I'm older & one of the fortunate few. Still able to hunt deer in my old age. I'm, working thru my old hunting rifles. Shot a deer every other year or so the past few seasons w my vintage hunting rifles. Anyway, I'm down to a Very Very old Winchester 1894 30WCF octagon barrel w/ a Lyman peep sight unit. I've only had this old girl out to the range maybe 3 times in the past twenty something years. Oh, & only with reduced velocity loads. Seems Ok enough, rifling is decent for it's age, I want to test drive this rifle w/ cast bullets & shoot a deer this year with it. How many of you would risk or try this stunt? mike in ct
So, Would U punk ?
- Thread starter mikeinct
- Start date
I'm hearing you Rem06/NETim. I shot my first deer w a late 60's early 70's Win. Model 1894.. It was just an Ok rifle. it was my second centerfire rifle. This thing [ the old girl ] is "special" . I need to get the Cody Winchester Museum to provide me with the "Letter" about it .. I don't think this leather scabbard unit ever left Ct. mikeinct
Absolutely I would. I have never bought a gun with the intent of never shooting it. Think of it this way. How would you feel if your children or grandchildren decided that you were to old and frail to take hunting, then leave you to sit in a dark place all by yourself? Seem to me that we are talking about the same thing. Also seem to me, that you owe it to that old girl to breath some life back into her and let her do what she was made to do!
Remember, it's not the guns that we pass down that make the difference, it's the stories to be talked about that make the difference! "Remember when (Dad/Grandpa) shot that big buck with this old girl?" "Man! What a memory!"
Remember, it's not the guns that we pass down that make the difference, it's the stories to be talked about that make the difference! "Remember when (Dad/Grandpa) shot that big buck with this old girl?" "Man! What a memory!"
CaptainMal
Silver $$ Contributor
Of course you should have fun. If it is fun to take the old guy/gal out for a hunt, then do it. You will not take it with you. Use it now and enjoy the experience.
Never wait to do something tomorrow that may not come.
Never wait to do something tomorrow that may not come.
Unless the deer your going after wear kevlar, heck yes!
I guess I am roughly your age, maybe a little older at the south side of 84. I shoot my old Win 94, bought in 1949 and marked 30WCF also. I shoot 170 grain lead cast w/GC and it works just great. But starting last year, in my state, I must load it with non lead bullets to be legal.
So you will be just fine working with yours and following standard loading data for lead bullets in your 30wcf (30-30 load data)
So you will be just fine working with yours and following standard loading data for lead bullets in your 30wcf (30-30 load data)
When I was in my late 20’s I had gone through the shotgun w/ slug, a 7600 rem 30-06, then a Win 70 xtr sporter in 30-06…. There might have been a stainless Abolt in 338 Win mag after that even…. Anyway, I started dreaming about the ultimate woods rifle and a friend brokered a deal for me on a Win 71 348. Used that for the next few years in the north woods of WI. Enjoyed the heck out of that old rifle and made a couple pretty cool shots. Still remember a buck running down a ridge towards a swamp at close to dark. Had to point up towards the sky to align the sights, brought the rifle down with both eyes open and shot him as he ran through a small opening at 40-50 yards. I can still see that brass front sight bead swing through him as I slapped the trigger as if shooting a flushing grouse. Hit him just above the heart and he never broke stride until nosediving 20 yards further…. It was incredibly rewarding. Don’t think any other rifle in my hands could have made it any more special.
I say give it a go and enjoy the experience!
I say give it a go and enjoy the experience!
I'd do it Mike. Sorta "gives purpose" to things.
We shoot Gdad's WWI carried(Army Air Corp) 1911 cpl times a year with cast 200's and target loads. Keep your cast bullets as sharp/crisp as possible..... not necessarily "hard". And don't get carried away with the lube..... I've taken plain Jane,beeswax/vaseline up to starting JB velocity with bragging accuracy. Hate to wear it out but,"fitting" dimensionally trumps pretty much everything castly speaking. Have 22-250,and straight 6mmR loads that are flat out screaming fast with only the little space above GC being lubed. To the point,"less is more".
Less lube to go faster. I know it doesn't make sense but best I can tell is that each rig has a spot in the velocity curve where the lube goes to vapor.... beating the bullet to the muzzle. Slow moving pistol bullets need more lube than a 6mm doing 2800+.
Further,probably more than you want to know....
Think of cast and lube as being like a paint spraygun. There's fluid controls on there,adjusting one.... effects others. But each gun,spray or firearm is going to require a different adjustment. One of the nuances that pi$$es off new guys about cast,and slightly lesser JB's. There's no,set it and forget it with a cast recipe when it comes to sharing on say the interweeb. Tough to put into words.... you just have to play with the controls looking for the right combo. Very best of luck,and have fun.
We shoot Gdad's WWI carried(Army Air Corp) 1911 cpl times a year with cast 200's and target loads. Keep your cast bullets as sharp/crisp as possible..... not necessarily "hard". And don't get carried away with the lube..... I've taken plain Jane,beeswax/vaseline up to starting JB velocity with bragging accuracy. Hate to wear it out but,"fitting" dimensionally trumps pretty much everything castly speaking. Have 22-250,and straight 6mmR loads that are flat out screaming fast with only the little space above GC being lubed. To the point,"less is more".
Less lube to go faster. I know it doesn't make sense but best I can tell is that each rig has a spot in the velocity curve where the lube goes to vapor.... beating the bullet to the muzzle. Slow moving pistol bullets need more lube than a 6mm doing 2800+.
Further,probably more than you want to know....
Think of cast and lube as being like a paint spraygun. There's fluid controls on there,adjusting one.... effects others. But each gun,spray or firearm is going to require a different adjustment. One of the nuances that pi$$es off new guys about cast,and slightly lesser JB's. There's no,set it and forget it with a cast recipe when it comes to sharing on say the interweeb. Tough to put into words.... you just have to play with the controls looking for the right combo. Very best of luck,and have fun.
Had one made in 1898 and it was fine with factory ammo. Regret selling that one as it was a special order gun.
When i hunted in Gunnison CO in 1989 the outfitter used his great uncle's octagon barrel 30/30 that was made in 1914 if i remember. He kills 3 or 4 elk every year for his freezer. if his is any indicator you will have no problem. Thats what these guns were designed for, and deer haven't changed much since then.
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