Winchester 94 tuning

[Twotone]

Hi
Recently acquired a 94, it is a 1971 but I can see the offending post 64 parts have at some time been replaced with original ones, rifle looks very clean and well cared for but group size with the original semi buckhorn sights have not been awesome . Best I have achieved with handloads so far was one inch at 25 yds, albeit in poor lighting in an underground range. Using the Lyman 173 gn bullet with GC and IMR4198 powder. There is load data in the Lyman book and that is what I am working from.
I loosened the barrel band around front arm, magazine to barrel band and end band so that there is a little bit of movement in the magazine, not sure if that is doing anything at the moment. My question is how loose should the bands be? Is loosening them going to make any real difference? At 100 yds the groups are six to seven inches.

[Mistered]

You want to have the mag tube & band snug but not overly tight. I would recommend you try something some conventional loads with typical jacketed bullets ( try 150 grain) loaded to 'normal' 30-30 velocities and get out of the cave and outdoors with 'natural' light and I think you will see a dramatic improvement! If you really want to see what it is capable of load some 150 grain spire point bullets with no crimp but they will have to be loaded singly as they will not load from the mag tube as well as spire point billets should NEVER be loaded in a mag tube due to potential recoil primer strike ignition.

[BigAl52]

Might want to change powders also and give 3031 and 4895 a try. Just read in another thread these powders are banned over there. Doesnt make sense to me. Al

[Mistered]

Might want to change powders also and give 3031 and 4895

I agree - 4198 is a bit fast of a powder for a bullet that heavy. If you plan to continue to use it consider the 125 gr hollow flat point bullet from Sierra.

[Twotone]

Cheers gents, thanks for that, will see if i can get hold of some 4895. Bullet choice is very limited here as 30-30 is very rare , took weeks of searching to get dies, brass etc and the only other bullet i have been able to find was a plain based 165 gn cast bullet.

[Mistered]

Bullet choice is very limited here

Can you mail order bullets?

[Twotone]

I can mail order bullets but 30-30 is something no one stocks, i can ask Brownells to order some from the US but the prices are eye watering and postage even more so its not really feasible. I have a great guy who casts bullets for me but again limited on 30-30 because no one here shoots them, no wonder i got the rifle at a bargain price!

[JEBar]

just curious .... have you spoken with whoever you buy supplies from if they can order items that they may not stock ?

[North Country Gal]

Mistered nailed it on the barrel bands question.

As to the accuracy, every 94 I've owned will stay up with any 30-30 lever gun made. Try some factory ammo if you can find any. Even the relatively cheap Remington Core-lokts have shot well for me. Some factory loads, such as the Hornady Whitetail have been outstanding.

Best of luck.

[Mistered]

As to the accuracy, every 94 I've owned will stay up with any 30-30 lever gun made.

I agree - with good ammo and the right conditions a good condition 94 should shoot sub 2" at 100 yards - and maybe a bit better. I have an 1899 Klondike Sporting Rifle (26" octagon barrel Mod 94 with no SR) and it shoots sub 2" at 100 yards.
The poor lighting you described at an underground range is going to be a serious accuracy killer.