sight for it. The new Williams are poor by comparison, but still OK for your hunting rifle.
 
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On which bullet weight? Each rifle is different. This is one of the unavoidable expenses in finding out what the rifle shoots best. Some prefer 170 grain bullets others shoot better with 150 grain bullets. Shooting cast bullets opens up a whole new ball game. Get a box or 2 of Winchester factory ammo and have some fun seeing what it shoots. Three shot groups will give you enough of an idea of what the rifle likes.

Accuracy with iron sights? Depending on your eyesight and finding out what ammo the rifle prefers, you could see 3 shot groups generally below 3 inches - more likely 1.5 to 2 inches which is adequate for hunting accuracy. Peep sights and scopes will improve on that.

As for scope versus peep sight? No idea. I've never used a scope nor a peep sight on a 94. As H4831 says, Williams peep sights are ok. Other sight makers: Lyman, XS Sight systems ghost ring sights.

Stock maintenance? Not sure what Winchester used on its stocks during that time, but Birchwood Casey's Tru-Oil would not hurt. Best bet to find out what finish was used and what to use for stock maintenance would be to check the following: Paco Kelly's Leverguns forums; Winchester Arms Collectors Association (WACA) website forums.

On keeping it or selling it - your decision. I'd get some cartridges, go to the gun range, sight it in, go hunting and then decide. If you enjoyed researching and using it, makes sense to keep it. Great bush gun up to 150-200 yards depending on how much practice you get with it and the ammo used.

If planning to resell it, I'd agree with the range of $350 to 500. Good pictures would bring a better estimate.
 
Lyman is about the easiest to get (peep sight). Bushnell, Weaver, and Redfield all used to make side mounts for scoping a 94, I don't know if they still do. Personally, I think scoping a TE 94 is a huge waste of time, but whatever floats your boat. There are receiver mounted peep sights (as mentioned, Lyman and Williams being the easiest to find), and bolt mounted peep sights (harder to find, harder to mount), and tang mounted peep sights (Lyman again, also easy to mount. - dan
 
I hunt with my Winnie 94 and just love the gun. I use it with factory open sights and it works great for shots up to about 75 yards ( which is far in the bush I deer hunt) I have been thinking of putting on a fibre optic front sight for increased visibility in low light dawn and dusk.

Peeps will increase accuracy and range of the rifle. Of course so will a scope but IMO at the cost of decreased balance and handling that make this rifle such a pleasure to shoot.

My rifles likes 170gr and I've been shooting the Win Silvertips for many years. I still want to give the Hornady Leverevolution ammo a try.
 
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