Modern 30-30 loads throw 150 grain bullets around 2400 fps and 170 grain bullets around 2200 fps. This prevents the point of a bullet in the magazine acting as a firing pin under recoil and setting off a chain reaction. Ammunitionīecause of the tubular magazine, with a few exceptions, bullet options are limited to round-nose bullets. An easy way to differentiate pre and post 64 rifles is that the pre-64 models have a screw in the baseplate of the action and the post-64 models do not. Usually, the pre-64 models are considered the most valuable and the post-64 models with the crossbolt safety are the least. In 2003 a tang safety replaced the crossbolt safety, creating a more ergonomic and less visually displeasing rifle. The unsightly appearance ruined the otherwise sleek lines of the rifle, and the crossbolt safety was met with widespread disdain. This change facilitated the mounting of scopes which had become commonplace.įollowing the Angle Eject, in 1992 a crossbolt safety replaced the traditional half-cock safety on the Model 94. Next, in 1983 Winchester added the Angle Eject, making rifles eject to the right instead of over the shoulder. The rifles produced from 1965-2010 are of lesser quality, although while the changes affect the feel of the rifle function remains unchanged. In 1964 Winchester lowered the quality of some of their manufacturing processes to try and minimize the number of expensive milling operations in favour of casting and stamping. A timeline of the most important changes is below.ġ895: Introduction of the 30-30 Cartridgeġ964: Changes made in Manufacturing Processes to Cut CostsĢ003: Replacement of the Crossbolt Safety with a Tang SafetyĢ010: Production recommences overseas at the Miroku plant in Japan Throughout the history of the Model 94 there have been several important changes. The author’s rifle, a 1971 manufacture in the venerable 30-30 Important Manufacturing Changes Furthermore, there are solutions to mount optics on the Model 94, although none of them are particularly elegant, as the rifles open-top design makes the use of a scope challenging. If the factory sights aren’t satisfactory there are many peep sight upgrades available. The standard Model 94 comes with buckhorn sights that are functional if not exceptional. It weighs right around 6.25 lbs without an optic. The standard Model 94 comes with a full length tubular magazine that can hold 7 rounds of 30-30. For our purposes moving forwards we will focus on the most popular version of the rifle – the classic carbine with a 20 inch barrel chambered in the 30-30. However, covering them all is well beyond the scope of this article. Over the years the Model 94 has been sold in almost every configuration imaginable. It was introduced because the barrels could have a slower twist rate than the 30 caliber barrels, which reduced fouling for hand-loaders who were still loading their own cartridges using traditional black powder. The cartridge is for all practical purposes identical to the 30-30. In 1902 Winchester introduced the 32 Special in the Model 94. The second most popular chambering is the 32 Winchester Special. Instead, they opted to use the old black powder naming convention, calling the cartridge the 30-30 a 30 caliber bullet propelled by 30 grains of powder. Competitors like Marlin chambered their guns in the new cartridge but refused to stamp the word Winchester on their barrels. The 30 Winchester Centerfire was added to Winchester’s catalogue and the design took off. That year Winchester picked the Model 94 to be the perfect pairing for the world’s first commercial smokeless powder cartridge. Browning’s clever falling pivot design allows a more powerful cartridge in a pistol-cartridge sized receiver.īut it wasn’t until 1895 that the Model 94 really took off. Using an ingenious dropping floor plate design to lower the pivot point and allow a larger cartridge in the same receiver size as the 1892, Browning accomplished this in the Model 94. The task was to design a compact, fast handling carbine chambered in a cartridge that was powerful enough to drop deer-sized game. Engineers at Winchester liked Browning’s 1892 lever action design and wanted a similar rifle that could handle a larger cartridge. How has this legendary design persisted for 128 years, and is it still relevant today? HistoryĪs the name suggests, John Browning designed and released the Model 94 in 1894. However, round-nose bullets and manual actions have not been cutting edge for nearly a century. For many it is a family heirloom and a reliable companion. At one point or another most seasoned hunters have taken to the field with a Winchester Model 94, likely chambered in 30-30 or 32 Special.
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