Winchester Model 94 .30-.30 question

[DavidB2]

Well, I had just about decided to get a Rossi in .357 when I went in a gunshop and saw a couple of Winchester 94s that perked my interest. With the value of Winchester .30-.30s only increasing in coming years. I am thinking that it might be a good time to invest in one. The dealer had a 1968 commerative "Land of Lincoln" for $525. It had some wear; but seemed in overall great shape. After research; I noticed that there are several Winchester 94s in great condition being sold on the internet for less than $500.00.

Any thoughts on getting a Winchester model 94 .30-.30?

 

[Texan Scott]

My heart hurts every time I think about some bright, aspiring young Winchester being put in a box and never allowed to live up to his potential just because someone thought he was 'different'...

Buy a nice used one for > $500 and show it some real love and attention! If you love a rifle, teach him to SHOOT!

Added: all my dogs are rescues, too.....

 

[smokey262]

Its one of the guns a man must have. Get a shooter not a safe queen

 

[303tom]

I would not trade one of my Winchester Model 94`s in .30-30 for a Rossi in .357, no if ands or buts............

 

[Abel]

I would buy a M94 30-30 over a Rossi any day of the week.

 

[Art Eatman]

Any commemorative which has been shot is reduced in value toward the bottom of the pecking order of price.

 

[FLRon]

Great post Texan Scott!

 

[Kristensdaddy]

The commemorative models don't seem to hold much special value to me. Any gun I buy is a shooter, although I have a few that are "limited editions." So many have been produced over the years that they are not that much more valuable. Buy a gun in good condition for a fair price an shoot the living daylights out of it. That's what they're for!

Everyone should own a Winchester lever gun in .30-30. Mine happens to be a model 64.

 

[stan rose]

Get a run of the mill pre-64 carbine and enjoy life a little more.

 

[richie]

Try to find one with a ser# below 2,700,000. And your purchase will continue to grow in value, use it, enjoy it , take care of it, and you will probably sell it for more than you paid.

 

[David4516]

Great rifles, in fact the model 94 is my favorite rifle. Just avoid the newer ones that have that weird saftey. If the 94 needed a safety, JMB would have designed it with one.

Prices must really be going up on these things. Last one I bought I got for under $200 (it was a post-64, from what I can tell was made sometime in the early 80's)

 

[rcmodel]

The dealer had a 1968 commemorative "Land of Lincoln" for $525. It had some wear

NOT a good deal.

Commemoratives didn't hold their value too well when still unfired in the box.

A well used one is worth less then a standard grade pre-64 94 in the same condition.

rc

 

[joed]

I was never big on lever actions but when it was announced the factory was closing I bought a model 70 and a 94. The 94 is a vintage 66 in .30-30 used by one of our local mounted police depts. I don't shoot it much but I wouldn't part with it.

 

[DeadFlies]

I have a 1975 M94 and I love it.

Working that lever with brass flying over my head as water jugs explode all over my (rural) backyard is tons of fun. Light and handy in the woods, moderate recoil, classic clean lines, and the fact that new ones are made in Japan and cost well over $1000 make a used M94 very attractive. I'm glad I already have one.

Get an M94 but don't pay more than about $350 for a good shooter. And if you find that you don't like it you probably won't lose any money should you choose to sell somewhere down the road.

 

[jmr40]

Winchester made about a bazillion different commemorative rifles in about a million different configurations. None have any extra value except to the handful of folks they were made for. Many actully sell for less than a standard rifle.

I think eveyone should own one. But I'd NEVER settle for anything but a Winchester or selected Marlins.

 

[Old Time Hunter]

Its one of the guns a man must have. Get a shooter not a safe queen

This is one of the unwritten rules of life...any up right real man should own a '94 or it's equivalent in their life time....same goes for a Remington 870 or it's equivalent.

Somebody should write an amendment to the Bill of Rights.

 

[BCRider]

The commemorative versions only seem to be worth more to those who are trying to sell them. They made SO many of them that they seem to end up selling for barely more than a regular model other than a couple of special cases.

I very much like the .30-30. In fact I have a rather nice Marlin chambered in this round and it's fun to shoot. And if I were a hunter I'd be happy to trust it out to moderate distances and for any game less than a Grizzly or horse size Elk.

But didn't your other threads on the Rossi talk about wanting reduced recoil and the ability to share ammo with your other .38/.357 handguns? Or am I thinking about another Rossi rifle thread?

I'm certainly not saying that you shoudn't buy the 94. In fact I'd recomend it if you can find a good deal on the right model. But don't lose sight of your original reasons that seemed sound for you at the time.

In other words you need TWO new lever guns....

 

[788Ham]

Like has been mentioned earlier, every man should have one, at least one. I have the Win. in a lever, but its the .375, what a kick in the buns that is to shoot!