Home Forums Lever Action Central Lever Actions - General win. model 94 range??

Hey guys,
I live and hunt here in SD. I have had a fascination with the model 94 for years. I hunt big game here in the state which is fairly wide open. I use bolt actions etc. I have been looking at purchasing a 94 but not just for collecting. I would like to actually hunt with it...just on occasion to fill doe tag maybe. Question is..in the 30-30 caliber..what is the ethical range? I have always "heard" 100yds. I know they're not terribly long but want to know from actual user. How difficult is it to mount a scope? Might not want to for the challenge.
thanks for info

If you get an AE (Angle Eject) model it's easy to mount a scope. The scope will only extend the range you can sight the deer and you'll have to be more careful when one's riding on top of a 30-30. You'll be able to sight a deer a lot further than a 30-30 is good for. Some of these plastic tipped, pointed bullet loads will go out a ways with less drop and enough energy, but I'd say safely 200-225 yards and that is with a pointed bullet load.

I have, use, and love .30-30 rifles, but if I expect to shoot farther than 100 yd. I will bring something else. I'm not saying it can't be done, but shooting at 200 yd. is so much easier with typical bolt action calibers that comparatively using a .30-30 is a stunt. Putting a scope on a lever action takes away much of what makes it appealing in the first place. YMMV.

With a proper sight-in, you should be able to take deer with an iron sighted .30/30 to at least 150 yards with no particular problem and no holdover required. An aperture sight makes a Model 94 much easier to use in the field.

I shot a deer at a lasered 236 yard in '09 with an open sighted M94, though it was with Peeps in the rear and an aftermarket (Marbles) in the front. I knew the load, and had been shooting at paper plates at 200 yards, and could hit them regularly.

I wouldn't have tried it with the factory sights, but with the factory front and the peep rear, it would be doable.

The shot was a broadside shot, and the bullet still went completely through. The animal went 20 yards and laid down.

If you can reliably determine the range, and have a sight capable of it, 200 yards is completely in the realm of the .30-30.

There are a couple of guys here who shoot bprc that 200 yards is a chip shot to.

ok thanks guys. Not sure if I'll get one or not..really like them but quite honestly, aren't real practicle here. Not sure when the last time I shot a deer under 150. But would be fun with iron sights sneaking up on a doe in a slough.

I've taken several deer at ranges between 200 and 250 yards and one at 314 yards with a reciever sighted model 94 .30-30. None of those deer traveled more than 70 yds. after bullet impact and none required more than a single shot. The one shot at 314 yds. was a complete passthrough just behing the shoulders on a broadside presentation with a 150 gr. Remington core-lokt factory load.

put a peep sight rear and a big orange front sight and try those new Hornady superformance pointed 160gr bullets....you will make a new rifle out of that ole '94 and killin deer inside 200yds should not be a problem.....

Using good ol' lead bullets shouldn't be a problem for 200 and in.

If you can shoot and know your rifle, 300 yards should not be a problem with a Model 94. I do it all the time with my Marlin 336 and Core-Loks. A 30-30 ain't exactly a popgun.

Verg, if I lived in South Dakota and wanted a Model 94, I would seek out a 25-35. When I first began hunting Mule deer and Antelope on my two Uncles ranches in Montana back in the 1960's, those two were killing deer and antelope with their M94 25-35's with amazing regularity.

When the uncles lived in Wisconsin during the 1940s they used M94 30-30s on Whitetails and took those rifles with them when they bought ranches next to each other. Early on they got rid of them and bought the 25-35s. Young, naive me inquired why.

One uncle said the 30-30 is nothing but a "leg breaker" SOB. and second uncle confirmed. I didn't argue.

Well I never broke a leg with any of my multiple .30-30's and I've killed a couple big truckloads of deer with them. They're deer killin' SOB's and that's a fact.

I can't argue with success, your's or the two old ranchers.

Me neither ! If those .25-35's worked good for your uncles I ain't gonna argue. Always wanted to try a .25-35 myself. Maybe someday !

thanks for all the ideas guys. If I do find a 94..it would be more of a fun gun. Like mentioned, shoot my does with it. I use a win model 70 .270 for all my deer and often have to shoot up to 400yds..which i've become pretty good at. In researching the 94, I have more of a crush on the gun more than anything. I could buy one and let it sit like many others do for collection but I just don't believe in owning guns that I don't shoot. Again, thanks for insight

Yep, the 94 is a cute little peach of a gun. One of the nicest lookin', most graceful, easiest carrying carbines ever made. I don't know how anybody could resist owning at least one.

as far as you can keep your shots on a paper plate with open or peep sights. The 30-30 shoots much flatter than most people would think.

I hunted the Black Hills for many years with Winchester AE 30-30. Never felt the need for any more distance shooting than 150 yards or so.

30-30 is a keeper!

Sherwood

I've got a receiver sight on my 94, 200 yards isn't a problem.I always believed the 100 yard thing too, until I actually started shooting a .30-30.

My 94's good out to 300 yards - but it's a .356 Winchester BigBore 94. .

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