Winchester 94 accuracy improvement.

[Twotone]

Hi all,
Still going through loads etc on this old 94 and decided to follow a suggestion about removing forestock and sanding back any contact points and loosening barrel bands, I actually filed the insides back a little. Put the rifle back together with screws loose enough so there was a little bit pf movement of the mag tube,and took it to the range tonight.
At 30 yds first three shots touching , using the basic fitted irons in poor light. Same load I had not been getting a decent result with, the difference in the accuracy of this old rifle is amazing. Before the groups were 2-3” on a good day.

[North Country Gal]

Good for you. Sometimes it really is those little things.

[JEBar]

happy to hear about the improving accuracy of your94 .... I really wish you had access to Combined Technologies Ballistic Slivertip spitzer boat tail bullets .... their advancement in technology has really proven to be impressive in ours

[Twotone]

Hi both
Yes me too, the only bullets i can get here are the lyman 173 gn and a 150 gn fmj. The 150 so far has proved pretty awful using Imr4198 but really happy with this powder and the lyman cast bullet with a GC.
A friend has just secured me another 30-30 from an auction , this 94 dates to 1920 and is in incredible condition, part of a private collection being sold after the owner passed. Have to wait a month before i pick it up so my wife doesnt hit me on the head with it, ha ha.

[JEBar]

Have to wait a month before i pick it up so my wife doesn't hit me on the head with it, ha ha.

only a month .. ..

my 94 was handed down from my Grandfather .... it was made in 1941 and has earned every scrape, scratch, ding, blemish, and gouge

[Mistered]

decided to follow a suggestion about removing forestock and sanding back any contact points and loosening barrel bands, I actually filed the insides back a little. Put the rifle back together with screws loose enough so there was a little bit pf movement of the mag tube

What you have done may help a bit but the Mod 94 is NOT a rifle that is going to benefit much from loosening parts and sanding away contact points. Unlike a bolt action rifle where the action and barrel LAY within a carved out stock, the Mod 94 has the stock attached to the action and the forestock is a separate part which is under the barrel and is nested in the recess in the front of the action and banded on the front so it in effect becomes a part of the barrel. This arrangement does not really put any adverse pressure on the barrel where contact points will matter much.
You have mentioned poor lighting before. Poor lighting will affect accuracy dramatically in that you need to be able to see your sights to shoot well. Find an good outdoor location to shoot and you will no doubt see a dramatic difference.
Also if you might consider changing sights. Standard Buckhorns are the benchmark on a lever action but only with good lighting. A Williams peep rear will really improve your sight picture and improve accuracy due to the greater light gathering ability around the aperture which allows the front sight to be seen much more clearly. Your Mod 94 should be pre drilled and tapped for a Williams. The Williams on one of my 94s.

[Ojaileveraction]

Hi both
Yes me too, the only bullets i can get here are the lyman 173 gn and a 150 gn fmj. The 150 so far has proved pretty awful using Imr4198 but really happy with this powder and the lyman cast bullet with a GC.
A friend has just secured me another 30-30 from an auction , this 94 dates to 1920 and is in incredible condition, part of a private collection being sold after the owner passed. Have to wait a month before i pick it up so my wife doesnt hit me on the head with it, ha ha.

For accurate FMJ loads you'll need a powder that gives you a higher fill percentage, in the range of 85% maybe. With your limited choices I don't know.
IMR3031 is my go to, 30-30 powder for Jacketed bullets.

[Mistered]

For accurate FMJ loads you'll need a powder that gives you a higher fill percentage, in the range of 85% maybe. With your limited choices I don't know.
IMR3031 is my go to, 30-30 powder for Jacketed bullets.

I agree - especially with the heavier bullets. I too have used 3031 over the years with heavier jacketed bullets with excellent accuracy.

[Twotone]

Hi all,
Great comments. I have to say though that I have been playing with this rifle and different loads for a few months and having loosened the screws etc the difference in the same lighting and loads was dramatic last night, I dont think I suddenly became a better shot, but I have not so far been able to get groups anywhere near this.
I have though just purchased a Williams FP sight as well as a skinner for my Henry which has taken a bit of a back seat whilst getting absorbed with the 94. You are right, when I get outside in good light things do improve a lot , just that the opportunities for that here in the mountains of Wales at this time of year are few due to weather so I spend emost of my shooting time in an underground tunnel!

[North Country Gal]

How old is your '94? Winchester didn't start to drill and tap the receiver for a peep sight until 1952. On older guns, a Skinner barrel mount peep is an option, though.

[Twotone]

Hi North country gal, I have two now! The one Inhave been playing around with dates from 1970 and has definitely been modded as the cartridge lifter and a few other parts have been changed out for earlier fittings. I will have the peep on tomorrow to see how that goes but as I said, loosening bands and forestock seems to have taken this rifle to a different place. I already had a smith check the barrel etc and it is cery clean un worn condition but different loads and bullets, even though choice is limited here, were proving poor. I now have bullets touching using the semi buckhorn sights, admittedly only at 30yds but that was a revelation compared to what I had been getting before.
Just acquired a 1920 version which I am waiting to arrive which appears to be in excellent condition and rarely shot so the adventure goes on, I do love these rifles.
By the way, have a happy Christmas across the pond and best wishes from here for a good new year everyone

[Mistered]

Congrats on the ‘new’ Winchester. This will give you an excellent opportunity to compare to your 70s model with regard to accuracy. Give the new one a good cleaning and go shoot it with the same ammo you have been using in the 70s model and please do NOT go loosening up anything on it ! As I said previously a mod 94 does not really benefit from this due to its design.

[North Country Gal]

Happy Christmas to you, too, Twotone.

A 1920 vintage Model 94 in great shape. Amazing! As, above, don't even think of doing any mods on that one. Treat it as the very special rifle that it is. Most of us, over here, will never have a chance at such a fine Winchester. That's prime vintage for a Model 94.

[Twotone]

Hi North country gal,
This rifle was being auctioned among a large collection from some toff’s private estate. He passed and the family sold them all, no bids came in for it. They are not very popular over here and i was just real lucky. No worries it wont be touched no matter how it shoots.

[Mistered]

FWIW I have an 1899 Klondike Sporting Rifle (26" octagon barrel with no SR) in 30-30 and when I got it I gave it a quick cleaning and a good barrel scrub and it was shooting inside of 2" at 50 yards the next day - and this was with a bent rear buckhorn and a worn original front sight. I suspect it will do much better when I put a tang sight on it with a gold bead front.