Gun Range 2024

[av8or3]

I believe the trouble started at Winchester in 1963-64 when decisions were made to cut the cost of producing firearms. They stopped making some of their most successful rifles thinking that they had run their course and came up with cheaper manufacturing and less complex design changes for the rest. That’s when the rebounding hammer came to be. Probably some lawyers involved as well. The guns produced before 1964 represent the height of firearm manufacture in this country. Would love to see that come back. My old Winchesters are slick as glass, in appearance and function. It’s a history lesson each time one is handled and used. I’ve been lucky in my life, to at least see what it was like to do things right.

 

[FergusonTO35]

My 1978 94 has the standard half cock hammer. If I'm not mistaken, the rebounding hammer came along at roughly the same time angle-eject did, something like 1982-1983. Winchester being Winchester, they did ship some oddities such as top eject rifles with rebounding hammers. They have continued to change the design still. My extra lower tang assembly is from a much more recent rifle and uses a hammer strut with a single leg on top, in fact the hammer will not accept the older type with two legs on top. Just to give credit where credit is due, the 2002 model I used to have was a good shooter and never had a single light strike. It had the usual crappy parts fitment typical of the cheap mart grade 94, but I really should have kept it. I thought I was getting a good deal when I sold it for what I paid new, but as typical for guns/cars/chainsaws/spouses you have to try quite a few before you find a good one. And when you do, hang on to it no matter what!

 

[av8or3]

All this talk of ‘94’s, I had to dig mine out. I originally acquired this in Florida in 2004. It’s one of two rifles I sold to a good friend in 2008. After my friend passed away last year his son asked me if I’d be interested in buying them back, and I did. It’s a 1960 model in about 98% condition and John (my friend) added the tang sight for a successful mule deer hunt in Colorado.
I also have the unused Leverlution ammo in the box from that hunt and some good memories of John.

 

[Hoser]

I love my 50’s 94, it’s been a constant companion of mine in the bush and on the farm. I’ve tried to replace it with different guns over the years but nothing felt “right”.
I did have a miroku 1892 in 44 mag and it was excellent in fit and finish plus butter smooth, I hated the butt of it, bit my shoulder and slapped my cheek

 

[FergusonTO35]

View attachment 406694View attachment 406695All this talk of ‘94’s, I had to dig mine out. I originally acquired this in Florida in 2004. It’s one of two rifles I sold to a good friend in 2008. After my friend passed away last year his son asked me if I’d be interested in buying them back, and I did. It’s a 1960 model in about 98% condition and John (my friend) added the tang sight for a successful mule deer hunt in Colorado.
I also have the unused Leverlution ammo in the box from that hunt and some good memories of John.

Sweet rifle with good spirits!

 

[FergusonTO35]

I have an extra single upper leg hammer strut and so I modified it by shortening the rebound legs by 1/32" and honing the surfaces with a whetstone. I found some Remington large rifle magnum primers and seated them in some empty brass to see if this mod will fix it. If it sets those off then it will set anything off!

 

[FTG-05]

Here's the M11-A1. Can't wait to bail it out!

View attachment 405910View attachment 405911

One of my favorite sidearms, my M11-A1 in FDE color:

 

[Duce]

View attachment 406694View attachment 406695All this talk of ‘94’s, I had to dig mine out. I originally acquired this in Florida in 2004. It’s one of two rifles I sold to a good friend in 2008. After my friend passed away last year his son asked me if I’d be interested in buying them back, and I did. It’s a 1960 model in about 98% condition and John (my friend) added the tang sight for a successful mule deer hunt in Colorado.
I also have the unused Leverlution ammo in the box from that hunt and some good memories of John.

You made me pull mine out of the safe. This 94 was purchased at Williams Gun Sights located in Davison, MI before 1959 (that is the year my father passsed). I am now 70 and have only fired it a few times (killed one deer with it in Morley Michigan while attending Ferris).

 

[FergusonTO35]

Dope! I've been using Williams sights like forever, great products.

 

[Duce]

Dope! I've been using Williams sights like forever, great products.

We lived very close to them on Kettering off of Lapeer road. Been there many times. Dad and grandfather shot on a skeet league. Both avid duck hunters, remember seeing kitchen floor covered with geese and ducks, believe the smell made me remember it when I was that young.

 

[FergusonTO35]

Anyone have experience with the Hi Point 4095 .40 S&W carbine? I'm already set up to cast and load .40's but I don't care for the round in handguns. Would it be any special trick to get black powder .44-40 power level out of the 4095?

 

[av8or3]

The 40S&W is a whole bunch more potent load than the 44-40. I expect no tricks required. Compared to the .40 S&W , the 44-40 is anemic.

 

[av8or3]

I reread your post. It might be tricky if the carbine has to cycle.

 

[Lnk]

I reread your post. It might be tricky if the carbine has to cycle.

Pretty sure all hipoint stuff is straight blowback. As long as you have reasonable velocity, it should cycle.

 

[av8or3]

I have experience with that load in gun powder. The full boat load (powder compressed) 44-40 should just break the sound barrier, around 1000-1100 fps. from a 20” barrel Win 1892, can’t remember the bullet weight. I don’t know what the .40S&W will do but I suspect it’s faster.
You probably already know you have to compress BP when loading it. I’ve not done it but I’ve heard of fellows filling the case half full of gunpowder and topping it off with flower or corn meal to take up the air space. If a “wisp of biscuit aroma”finds its way thru the sulfur, you know somebody’s cooking! lol.

 

[Hoser]

I’m looking for some help. If I put a 21” barrel on a 870 what extension would I need to bring the magazine tube equal to slightly past the barrel. It has a 20 right now but with rifle sights and I hate rifle sights on scatterguns

 

[Lnk]

Broke out the casting furnace for the first time in 7 years. Made a couple hundred 168 grain Keith SWC's, powder coated and sized.

 

[Larry B]

My 1978 94 has the standard half cock hammer. If I'm not mistaken, the rebounding hammer came along at roughly the same time angle-eject did, something like 1982-1983. Winchester being Winchester, they did ship some oddities such as top eject rifles with rebounding hammers. They have continued to change the design still. My extra lower tang assembly is from a much more recent rifle and uses a hammer strut with a single leg on top, in fact the hammer will not accept the older type with two legs on top. Just to give credit where credit is due, the 2002 model I used to have was a good shooter and never had a single light strike. It had the usual crappy parts fitment typical of the cheap mart grade 94, but I really should have kept it. I thought I was getting a good deal when I sold it for what I paid new, but as typical for guns/cars/chainsaws/spouses you have to try quite a few before you find a good one. And when you do, hang on to it no matter what!

When I picked these up the winchester 30-30 was $100. Somebody drilled and tapped the other side for a scope mount and messed up the finish. Got all 3 for $1500. The 1895 is a JM Marlin. I figure I did OK.

 

[FergusonTO35]

Wow, awesome deal! What years are the Marlin and Winchester?

 

[Larry B]

Wow, awesome deal! What years are the Marlin and Winchester?

The Winchester is 1954
Not sure if I should install some screws and some cold blue or just leave it. The Marlin is 1985 according to the "15" as the first 2 numbers of the SN