Home Forums Lever Action Central Lever Actions - General 1901 vintage Winchester 94 - safe to shoot with factory loads

I ended up with a Model 94 that dates to 1901 by it's serial number. It's in overall good condition - a grey rat, for sure, but the bore looks good and all the parts go back and forth like they are supposed to. Assuming it checks out OK by a gunsmith, is it safe to shoot with factory ammo?

Tom

The M1894 was designed from the beginning to shoot smokeless powder loads, if it locks up properly and the headspace is correct then you can shoot modern ammo. I would not using any hot loaded ammo in it, I would strictly stick with current factory or handloads that stay within the SAAMI specifications for the cartridge.

I have that rifle in 26" oct barrel, 30 WCF, just a few years newer, 1903 if I recall correctly. The '94 is actually a very strong lever gun action. Mine shoots factory loads without a hitch. Enjoy that rifle.

OK, it has some interesting sites on it. It has a tang site and also a 3 leaf rear site, with leaves labeled 50, 100, 200.

It's a saddle ring carbine version.

I'm curious whether the sights on your rifle are factory original or have been swapped at some point in its life. The tang sight is likely a Lyman #2, most of which were aftermarket additions, but I believe could have been special ordered and installed by Winchester. The 3 leaf rear sight, though not uncommon on the earliest Winchesters, were not the standard rear sight on saddle ring carbines......at least ones I'm familiar with. SRC's came stock with a fold up rear ladder sight, though I am unsure whether that holds true of a 1901 vintage. Even still, it is possible the 3 leaf sight was special ordered as well.

I believe Winchester's polishing room records are availible for 94's manufactured up until 1907, so Winchester's Cody Firearm Museum will likely have a record of your rifle. For around a $100 fee, you can get a copy of their records and see if any of the sights deviated from standard when it left the factory.

very cool. I presume I can find contact info on the web?

Sure, here is a link to the Cody Firearm Museum's website:

http://www.bbhc.org/explore/firearms/firearms-records/