Home Forums Lever Action Central Lever Actions - General Win 94, comparable gun?

Sorry, brain fade, 38-55.

The BLR is a very nice rifle. Box mag, many cartridge options, great finish.
I have one in a Lightweight in 358 Win. Recoil is surprisingly good for the cartridge. I recenly picked up a Marlin 444 and think that the BLR might be an extra, or if I get motivated I can sell it. The Marlins have always been a favorite for me.

The Savage 99 would get my vote. A scope or red dot is easily mounted over the center of the bore, it balances and shoulders quickly.

Barrel lengths and cartridge choices are more vast than the 1894 Winchester.

Mossberg model 464 in 30-30 is TOPS!! - Sherwood

An early 94 Angle Eject (pre safety models) would be my pick, and they’re what I carry most of the time now. They’re offered in several different calibers. No trouble at all to scope one, and although the triggers ain’t great, they’re doable.

Second choice would be a Savage 99.

Another observation on my part. The hardest part about hunting with lever actions these days is finding a scope that fits one. Unless you go for vintage models, most just don’t feel right on one. Best of luck in your search.

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If your eyes are not so good, a low power scope on one of these.

The 300 seems to be a pretty dang good deer cartridge, in my opinion. The 308 is a little more powerful.

I haven't owned a Model 94 since the late 70s, but I recently bought one because I had a hankering for it. It has a Williams receiver sight on it and it shoots very well at 100 yds even with my old eyes. I add this to a bunch of other lever guns including a Marlin 45.70 trapper, two Savage 99s in .300 Savage, a 99 in .303 Savage. a 99 in .358. I also own a Henry .22 in lever.
One thing I like about the M94 in 30.30 is the availability of ammo, especially as compared to my 99s. I think I will be carrying this little rifle a lot more than my other levers because i like how it carries and shoots. I had a BLR in .300 Winmag for one week but hated that loading and HATED the trigger! I traded that beautiful, almost pristine rifle straight across for a 99T in very well-used condition and both of us felt we got a good deal.
Guns are personal, but when you consider the history and the amount of game (including big game) that has been taken by the Model 94, it's hard to run it down.

I'd rather carry my 1941 savage 99 in 300 savage than pops old 94 from the 70's in 30-30.
The savage action is stronger and I much prefer shooting pointed bullets without a tube magazine.

I'm the exact opposite. Much rather tote a 94 than a choppy action, long 99

You can get 99s with shorter barrels. I Agree the longer ones are a bit unwieldy, but the SR and carbines handle slick. The cock on closing lever does take a little getting used to.

If it doesn't have to be a lever, I'd opt for a Steyr Scout in 308 or 6.5 Creedmoor.

A 94 carries very well. The BLR has the box magazine (which I don’t care for and why I sold mine), the 336’s I’ve had are more accurate than the 94 - not sure that makes a difference inside 200 yards.

I’m new to the Savage 99’s. I had a Marlin 57 22 when I was a youngster and did not like that rifle! I thought the 99’s looked to much like the 57. Now I have two 99’s. I like their accuracy potential. I like their magazine, I like how a scope can be mounted. I still have a couple 94’s and 336’s. But I like the 99’s best as hunting rifles in the areas where I hunt.

If I hunted more in the thick woods or where I might have to take a quick shot, or a shot at a running deer in the woods my choice might be different.

If the BLR had a decent magazine it would be much higher on my list of likes. Some people like detachable magazines and I can see that as an advantage in a combat rifle.

I like 99’s better, easier to mount a scope. The 99’s I’ve had were bolt action accurate

how about putting a williams or skinner peep on it? I think its important to realize the 94 just has its limitations, so just enjoy it for what it is. a gun designed to be shot with irons and at targets around 100 yards. I think people get too fussy about irons. they are meant to hit a pie plate at 100 yards. The only thing keeping the 30-30 from being more of a plinker for me is that the noise is pretty loud if not wearing muffs.

as a result I typically grab my marlin 1894 in 357. the pistol case burns up in the barrel and the noise isn't that bad when not wearing hearing protection. I get my 100 yard plinker in a handy to use package. if you shoot further or want more precision, grab a bolt gun.

A Savage 99 with a pistol grip in .358 cut to 16" carries great hanging on the end of an arm without ever hitting the ground.

I agree with Paint, I have a 94AE in 32WS and it's a great rifle to carry. I never understood the hate for the cross bolt safety though, I actually like having it. If you've ever accidentally let a hammer slip while de-cocking you'll know why. I installed a set of triggershims in my 94 and it made the lever and trigger as smooth as glass. It's the perfect woods gun.

Tikka T3x Compact in 308. https://choose.tikka.fi/global/code/TF1T2927A130063

This is not the CTR, but a shorter version of the T3X. It’s built for women, kids, and people wearing heavy jackets. Overall length is 40.2” with a 20” barrel. Length of pull is 12.5” and has a spacer to bring the stock to full length. I tried the spacer briefly then put it back in the box. The short LOP is a massive advantage when you need to get hits quickly.

The plan is to use it for black bear and blacktail deer on tree farms around the Pacific Northwest, so mostly still hunting in thick brush with occasional shots to ~350 yards.

It’s lighter than advertised. The website says 6 pounds 3 ounces, but mine is 5 pounds 9 ounces. For reference, a Kimber Montana in 308 weighs 5 pounds, 2 ounces. Based on recoil, this is as light as I want to go in a 308 that will use full-power ammo. Lots of practice in prone is a fact of life if you need to make long shots and that's just no fun with a rifle this light.

Accuracy and trigger are typical for a Tikka, but it’s harder to shoot well than a heavier rifle. Weight is 7 pounds, 6 ounces with a Nightforce 3-10x42 SHV. Sub-MOA groups from the bench are common enough with this scope and inexpensive factory loads, but it feels top heavy and awkward in fast offhand shooting and the eye relief is too short for prone.

With a 4x Leupold as shown in the picture, it weighs 6 pounds, 13.75 ounces. It’s fast in offhand but it’s harder to make good groups from the bench. Recoil is also sharp, partly due to the hard factory recoil pad. Eye relief is better with the Leupold but still awkward in prone.

Not sure where I’ll end up on the optic, probably a conventional 3-9x42 with the largest eye box I can find.

Velocities are almost as fast as a 22” barrel. Factory 150s run 2,650 to 2,700 fps and 180s run 2,450 to 2,500 fps. I get 2,700 with the 165-grain handloads that I’ll use for elk. I have two reduced loads for deer in the brush. One uses the 170-grain Speer flat-point designed for the 30-30 at 2,185 fps. The other uses a 150-grain spitzer at 2,250 fps.

Nice rifle overall.


Okie John