94 30-30 accuracy

Farmer · 11-22-2007, 04:05 AM

Hi,

I and a shooting buddy both own top eject 94 30-30's. Both these rifles will only shoot about 4" groups at 100 yards. I have been shooting for 30 years and own several sub moa rifles so im sure its not me.

I have tried scoped, peep sights, both in sand bags and live but cant hit anything.

So i've come to the land of it home to ask Can anyone help with tips to make this really nice gun shoot the way "The gun that made the west" shoot properly?

Rob

samuel · 11-22-2007, 05:15 AM

You dont state what ammo you are using.The best accuracy with a top ejection model 94win in factory loads is usually with the 150gr bullet.We shot groups from 1.5"to2.5" at 100yds with iron sights.Reloading and using lighter bullets we did better but not much.If you are trying that leverrevolution ammo,forget it as your barrel has a 1in12"twist and wont stabilise the longer more aerodynamic bullets.Handloading you can use spirepoint bullets and get better downrange balistics and better accuracy.You need a 1in9"or1in10"twist to use the new hornady ammo. Put Winchester rifles on your search bar and there is a lot of info. sam.

wilbur1 · 11-22-2007, 09:21 PM

true i found that a 150 to 170 silvertip was the best at hittin anything still a damn fine gun though

Dallas · 11-22-2007, 10:24 PM

I shoot Winchester factory load 150 grain rounds and almost always do better than 4 MOA. Of course on a bad day, well that's a different story.

ArkansasHunter · 11-22-2007, 11:00 PM

My step father has 4 winchester 94's and 2 of them are less than 6 years old.
These 2 latest rifles when I sighted in the scopes he bought for them shot 1" groups
which is better than my Marlin.
I was very impressed with them.
Keep trying to find the right load for them before you dump yours and give the barrel a good cleaning too.
I can't remember what brand and weight of ammo he shoots...A.H

Farmer · 11-23-2007, 03:45 AM

Thanks guys for your replies.

I'll get some different ammo and try again as i like the feel, maybe australian importers dont like it so they feed us rubbish............

Thanks again
Rob

rfc357 · 12-09-2007, 01:41 PM

Handloading may help. However, if the barrels are worn, nothing short of re-barreling will help. Re-barreling a 94 may not be worth the money.

I have tried pointed bullets in the 94 in .30-30, and have concluded the down side is not worth the effort. You can't use more than one in the magazine, and even that one won't feed all the time. I didn't see a lot of improvement in accuracy. If good factory ammo won't shoot, probably nothing will.

nathangdad · 12-09-2007, 02:17 PM

Take a good look at the 94. It is really more of a carbine than anything else. It was just not designed for long distance shooting. It has a short, non-target diameter barrel. The 30-30 has never been capable of winning any long distance shoots even with a proper barrel. What you report is just about all you will ever get with a 94.

forestgleaner · 12-09-2007, 03:00 PM

I wish marlin would get hornaday to produce some of that new type of bullet in some of the other lever actions caliburs. I would love to try some thing new in my 25-20, or get a nother 7x30 waters and see what it would. As for the 30-30, it is really a great brush gun. Check to see if anything is loose, and maybe try clamping it down, seeing if it produces then. They are right, it is a close weapon, not long range. I currently don't have one, but miss several that I let go, especially that waters.

Oxford · 12-09-2007, 05:20 PM

I've been unable to shoot my top ejecting Model 94 30.30 accurately. Two main problems I know of are 1, lack of practice, 2, lack of front sight ramp being set properly. When heading out for deer season this season I had to lay back down my 30.30 which I had planned to use because a few days before at the range I found my accuracy with it was totally unacceptable. In due time I'll get to the root of that problem.

However, I'm not blaming the gun. It's a fine tool which just may need fine tuning. Maybe next season I'll be ready to use it. Definitely the deer I usually see are within 100 yards, and for me that's about my max range with open sights.

Farmer · 12-10-2007, 04:09 AM

Thanks again,

Ox, if you find out whats wrong with yours tell me, i like the gun and id like it more if i could hit anything with it. As for open sights, i took my K31 out yesterday and shot a few rounds at 100m at 1.2". So maybe its me or the gun, it could be me as i have had a confidence issue with my cz rifle until i rebedded it and fired about a hundred rounds.

bigbadf250sd · 01-02-2008, 06:02 PM

nathangdad: 94 was never meant for long distance accuracy
Take a good look at the 94. It is really more of a carbine than anything else. It was just not designed for long distance shooting. It has a short, non-target diameter barrel. The 30-30 has never been capable of winning any long distance shoots even with a proper barrel. What you report is just about all you will ever get with a 94.

You must not have tried the new LEVERevolution®
30-30 bullets from Hornady. The reach out and touch and kill at 400yds using 150 gr bullets. I shot alot of hogs this year, some I had to reach out. Look into Hornady's new LEVERevolution® bullet, you will be really surprised.

Buck LaRue · 01-16-2008, 10:27 PM

Howdy: I just got my Win 30/30 mfr 1953 and learning with it.

I would like to know if anyone can tell me what the bullet strike movement is per notch on my carbine's rear sights? I think there are five notches. At what notch should it be set initially for sighting in at the 100 yard line.
Thanks, Buck.

toolman · 01-16-2008, 10:56 PM

Hey Buck, welcome to G&G! As a general rule, they are usually calibrated in the notch second from the action or the middle one. Every gun will be different though, you'll have to shoot yours and see where it shoots for you. Ammo will make a difference as well.

mango · 01-20-2008, 05:44 PM

i say hogwash,i have a 94 and shoot bowling pins at 200 yards,and can shoot pepsi cans also that far,if your around wva lets go to the range and ill prove it,range is only a 200 yard one,the 94 with the right shooter is capable of 300 yards,some here won't believe it ,but ,bring your money and i'll make a believer out of ya.

win39 · 01-22-2008, 04:32 AM

Rob:
I have to agree with bigbadf250sd the 94 was never designed for long distance target shooting it is a carbine and in my area concidered a brush gun. I have a Rem 760 that I just love because it was my dad's but can not get better than a 3" group at a 100 yards. But I haven't tried just shooting bowling pins. Maybe that will work.

Farmer · 01-22-2008, 06:18 AM

Had another big play with it, like 30 rounds at 50, 100 and 200.
Im now convinced it has a bent barrel. 4" at 100yards but left and high 4 inches higher than i can adjust to and 200 yards its about 15" group and 12" left.

Im now tossing up wether i retire the old girl and just admire it or rebarrel, if i can find a suitable/cheap barrel.

Thanks for all the advise.

six shot · 01-27-2008, 12:54 AM

did you buy it used? the recivers on these guns are not very strong! who knowes what has been done to it in the past. i have a 1894 made in 02 that i shot a crow with at 220yds with iron sights. but these are diff. guns . modern 94 s cant take a lot of abuse. at least like the old ones. any smith can tell if the barrell is bent .take the mag. tube off and shoot it single shot,borrow a scope and try it ,try every thing! chech for burs at the end of the barrel!

allen1980 · 02-17-2008, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mango

i say hogwash,i have a 94 and shoot bowling pins at 200 yards,and can shoot pepsi cans also that far,if your around wva lets go to the range and ill prove it,range is only a 200 yard one,the 94 with the right shooter is capable of 300 yards,some here won't believe it ,but ,bring your money and i'll make a believer out of ya.

i agree these guns are very capable what part of wv you from im from huntington.

Purdy · 02-20-2008, 09:47 PM

You must not have tried the new LEVERevolution®
30-30 bullets from Hornady. The reach out and touch and kill at 400yds using 150 gr bullets.

400 yards, 30-30 ? LOL

just how much orver the target would you have to hold ? (If you could see the target at that range)

11-22-2007, 04:05 AM	#1
Farmer Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Limbri NSW Au Posts: 322	94 30-30 accuracy Hi, I and a shooting buddy both own top eject 94 30-30's. Both these rifles will only shoot about 4" groups at 100 yards. I have been shooting for 30 years and own several sub moa rifles so im sure its not me. I have tried scoped, peep sights, both in sand bags and live but cant hit anything. So i've come to the land of it home to ask Can anyone help with tips to make this really nice gun shoot the way "The gun that made the west" shoot properly? Rob

11-22-2007, 10:24 PM	#4
Dallas PUKHA DAWG Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Virginia, just outside of Washington D.C. Posts: 3,609	I shoot Winchester factory load 150 grain rounds and almost always do better than 4 MOA. Of course on a bad day, well that's a different story. __________________ Those who forget History are condemed to repeat it.

12-09-2007, 05:20 PM	#10
Oxford Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Gladstone, Missouri Posts: 13,094 Blog Entries: 4	I've been unable to shoot my top ejecting Model 94 30.30 accurately. Two main problems I know of are 1, lack of practice, 2, lack of front sight ramp being set properly. When heading out for deer season this season I had to lay back down my 30.30 which I had planned to use because a few days before at the range I found my accuracy with it was totally unacceptable. In due time I'll get to the root of that problem. However, I'm not blaming the gun. It's a fine tool which just may need fine tuning. Maybe next season I'll be ready to use it. Definitely the deer I usually see are within 100 yards, and for me that's about my max range with open sights. __________________ "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right".

12-10-2007, 04:09 AM	#11
Farmer Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Limbri NSW Au Posts: 322	Thanks again, Ox, if you find out whats wrong with yours tell me, i like the gun and id like it more if i could hit anything with it. As for open sights, i took my K31 out yesterday and shot a few rounds at 100m at 1.2". So maybe its me or the gun, it could be me as i have had a confidence issue with my cz rifle until i rebedded it and fired about a hundred rounds. __________________ Cheers, Rob I'm into gun control - I always use both hands!!!!!!!

01-16-2008, 10:27 PM	#13
Buck LaRue Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1	Winchester 30/30 iron sights Howdy: I just got my Win 30/30 mfr 1953 and learning with it. I would like to know if anyone can tell me what the bullet strike movement is per notch on my carbine's rear sights? I think there are five notches. At what notch should it be set initially for sighting in at the 100 yard line. Thanks, Buck.

11-22-2007, 05:15 AM	#2
samuel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,189	You dont state what ammo you are using.The best accuracy with a top ejection model 94win in factory loads is usually with the 150gr bullet.We shot groups from 1.5"to2.5" at 100yds with iron sights.Reloading and using lighter bullets we did better but not much.If you are trying that leverrevolution ammo,forget it as your barrel has a 1in12"twist and wont stabilise the longer more aerodynamic bullets.Handloading you can use spirepoint bullets and get better downrange balistics and better accuracy.You need a 1in9"or1in10"twist to use the new hornady ammo. Put Winchester rifles on your search bar and there is a lot of info. sam.

11-22-2007, 09:21 PM	#3
wilbur1 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 5	true i found that a 150 to 170 silvertip was the best at hittin anything still a damn fine gun though

11-22-2007, 11:00 PM	#5
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 10,984	My step father has 4 winchester 94's and 2 of them are less than 6 years old. These 2 latest rifles when I sighted in the scopes he bought for them shot 1" groups which is better than my Marlin. I was very impressed with them. Keep trying to find the right load for them before you dump yours and give the barrel a good cleaning too. I can't remember what brand and weight of ammo he shoots...A.H

11-23-2007, 03:45 AM	#6
Farmer Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Limbri NSW Au Posts: 322	Thanks guys for your replies. I'll get some different ammo and try again as i like the feel, maybe australian importers dont like it so they feed us rubbish............ Thanks again Rob

12-09-2007, 01:41 PM	#7
rfc357 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 741	Handloading may help. However, if the barrels are worn, nothing short of re-barreling will help. Re-barreling a 94 may not be worth the money. I have tried pointed bullets in the 94 in .30-30, and have concluded the down side is not worth the effort. You can't use more than one in the magazine, and even that one won't feed all the time. I didn't see a lot of improvement in accuracy. If good factory ammo won't shoot, probably nothing will.

12-09-2007, 02:17 PM	#8
nathangdad Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 2,906	94 was never meant for long distance accuracy Take a good look at the 94. It is really more of a carbine than anything else. It was just not designed for long distance shooting. It has a short, non-target diameter barrel. The 30-30 has never been capable of winning any long distance shoots even with a proper barrel. What you report is just about all you will ever get with a 94.

12-09-2007, 03:00 PM	#9
forestgleaner Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 182	I wish marlin would get hornaday to produce some of that new type of bullet in some of the other lever actions caliburs. I would love to try some thing new in my 25-20, or get a nother 7x30 waters and see what it would. As for the 30-30, it is really a great brush gun. Check to see if anything is loose, and maybe try clamping it down, seeing if it produces then. They are right, it is a close weapon, not long range. I currently don't have one, but miss several that I let go, especially that waters.

01-02-2008, 06:02 PM	#12
bigbadf250sd Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Haughton, LA Posts: 33	nathangdad: 94 was never meant for long distance accuracy Take a good look at the 94. It is really more of a carbine than anything else. It was just not designed for long distance shooting. It has a short, non-target diameter barrel. The 30-30 has never been capable of winning any long distance shoots even with a proper barrel. What you report is just about all you will ever get with a 94. You must not have tried the new LEVERevolution® 30-30 bullets from Hornady. The reach out and touch and kill at 400yds using 150 gr bullets. I shot alot of hogs this year, some I had to reach out. Look into Hornady's new LEVERevolution® bullet, you will be really surprised.

01-16-2008, 10:56 PM	#14
toolman Mr. Fixit Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: abilene,tx Posts: 5,852 Blog Entries: 24	Hey Buck, welcome to G&G! As a general rule, they are usually calibrated in the notch second from the action or the middle one. Every gun will be different though, you'll have to shoot yours and see where it shoots for you. Ammo will make a difference as well. __________________ cosmoline is an aphrodisiac!

01-20-2008, 05:44 PM	#15
mango Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 8	model 94 i say hogwash,i have a 94 and shoot bowling pins at 200 yards,and can shoot pepsi cans also that far,if your around wva lets go to the range and ill prove it,range is only a 200 yard one,the 94 with the right shooter is capable of 300 yards,some here won't believe it ,but ,bring your money and i'll make a believer out of ya.

01-22-2008, 04:32 AM	#16
win39 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 201	Rob: I have to agree with bigbadf250sd the 94 was never designed for long distance target shooting it is a carbine and in my area concidered a brush gun. I have a Rem 760 that I just love because it was my dad's but can not get better than a 3" group at a 100 yards. But I haven't tried just shooting bowling pins. Maybe that will work.

01-22-2008, 06:18 AM	#17
Farmer Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Limbri NSW Au Posts: 322	Had another big play with it, like 30 rounds at 50, 100 and 200. Im now convinced it has a bent barrel. 4" at 100yards but left and high 4 inches higher than i can adjust to and 200 yards its about 15" group and 12" left. Im now tossing up wether i retire the old girl and just admire it or rebarrel, if i can find a suitable/cheap barrel. Thanks for all the advise. __________________ Cheers, Rob I'm into gun control - I always use both hands!!!!!!!

01-27-2008, 12:54 AM	#18
six shot Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 18	did you buy it used? the recivers on these guns are not very strong! who knowes what has been done to it in the past. i have a 1894 made in 02 that i shot a crow with at 220yds with iron sights. but these are diff. guns . modern 94 s cant take a lot of abuse. at least like the old ones. any smith can tell if the barrell is bent .take the mag. tube off and shoot it single shot,borrow a scope and try it ,try every thing! chech for burs at the end of the barrel!

02-20-2008, 09:47 PM	#20
Purdy Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Montana Posts: 100	You must not have tried the new LEVERevolution® 30-30 bullets from Hornady. The reach out and touch and kill at 400yds using 150 gr bullets. 400 yards, 30-30 ? LOL just how much orver the target would you have to hold ? (If you could see the target at that range)