Dad's old model 94

Some may wonder why I would take an old model 94 Winchester 30-30 out an hunt deer with it. Mostly I would say because I can. I have shot plenty deer with my 30-06 and a shot gun, hand gun, other guns. This gun was my fathers that he got when he was I believe 16. Growing up I never used or borrowed dad's gun to shoot a deer. Did carried it once for a day when I was maybe 15?? Never was comfortable with the whole, lever, hammer deal with cold hands. When my dad died he left the gun to my sister I guess figuring us 4 boys, my brothers and I might all fight over it?? Dad hadn't actually used or carried it himself for many years. Up grading to a 35 Remington wanting more knock down..

Earlier this fall I ask my sister would she mind if I carried the old mans 30-30. Of course in our hunting group I'm now the old man. Little sister thought my using the gun was neat idea so it was not a problem to use it. This morning at little after 10 am I took about 60+ yard shot. Slowed down the first deer the old 94 has been shot at in probably over 15 years or more.
I got to say big Thank you to my son Jesse for dragging the deer to the logging road. I thought I was pretty healed up from my new right hip. Man was I wrong! can you say whoose! couldn't drag that thing more then 10-15 feet at a time with out half dieing. Wasn't looking pretty for me with 200 yards or so to the logging road.
So any way why use dad's old gun? Because I can.



Mac

pretty cool.

NICE! Great story Mac, thanks for sharing. I have a 94, I may let my niece use it and make some memories.

Well done!

Osky

Rumor has it....that the 30-30 round has dropped more deer than any other cartridge. I also own a pre 64 model 94 ..30-30 ..plenty of power.

Many of those looking down there noses at old lever guns and think the "modern sporting rifles" are all the rage would be shocked to learn the old 30WCF is everything the 7.62x39 is but better.

Way to go, that pretty cool

Nice shot Mac. love my model 94

Nice shooting. You must have pretty good vision to line up those sights. I'm at the age where a scope is almost a necessity at 60 yards.

awesome,thats what deer hunting is all about.

I like the lever guns.Many moose have been killed with multiple shots from the lever 30 30.
I carried a ruger model 96 for many years on the trapline to shoot beaver.

Nice to put those old guns back into service to perform the tasks they were made to do. Great buck and story, Mark.

Beautiful

that's awesome,here its 760 pumps.have shot deer with everyone grampa and dad did-we have 8-now the boys are starting to use them instead of their own guns.priceless to me

Good for you. Great story

It is a good way to keep your fathers legacy going. Maybe your brothers or sister should each try to take a deer with the rifle also. Congrats on the deer.

Of all the guns I have that would work great for deer hunting, my Pre 64-Winchester 94(32 Win.Spl.) still gets carried each year.

I got it for an early Christmas present when I was 16. I'm now 71.

The new Hornady ammo shoots well in this old gun.

Great story, Good Shooting!

Great story. Thank you for sharing.

Mac All the anti hunters all think we hunters are a bunch of heartless jerks that just want to kill something .Your story is a prefect example of how that is not why we hunt . The traditions , friendship and the love of the outdoors are what keep us wanting to keep hunting . That is a story worth sharing with your whole family .Even those that came along after your Dad passed should read it .His gun is a connection to his life

Touching story and a blessed experience!

Chris

that's great I might have to break out dad old 8mm and shoot a deer

Great pic Mac, great rifle and great memories. Well done !

Great story and picture Mac, congratulations! Glad Jesse was there to help ya out.

Zim

Fresh back from Vietnam I went to buy a deer rifle. Went into a hardware store and there was the prettiest Winchester 94 I'd ever seen. It was a Teddy Roosevelt Commemorative carbine. Bought it and hunted with it a couple of years, then realized it was too flashy in the woods, and was supposed to be a collector gun. Started camo taping it and have used it to kill every deer I have ever killed with a modern gun. Hex barrel, extremely accurate. Open sights. Oldest grandson has dibs on it when I pass on.

Those things kick like a mule but you can kill a whole field full of deer with them! As fast as you can shoot ‘em.

Good memories around old firearms are what makes them special.
I also have a '94 - a 1956 model - belonged to my sister who is now deceased... love that old gun.

Nice buck
Love those old Winchester’s

Great pic and story.

The 94 front and center in this pic is in my safe now. Was my grandfathers (in this pic from 1939), he gave it to my dad in 1960, who gave it to me in 1991.

Got my first deer with it that year. I try to get it out in the woods every few years.

Maybe a lyman peep site .

great story to your old rifle. you gotta love them old lever guns with a history. it just feels right to carry one in the woods.i got more deer rifles than I could use in several seasons but I never go to deer camp without a lever gun. killed a nice doe with mine a week ago today. congrats on a nice buck.

Great story.
I have my Dads 94 and a pic of him with it on his first deer hunt, shortly after his 16th birthday in 1955. They will be my sons when he is old enough to appreciate and take care of them. Dad only got to be with AJ(my son) for a few years before he passed, but AJ was Grandpa's little buddy.

LOVE IT!

Rusty Axe Camp

I love looking at the old photo's so cool. Been asking family trying to find a pic of my Grand Father with his old 94. The only photo I have with myself and my grand father is the one below from early 1960s. It was taken when we were clearing the spot where my dad build his cottage. I'm the little guy in the pic leaning on the ax, left of our grampa. Other two are my older brothers. I'm not sure if the ax I have is my dad's or grand fathers? I still have both those axes though.
The other pic is my grand father model 94 Winchester in 32-40 which I now have. Next to it is my fathers Model 94 that I shot this years deer with. Grampa's 94 I'm told was made in 1920 or 21 my Dad's was made in I believe 1940's. I haven't looked up the serial numbers yet and really nailed it down. I'm told Grampa's 94 was considered a true rifle so explains it being longer, Dad's 94 is a carbine.





Mac

I love these stories. I have my grandfathers 12 ga side by side. I have many old guns as I have collected them for years. Without a doubt my grandfathers old gun has the most value to me. If the house was a fire and I could only save one item that old double barrel would be it. If it could only talk. It is well know to my family that gun goes to my oldest grandson. He has spent many days with me on the trapline and hunting.

I enjoyed seeing the old pictures and guns. Especially the old 1894 in 32-40 caliber. I first deer hunted with a burrowed 32-40 from our neighbor in Missouri where I grew up. I have several 32-40's in my collection. Winchester still makes 32-40 brass and Graf & Sons from Mexico Mo. still sells loaded ammo.


Happy Thanksgiving to all my Trapperman brothers and sisters and thanks for the memories.

Hey, Mac!

Nice story, nice shot and nice photo!

I saw this earlier over Kerry's shoulder but didn't get a chance to reply. I just saved a copy of that photo on my computer so we have that nice picture of you.

Congratulations, Buddy!
Patrice

Great story. My first deer rifle was a model 94. Killed my first buck with it. Sold it because of the exposed hammer, but wish I still owned it.

Open sights, wood furniture...nothing better. Timeless and classic