Winchester m94 loading issues

[CamV]

I have a model 94 in 30-30.
I the first cartridge goes into the tube smoothly but the following cartridges are anything but smoothly loaded.
It seems as if the loading gate is grabbing the rim of the previous cartridge and it has to be pushed down quite firmly to get past it.
If I let it back up it'll grab it again. I'd like it to be a little smother. Is there anything I should try?

 

[9.3mauser]

Don't push the first cartridge all the way in, let the rim hold the gate open. Then let the next cartridge do the same, and so forth. Just the nature of the beast.

 

[Mike Webb]

Don't push the first cartridge all the way in, let the rim hold the gate open. Then let the next cartridge do the same, and so forth. Just the nature of the beast.

Correct. Load it bullet to primer just like you're trying to push a continuous string of cartridges into the mag.

 

[CamV]

Is this as designed or is there something not right?
I realize I have to load it like this but it seems like it shouldn't have to be.

 

[9.3mauser]

It's a design flaw imo; so far I haven't seen a 94 that doesn't do that.

 

[Ganderite]

Don't push the first cartridge all the way in, let the rim hold the gate open. Then let the next cartridge do the same, and so forth. Just the nature of the beast.

This is the way I have always done it.

 

[7.62Nato]

Load it and work the action like you stole it.....wont hurt the gun.

 

[dan belisle]

Is this as designed or is there something not right?
I realize I have to load it like this but it seems like it shouldn't have to be.

As designed. Never seen a 94 that doesn't work that way. - dan

 

[alpining]

Is this as designed or is there something not right?...

As above, pretty normal. If it's a problem for you, you might be able to reduce the effect by putting more of a chamfer on the interfering corner on the inside edge of the loading gate. I guess a lighter magazine tube spring might help too, but I wouldn't recommend it.

Also, different types of brass can have slightly different rim profiles, making some ammo feel worse than others for this issue.

 

[Leeper]

The 94 was designed for men. Men with powerful thumbs! GD

 

[klaus enuff]

My 70's era Winchester factory manual describes the above mentioned loading procedure

 

[ronecol]

Always been that way. Never thought of it as a problem.

 

[Canuck65]

This is normal. Just use the next round to push in the one before it.

 

[anglia2]

This is normal. Just use the next round to push in the one before it.

Yep , that's how I was taught to load a 94 when I was a kid , they all load this way .

 

[porpoise]

My70's 94 had this annoying problem if I didn't lay the gun down and use 2 hands sometimes a cartridge would come flying back out before i could get another one behind it. I no longer have that gun to look at it. My 50's 94 I can load like a marlin it has a wedge machined on the back of the loading gate which will lift the cartridge back off of the ejector where it sits when you fully insert it past the loading gate. This happens as you push the gate in with the next cartridge. Maybe the newer guns have a stamped steel loading gate which can't incorporate this feature I don't know

 

[CamV]

Mine is definitely pushing the last cartridge back out. Kinda annoying and I didn't really like the rifle until I put a limbsaver on it to lengthen the length of pul