Well I'm 54 years of age and never owned or fired a lever action rifle. My dad got tired of waiting on me to buy a lever action rifle so for Christmas he gave me a new in the box Centennial Winchester 94 chambered in 30-30. With the rifle came two requests: #1 Use it. #2 Don't let me catch you putting a scope on it.

Since I am bolt action fan and have shot ten's of thousands of rounds with them, I know nothing about the care and feeding of a lever gun. What type of bullets do you lever gun fans have the best luck with? Round nose or flat nose? What weight seems to work best, 150 or 170 gr.? What powders give the best results? Deer and feral hogs will be the targets. Has anyone tried the new Hornaday pointed ammo Lever Evelution or something like that?

Now for the big question. Since my dad requested no scope be put on it, does any one know of a good reciever sight. Since I have a BAD stigmatism in my eyes the rear sight is blurry I need to do something different. Since it is the Angle Eject type, the top of the reciever is drilled and tapped for a scope. That would be great if some one made a reciver sight that would fit the rear scope base holes. Can anyone help me with that one. Oh, one other question, does any one make a bore guide so as not to damage the crown when cleaning from the muzzle end? It is kind of embarrasing admitting I have never owned or shot a lever gun at my age...lol But that is the truth told about it. Thanking everyone in advance!

PaPa 260

Papa
Take a look at the Lyman or Williams for a reciever sight.

Also thak a look at the Merit Iris.
Its "peep" opening is adjustable for the various light conditions you encounter while hunting.

For cleaning Kleenbore and Pro-Shot make a brass muzzle protector.

If you are shooting bigger deer and big pigs I would use a 170 gr bullet, Hornady "Leverloution", Federal 170 Nosler Partition or the PMC Starfire 150 gr.

I wouldn't clean from the muzzle. Take the bolt out - yes, it's a pain - and clean from the chamber. It's much safer on the barrel and you can clean the action while its apart.

I picked up one once at a Gunshop that had a globe front site installed on it, and a Lyman receiver site in the back...

for the 200 yds a 30/30 is best for, it was as good of a site setup as any scope.... especially if you eyes are old and don't focus all that hot like at my age ( 54)....

getting old sucks... unless you are a firearm...

Me, myself, I want a 30/30 in a Winchester Model 54... along with a 35 Remington in a Win 54...

and a 25, 30, 32, and 35 Remington, in the Remington 30S.....

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Originally posted by Papa 260:
...What type of bullets do you lever gun fans have the best luck with? Round nose or flat nose? What weight seems to work best, 150 or 170 gr.? What powders give the best results? Deer and feral hogs will be the targets.

Hey PaPa 260, Since you tossed Hogs in the mix, I'd go with a good old 170gr FP from any of the Bullet manufacturers. You are blessed with an abundance of Powders which work well in the 30-30. I like H414 with the 170gr weight and H4895 with the 150gr weights.

The 150gr RN Hornady (#3035) is a 2-diameter design which means the part forward of the Cannelure is Bore Diameter and the Shank aft of the Cannelure is Groove diameter. Due to this Pressure is reduced even more than with other styles and velocity can SAFELY be increased. You need to use Pressure Ring Expansion as the Pressure Indicator in these older designs. If you develop a good Load with the 150gr RN Hornady, DO NOT just stick a different 150gr bullet in the cartridge without re-developing the Load.

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Has anyone tried the new Hornaday pointed ammo Lever Evelution or something like that?

No, but it does look like an excellent design on paper.

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Now for the big question. Since my dad requested no scope be put on it, does any one know of a good reciever sight. Since I have a BAD stigmatism in my eyes the rear sight is blurry I need to do something different. Since it is the Angle Eject type, the top of the reciever is drilled and tapped for a scope. That would be great if some one made a reciver sight that would fit the rear scope base holes. Can anyone help me with that one. ...

Go to Natchez Shooters Supplies and look for " XS Ghost Ring Hunting Sights " which will be Part# F10AQWI00095, Win 94 Angle Eject w/Front Base. It is On Sale for $79.95. I don't know if the Winchester one comes with the Front Blade or not, but they sell them too.

Great old cartridge when used for appropriate size Game(Deer, Hogs, Coyotes). Best of luck to you with it.

Gentlemen, I appreciate the replies. I will defintely investigate the sights offered by Lyman and Willams. The Merit Iris. An adjustable appature sounds like a great idea. Also the bore guide for the muzzle will get investigate, as will removal of the bolt for cleaning. I really hate to clean from the muzzle end of rifle. How big of a pain is it? What all is involved?

Seafire, you are right it does suck getting old. I am no where near as hard as I used to be. Comparing getting old to a firearm getting old is a good one. I had never though of it that way. As far as the Model 54, I want one in 22 Hornet. I have looked at several but all were rough for the money asked. My neighbor has one that is pristine, and I drool every time I think about.

Hot Core, I appreciate the info on the different bullets and powders as well as the heads up about the Ghost Ring sight. I have a ghost ring sight on an 870 Rem. Tactical shotgun I keep handy at the house and I like that sight as well.

Again, thanks for the information and have a Happy, Healthy and Proserous New Year!

PaPa 260

I havent much important to say but why should that stop me.

First up, I'd use the Otis pull thru system, you'd only need the basic kit, and everything is from the chamber. You don't want to be pushing crud towards the action.
I gave up on the Otis patch system and use an old brush with a strip of rag wound around it. Quicker and simpler.

When I did use a rod from the muzzle I'd hold a brush or whatever in the open action and screw the rod on and pull everything from the chamber.

Don't know about pulling the bolt out or what that will accomplish, the poster might be thinking of a Marlin?

I have a Williams peep on the rear and drilled it out a bit to suit me. I find a ghost ring too big, but if your used to one it may do.
I tried a peep front sight a "smith" made for me for a few dollars, and for old eyes and big game it was great. With smaller pests I had the bad habit of "framing" the animal instead of picking a point to centre the front peep on.

A larger than normal front bead helps with my astigmagism.

I usually try a few different factory rounds as a control for my handloads, don't expect as good as your bolt actions, but one only need to shorten the range to compensate.

I don't know what your Centennial is, only know of the Centennial 66 model and that certainly won't have the angle eject feature.
My old clunker is a 67 saddle ring carbine with a little scroll work, and a trigger job.

PS. I like your fathers attitude.

I think Winchester made several Centennial models. I have a Canadian Centennial and I know there were several state centennials as well as the 1866-1966 Centennial model with the gold plated (?) receiver.
I don't think removing the bolt to clean the gun is an option. IIRC, it would take a total dismantling of the rifle to do that, and having done it once for other reasons can say, "It ain't a fun thing!" Also, dry firing isn't a good thing. Firing pins are easily broken.
Frankly, a good old Winchester 94 has ridden behind the seat of my pick up truck for over 40 years. They're most fun for shooting cast bullets, which BTW, can be loaded to full power for serious hunting. Either a Williams or Lyman receiver sight will work for you, or if you like, Lyman has brought out a remake of their tang sight which might work even better.
My first centerfire rifle which I got in 1949 was a Winchester 94 made in 1911 that was originally owned by my Great-grandfather. I still have that rifle and I would feel totally gun deprived if I did not have at least one "94 Winnie" in my collection.
Paul B.

Here's a copy of the Owner's Manual. I thought it had the disassembly instructions, but it doesn't.

http://stevespages.com/pdf/winchester_94.pdf

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Don't know about pulling the bolt out or what that will accomplish, the poster might be thinking of a Marlin?

I am well aware this is not a Marlin, but the bolt can still be removed and the barrel can be cleaned from the chamber.

Seafire, good choice of a Winchester M-54 .30-30, they are slick. Sold mine years ago (young and stupid) and now I have a "custom .30-30" built on a M1912 Steyr Mauser action. It handles any ammo I care to load for it and doesn't cause a worry about pointed bullets. Of course, this rifle was built on the cheap so it is only a three shot critter due to magazine problems. Still it is fun, and clearly capable of taking Whitetails. Sure would like to come across an affordable M-54 though.
LLS

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Originally posted by Papa 260: Since I have a BAD stigmatism in my eyes the rear sight is blurry I need to do something different.

PaPa 260

Try this. Find yourself another as issued rear sight for for that 94. Maybe a second hand one. Take a small file and file the V notch in the shape of a square or a semi circle if using a small chain saw file. make it big enough that when you look at the front sight trough it this back site looks like you are looking into the bottom half of a peep sight. U...1 You need to see lots of daylight on each side of the front sight when looking trough the back site.

So now you have it. Now slip off the original to the gun "the back sight" and slide on the one you just babba-ed. Put blueing or black marker on the shiney metal...for now. You might need to file more...

Now put this dumb assed set up to your eyes and tell me....what do you see. The dumb assed haze from astigmatisium moves to the sides of the back site and leaves you a fresh sight picture!

This works for me...I use it on .22 I use open sight only.

What is going to happen in the smith's mind when I explain I what this notch on an express site??? for a 9,3x62...LOL

Exit31.

Exit, you may be on to something there. I didn't think about it much but I get a good sight picture with my express sight, and the first thing I did with a revolver rear sight years ago is run a rat tail file thru it.