The old man’s 30/30

MPFD

MPFD

Well-known member
My father passed on earlier this year and I inherited his meager gun collection. The only one I wanted was his Nylon 66. I thought, I’d have to split them with my brother. I’d decided, if I had to pick one, it was gonna be the 22. Those things were always very good shooting 22’s and we shot his a lot. But, I also ended up getting his 30/30 too. I never saw my dad shoot this 1894 Winchester in my 45 years on earth. He bought it for a mule deer hunt in Colorado with my uncle in the late 70’s and as far as I know he didn’t shoot it again. The 30/30, the nylon 66 and a New Haven mossberg pump hung in our mud room the entire time I was growing up. I stood and stared at that gun rack for hours from the time I was 3 years old and on. I had shot the 30/30 a few times as a kid when he wasn’t home, and I didn’t remember it being very accurate.
 

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I found three and a half boxes of ammo from prolly the 90’s, so I took it to the indoor range to see if it was sighted in. It was not… to my eye anyway, dad was left handed, so maybe.. I got it sighted in and It shot ok. I bought a bag of starline brass and factory seconds in 170g from Midway. Threw together a load with leverevolution and what I believe are Sierra pro hunter seconds. I also put on a Williams peep and filed the top of the front sight flat. That’s when things came together. I was really surprised how well it shot with irons at 100 yards. This is off a lead sled, but I didn’t expect this old lever gun to be under 4”… Especially without a scope!
 

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Thank you sir, I’m gonna have to use it on a deer for him. He was never really into guns, and always told me that my AR’s didn’t look like hunting rifles. But, I think he’d be impressed with how well it’s shooting.
 
I am sorry to hear about your Dad. The 30-30 in particular will be a lot of fun. I have 3 in different configurations. It really feels good to take an animal with iron sights. One thing I noticed about the Winchester ammo is that the 150 and the 170gr are close to the same POI at 100yds. At least for my 1894. Enjoy.
CT
 
My dad has his grandfather's 1894, 30 wcf. I don't think he's shot it in 30 years. It sets in the cabinet... As a kid / teen i shot it occasionally. I remember it doing pretty good at 100 yards, ive taken a few whitetail with it. It did well. Even took it on a feral cow expedition but I guess the cow decided wisely that it was a really really good idea to play nice and get on the right side of the fence...

To this day the 1894 win is my favorite lever, even though I own a really nice 1894 marlin 44 mag.
 
Sorry to hear of your loss. My dad passed away in late fall of 2020. It was a rough deer season that year. Dad had not been able to hunt with me for several years, but he would call nightly for an update on the day's hunting. In 2020, not having him around to share the hunt with just sucked the soul out of it. I had multiple opportunities to kill deer that year, but I just found myself staring at them and letting them walk away. I did not fill a tag that year. By the next year, I had it figured out and killed a buck with dad's old Browning BLR .308. That rifle goes with me on opening day every year. As the season passes, I usually use several rifles, but not on opening day. It's always Dad's rifle for the opener. I hope you manage to get that M94 out and kill a buck for your dad with it. Be aware, take a handkerchief, as doing so could cause your allergies to flare up, which might cause misting of the eyes and a lump in the throat.

 
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Sorry about your Dad, and enjoy that 94. I can relate, as I also have Dad's 94, his was built in 64 so it was one of those that won't keep bluing on the receiver. He bought it while stationed in Korea of all places and shipped it back. I also put a Williams sight, and put a Skinner brass ramp on the front.

If you want some super cheap plinkers, the Xtreme 150 grain plated bullets shoot really well over about 11 grains of Unique, or a light charge of Titegroup, which is a lot easier to get now than Unique.
 
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