At one point or another most seasoned hunters have taken to the field with a Winchester Model 94, likely chambered in 30-30 or 32 Special. For many it is a family heirloom and a reliable companion. However, round-nose bullets and manual actions have not been cutting edge for nearly a century. How has this legendary design persisted for 128 years, and is it still relevant today?
History
As the name suggests, John Browning designed and released the Model 94 in 1894. Engineers at Winchester liked Browning’s 1892 lever action design and wanted a similar rifle that could handle a larger cartridge. The task was to design a compact, fast handling carbine chambered in a cartridge that was powerful enough to drop deer-sized game. Using an ingenious dropping floor plate design to lower the pivot point and allow a larger cartridge in the same receiver size as the 1892, Browning accomplished this in the Model 94.
But it wasn’t until 1895 that the Model 94 really took off. That year Winchester picked the Model 94 to be the perfect pairing for the world’s first commercial smokeless powder cartridge. The 30 Winchester Centerfire was added to Winchester’s catalogue and the design took off. Competitors like Marlin chambered their guns in the new cartridge but refused to stamp the word Winchester on their barrels. Instead, they opted to use the old black powder naming convention, calling the cartridge the 30-30; a 30 caliber bullet propelled by 30 grains of powder. The name stuck and the 30-30 was born.
The second most popular chambering is the 32 Winchester Special. In 1902 Winchester introduced the 32 Special in the Model 94. The cartridge is for all practical purposes identical to the 30-30. It was introduced because the barrels could have a slower twist rate than the 30 caliber barrels, which reduced fouling for hand-loaders who were still loading their own cartridges using traditional black powder.
Specifications
Over the years the Model 94 has been sold in almost every configuration imaginable. However, covering them all is well beyond the scope of this article. For our purposes moving forwards we will focus on the most popular version of the rifle – the classic carbine with a 20 inch barrel chambered in the 30-30.
The standard Model 94 comes with a full length tubular magazine that can hold 7 rounds of 30-30. It weighs right around 6.25 lbs without an optic. The standard Model 94 comes with buckhorn sights that are functional if not exceptional. If the factory sights aren’t satisfactory there are many peep sight upgrades available. Furthermore, there are solutions to mount optics on the Model 94, although none of them are particularly elegant, as the rifles open-top design makes the use of a scope challenging.
Important Manufacturing Changes
Throughout the history of the Model 94 there have been several important changes. A timeline of the most important changes is below.
1894: Introduction of the Rifle
1895: Introduction of the 30-30 Cartridge
1964: Changes made in Manufacturing Processes to Cut Costs
1983: Addition of Angle Eject
1992: Addition of the Crossbolt Safety
2003: Replacement of the Crossbolt Safety with a Tang Safety
2006: Winchester ceases production
2010: Production recommences overseas at the Miroku plant in Japan
In 1964 Winchester lowered the quality of some of their manufacturing processes to try and minimize the number of expensive milling operations in favour of casting and stamping. The rifles produced from 1965-2010 are of lesser quality, although while the changes affect the feel of the rifle function remains unchanged.
Next, in 1983 Winchester added the Angle Eject, making rifles eject to the right instead of over the shoulder. This change facilitated the mounting of scopes which had become commonplace.
Following the Angle Eject, in 1992 a crossbolt safety replaced the traditional half-cock safety on the Model 94. The unsightly appearance ruined the otherwise sleek lines of the rifle, and the crossbolt safety was met with widespread disdain. In 2003 a tang safety replaced the crossbolt safety, creating a more ergonomic and less visually displeasing rifle.
Usually, the pre-64 models are considered the most valuable and the post-64 models with the crossbolt safety are the least. An easy way to differentiate pre and post 64 rifles is that the pre-64 models have a screw in the baseplate of the action and the post-64 models do not.
Ammunition
Because of the tubular magazine, with a few exceptions, bullet options are limited to round-nose bullets. This prevents the point of a bullet in the magazine acting as a firing pin under recoil and setting off a chain reaction. Modern 30-30 loads throw 150 grain bullets around 2400 fps and 170 grain bullets around 2200 fps.
Recently, Hornady created their new LeverEvolution line of bullets. LeverEvolution bullets feature rubber tips, offering a streamlined bullet that is safe in a magazine tube. The current LeverEvolution load at the time of writing is a 160 grain bullet at 2400 fps.
The handloader should note that the Model 94 has a few quirks. First of all, crimping is necessary to avoid the bullet getting pushed back in the case in the tubular magazine. Also, do not try and push the 30-30 to 308 Winchester velocities. The action of the Model 94, while very strong, does not have the camming leverage of a bolt action. When loaded too hot, the extractor of the Model 94 cannot remove the spent casing from the chamber.
Performance
Typically, the Model 94 provides middling accuracy. Most rifles will shoot between 2 and 3 MOA with quality ammunition. Where the rifle really excels is in its fast handling and pointing. The lever runs easily from the shooter’s shoulder allowing for very quick follow-up shots. Additionally, the rifle points exceptionally well. This equals a rifle capable of capitalizing on even the most fleeting shot opportunities.
The rifle is balances perfectly and carries beautifully in the hand. It points like a dream and the recoil of the 30-30 is tame. Although velocities are modest, the heavy round nosed bullets provide high sectional densities which means that the 30-30 tends to penetrate above its proverbial weight class. The 30-30 is perfectly suitable for deer and black bear. In most cases moose, elk, and brown bear will require stronger medicine.
Reliability is very good. I would expect that over thousands of rounds a bolt action or a quality modern semi-automatic would be slightly more reliable. However, I have yet to experience a malfunction in the field and reliability is more than adequate for most uses.
Competition
Throughout its history the chief competition for the Winchester 94 has been the Marlin 336. In addition, newer additions to the market include the Henry series of rifles as well as the Mossberg 464. The Mossberg is known to have quality control issues so you are rolling the dice when you buy one. By all accounts Henry makes a fantastic rifle, but they are also expensive and until recently Henry did not manufacture rifles with loading gates.
While accuracy varies rifle to rifle, most people agree that the Marlins and Henrys tend to be slightly more accurate than the Winchester. The Marlin is a beefier rifle, with a smoother action. However, both the Marlin and the Henry are also heavier rifles. Not only that, but both have the pivot point for the lever where the hand naturally falls. By contrast, the Winchester’s pivot sites inside the receiver on a closed action.
Compared to the competition, the Model 94 lags behind in accuracy potential. In exchange, the 94 is the better-balanced and lighter carrying firearm.
Closing Thoughts
While the Winchester 94 is not the general purpose hunting rifle it was 100 years ago, it is still relevant today. The Model 94 is best suited for inside of 150 yards where its poor ballistics and mediocre accuracy are mitigated. In the 21st century the Model 94 fills a niche for hunting dense cover where speed is paramount. In the timber, the Model 94 remains a fine rifle for the hunter wanting to connect with history without sacrificing efficacy in the field.