03/07/2021

If only someone would design a compact, lightweight, high capacity, fast shooting rifle that would take deer, cleanly, at 200 yards? That statement addresses the needs and application of at least 80% of the deer hunts in the United States. Yet the current trend is the long range rifle; long barrel, heavy weight, often chambered for a magnum size cartridge.Why?

There are a multitude of reasons, both recreational and security, for owning a firearm, where hunting is only one. Many rifles purchased never get farther than the rifle range where the objectives are to punch holes in a target and impress the shooter at the adjacent bench, so there is little to challenge selections as hunting firearms.

Mention the 30-30 Winchester in social media as an appropriate firearm for 100 yard deer rifle and the boo birds will immediately dismiss the cartridge as barely rabbit worthy; too short ranged and mostly chambered in old fashioned lever action rifles. Which will come as a surprise to anyone who has actually lived and hunted at any point within the past century… especially to those who have departed and are hardly ever asked to opine.

The Winchester Model 1894, a John Browning design, was the first Winchester designed specifically for smokeless powder cartridges. With minor interruptions, it has been in production for roughly one hundred and twenty seven years.

Plain and highly embellished, barrel lengths from 14 1/2″ to 36″, take down and one piece, the Model 1894 has come to mean many things to a lot of people. With minor interruptions, the carbine version has been available since the onset of production in 1894. How could such a rifle remain in production for so long?

Like the Models: 1885, 1886, 1890, 1892, 1895. and 1900 the Winchester Model 1894 is a John Browning design. Where the Model 1886 was designed for long, large bore black powder rifle cartridges and the Model 1892 was made for big bore, black powder revolver cartridges, the Model 1894 was designed for long length, smaller bore, smokeless powder cartridges.

The Model 94 does not have the dimensional capacity to handle the 0.608″ rim of the 45-70 Gov’t cartridge, but it does comfortably handle the 0.532″ rim of the 450 Marlin and its 47,862 PSI MAP. The current Model 1894’s receiver is machined from solid billet and is an angle eject design; the right receiver wall is lowered, the extractor is located at 1:00 o’clock on the both and the ejector is at 7:30. Yes, both AM and PM.

Above, Model 1892 top image, Model 1894 bottom. The Model 1892’s side locking bolts move perpendicular to the bore. The Model 1894’s rear locking bolt moves with the bottom of the receiver and locks with a 10° rearward cant relative to the bolt’s longitudinal axis, but parallel to the rear surface of the breech bolt. The Model 1894 differs from the Models 1886 and 1892 in that the bottom of the Model 94’s receiver is hinged and toggles the motion of the lever to allow a longer bolt stroke within a compact receiver length. Side rails on the breech bolt make for smooth bolt travel and locate and hold the bolt to bore centerline.

The 30-30 Winchester chambered Model 1894 is fast handling, compact, light in weight and high capacity. In the hands of competent hunters, it is capable of clean kills on deer size game at 200 yards and elk size game a bit closer. While Winchester limits their 30-30 Winchester ammunition to deer size game, companies like Federal and Hornady list 30-30 Winchester products as suitable for big, thin skinned, game up to 1,500 lbs.

Currently, there are forty two factory loads, sold under twelve ammunition brands for the 30-30 Winchester shooter. They are loaded in bullet weights from 125 grains to 190 grains, including subsonic, lead, jacketed lead and lead free projectiles. An example of factory ammo performance…

Diversity

There are many bullets for the 30-30 Winchester handloader. Flat nose, round nose or soft point spire FTX, they are all safe in a tubular magazine. Notations below, as they appear above left to right.

The Barnes X, FN is a no lead content bullet, legal in states where someone convinced legislators that a moose might find a stray bullet in a million acres, eat it and drop dead, or that there are hunters who leave lead in harvested meat, cook both and then eat it and… drop dead. Probably next to a moose.

The problem with low density, all copper alloy bullets is that they are very long. They rob cases of powder capacity, they produce higher levels of bore friction and they do not stabilize well with standard rifling twist rates. That said, where used, they do penetrate well and expand properly even at 30-30 Winchester level velocity.

Remington Core-Lokt 150 grain bullets are killer, literally. Over many years of hunting with the 30-30 Winchester, under many circumstances, most all game was taken with this bullet. No, not specifically THIS bullet, but rather this type of bullet. Leaving a behind the shoulder 3″ exit wound in a big pig is not an easy task, but that has been the result. Inexpensive and effective hunting bullet.

The Sierra Pro Hunter is very similar to the Remington Core-Lokt in performance, but at twice the price. The Remington bullet has a slightly better BC at 0.195 versus 0.185 for the Sierra.

The Hornady FTX at a weight midpoint between the old 150 and 170 gain standard brought pointy bullets safely to the 30-30 Winchester. They are also a very long bullet with a shank that protrudes into a case about the same as a monolithic Barnes. The FTX is a high antimony content lead core bullet. Hornady also offers a solid copper Monoflex for the 30-30 Winchester at 140 grains. Is the point worth it?

In this first comparison, the velocity was set to 2300 fps to isolate bullet performance from velocity differences. Clearly, the Hornady FTX outperforms the Remington bullet… on paper… at the same velocity.

The Hornady FTX still outperformed the Remington 150 grain Core-Lokt… or did it? The Remington bullet cost 24 cents per bullet, the Hornady cost is 44 cents… $4 per box of 20  more for the Hornady. Not enough to offset the gain. Performance on game? Can’t tell, as I do not have more than inconsequential experience with the Hornady bullet. I do have 5,000 Remington Core-Lokt bullets on the shelf. The Remington wins hands down!!…! Of greater importance in the selection process, typical shots at Maine deer are taken inside 100 yards, where the Remington ballistically outperforms the Hornady, even theoretically.

The 170 grain Nosler round nose, soft point is a good one. Ballistic coefficient approximately halfway between the Remington Core-Lokt and Hornady FTX, tough H jacket bullet that expands fully at 30-30 WCF velocity, is magazine safe and feeds well through the Winchester.

The 170 grain cast TrueShot is low cost, deep penetrating on game and actually quite accurate. It also makes a good light load for target practice and work on smaller game where it doesn’t expand or fragment.

Handloads and handload data

Handload observations?

The goal in each case was accuracy without pushing pressure to an excess. Subsequently, velocity varies significantly within bullet weight groups. Please keep in mind that factory ratings are based on 24″ test barrels, not 20″ carbine barrels.

Some newish powder types were worked into the project. Usually, particularly the case with Alliant Powder, whatever is a new powder listing seems to consistently reflect major velocity gains over earlier product types. Unfortunately, the listings and the chronograph are often at odds. In some cases, like Hodgdon CFE223 the suggested gain is easily realized.

Accuracy with loads posted were very good. I think there is a reason Winchester Lever guns lost some of their 100 yard group size performance when they stopped drilling and tapping rifles for scope mounts; writer’s eyesight and open sight mastery… or lack of the same. Which is why I am not posting group sizes. All of the posted loads will put 5 shots on a regulation size playing card at 50 yards. Much smaller than the vitals of a deer and most Maine snow shoe hares.

None of the handloads were difficult to feed, all cycled, all easily extracted and ejected, loaded or as empties.

Winchester shooting observations

What I really appreciate is that, unlike most recent, pre Ruger purchase Marlins, the Winchester remains tight, trim and compact. No bulbous, capped forearms, no hefty pistol grip, no garish patterned checkering that Marlin had evolved into. This shows on the scale, it shows when acquiring a target and it shows when carrying it up and down Maine’s granite filled hills and mountains.

Winchester’s nomenclature for the butt end of the Winchester Model 1894 Carbine is “carbine, metal strap”. That it certainly is. Did not notice it while shooting, didn’t hang up on bulky winter clothing. Recoil is so mild that a recoil pad would be superfluous and a straight cut steel butt plate would look… goofy. I figure there are eight Model 94 types to select from, so if preferences are different from this basic carbine, there are others.

The lever… OK, I hate big loop levers. They are most suitable for TV shows that are no longer with us. Even in my comfy shooting sweats, a big loop lever makes me feel like a… dandy. I’m old, so I know what that means. You may have to look up the definition. That said, it is a little tight getting enough fingers in the lever and compressing the trigger stop enough to release the trigger. Of course, the lever has been that way for 127 years and my problem arose a few days ago, so perhaps not a big deal and I prefer the compact carry.

The action is slick, fast and the finish on metal bits and wood are very good. Certainly not a handling mark magnet and a quick clean up after shooting. If there is a need for a mechanical safety, the tang is a good place to put it, aesthetically and ease of use. I really don’t care for those Frankenstein receiver mounted cross bolt safeties. The rebounding hammer offers safety in handling and it has been too long since I have owned a gun with a half cock position to even notice the difference. The Winchester Model 94 is as relevant today in woodland hunting as it was in 1894. Honestly, not much has come along that makes for a better deer rifle.