11/13/2022 - BLOG COMMENTS are again allowed and are moderated to exclude only the bots, advertisements, racial / ethnic pejoratives, and embedded links. I'll attempt to honor Chicago's historical "Bughouse Square" concept of free-speech and open debate --- spanning the curve from the far-left to the far-right. /JZ
Blogging to you from the Northeastern Badlands of The County of Lake, in the state currently known as Fatmanistan, DEEP DEEP DEEP DEEP DEEP inside the heartland of the Banana Republic formerly known as the USA, WELCOME TO THE NEXT CHAPTER! WARNING! ALL FORMS OF SOCIAL MEDIA ARE ADDICTIVE; EXCESSIVE USE MAY LEAD TO MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS, REDUCED JOB PRODUCTIVITY, INSOMNIA, SOCIAL ALIENATION, GENITAL ULCERS, BLINDNESS, POLITICAL EROTICISM, AND / OR DEVIANT FUNAMBULISM. NOTICE: NO GUNS OR AMMUNITION ARE FOR SALE VIA THIS BLOG. (No, I will not trade my Colt Python for some lubricious adventures with your trophy wife and a future first-round draft pick.) CAVEAT: This blog is not suitable for viewing while at work, while inside a public library, while inside any public or private school, or while inside any public or private restroom. Do not view this blog while driving a motor vehicle or while piloting an aircraft. Viewing this blog may be illegal inside the EU, NYC, Chicago, Seattle, and other parts of the Third World. THIS BLOG CONTAINS (albeit often very childish) ADULT-CONTENT. DISCLAIMER: This blog is a hobby, it is not a livelihood. Even though much of what I blog about relates to firearms collecting and recreational shooting, I am not an expert (by any measure) on any facet of guns, shooting, hunting, or personal defense. Entries at this blog are akin to good old-fashioned campfire chats or post hunt bourbon-fueled barroom-bluster; I offer no opinion on what you should or should not purchase, or what you should be using or doing. What does or does not work for me could be rugged-country-miles away from your tastes and your needs. All products, places, and miscellany that I review for this blog are purchased / rented / leased at retail price by me. I do not accept payment, gifts, discounts, freebies, products on loan, distilled spirits, recreational pharmaceuticals, plea-bargains, probation, parole, Papal Blessings, Presidential Pardons, or sexual favors for doing any review or blog post. TRACKING COOKIES: Google et al stick tracking cookies on everybody. If you are online, you are being spied on via one method or another, for one reason or another; 'nuff said. You may be able to minimize your online DNA residue by using Tor and Duck Duck Go. Vive la liberté! Vive all y'all! Ante omnia armari. To each of you, thanks for stopping by!

Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Winchester 94 AE Ranger .30-30

Winchester 94 AE Ranger
Overall Length = 38 inches
Weight = 6.25 lbs
Barrel Length = 20 inches
Barrel Twist = 1 turn in 12 inches
Cartridge = .30-30 Winchester
Magazine Capacity = 6 round (tubular magazine)

Manufacture of Winchester rifles and shotguns in the USA ceased in 2006.  I purchased this Model 94 AE Ranger new sometime between 1992 and 2002 (I'll dig out the records when I get a chance and update my memory along with this blog entry).   I may have purchased this rifle from a Kmart store; I paid somewhere around $200 if memory serves.  Purists lament the cost saving manufacturing changes that were used post 1964, but I am of the opinion that the final years of USA manufacturing were not bad at all; this is a jim-dandy knockabout .30-30 carbine.



THE FOLLOWING IS FROM WIKIPEDIA  (CLICK HERE for the entire Wikipedia article)
... U.S. Repeating Arms did not flourish, declaring bankruptcy in 1989. It was subsequently purchased by Belgian arms maker FN Herstal, which set about improving the whole Winchester line, instituting modern CNC methods of production at Winchester's (USA) factory while also seeking to expand the sales and marketing of Winchester rifles worldwide. This effort would culminate in two major changes to the gun in 1992: the reintroducing of now-CNC-machined parts and solid pins back into the action, and the elimination of the traditional half-cock safety notch on the hammer in favor of a cross-bolt safety, which enabled the gun to be sold internationally.
Though the increase in build quality was noted at the time, it was the conspicuous presence of the new safety that generated the strongest opinions. It was widely reviled by American consumers and gun writers alike as a "lawyer" safety, who said it detracted from the overall look, feel, and operation of the rifle. FNH and Winchester responded in 2003 by moving the safety to the tang behind the receiver, which largely quelled the controversy. Both the last Model 94s to leave the New Haven factory before American production ceased in 2006 and the new Model 94s produced in Japan since 2010 by Miroku Corp. feature these tang-mounted safeties



The AE in the name designates the action as being Angle Eject; meaning the spent cases would be ejected more to the side rather then straight up; this allowed mounting a scope farther back towards the shooters eye.  However, a low mounted scope could get in the way of a thick-handed shooter being able to thumb the hammer ... so a removable (and ambidextrous) knurled pin was factory supplied to be screwed into the side of the hammer as an extension.

The receiver came from the factory drilled and tapped for mounting a scope.



Back when I bought this box of ammo I probably thought the store (now long gone) was price-gouging.  









7 comments:

  1. I have one. It often rides in the trunk of my car. Not a EBR, but six rounds of .30-30 should do what needs to be done. I might look into the Hornady LEVERevolution fodder, though.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Heh, oh heck yeah! I'd say everyone in the USA (perhaps the world) knows what a Model 94 looks like ... and it certainly would looks like big trouble to those on the wrong end.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Nice rifle you have there.

    I have always liked Winchesters, at least somewhat but have never bought one of their lever guns if only because they top eject. With regard to ejection, I much prefer a Marlin lever gun.

    As for that ammo, it is currently going for only $13.20 a box at this place: https://vizardsgunsandammo.com/rem-ammo-r30302-core-lokt-30-30-win-core-lokt-soft-point-170-gr-20box-10case/. No idea what they charge for shipping but not a bad price nowadays for the ammo.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Nice Winchester, it’ll get the job done. The later models were definitely easier to mount a scope to.

    http://wilson--blog.blogspot.com/2014/12/people-with-guns-collection-77.html

    ReplyDelete
  5. The Win 30-30 was the first firearm I bought after I came of age. That was in 1977. I bought it new from the hardware store for around $125. I sure have made great memories with it.

    As this was California I think it befitting to mention that it took about 5 minutes to complete the purchase. I had no need for the shipping box so left that at the store. I walked out the store and a bit down the sidewalk carrying a rifle and two boxes of cartridges. No one batted an eye.

    Rick

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Zack
    Love the 30-30 Winchester, it's the first full bore rifle I ever shot when I was a teenager.

    In 1977 I visited relatives in Canada. We stayed with a friend of theirs for a couple of days in BC and he had an ancient pitted 30-30 Winchester on his wall. It had been dredged up from some local river I believe. He let me handle it and then took me to his gun safe which held a mint 30-30. I think it was a Carbine as I remember the barrel being shorter that the one in your photo.

    Next day he took me up to his local range and set up some clays (not far away)which I duly blasted. No ear protection and I thought it had a bit of a kick at the time.

    He was surprised that I knew how to load and operate it without instruction, but as I explained - I had been watching Westerns since I could remember - how could I not know!

    All the best!
    JonT

    ReplyDelete
  7. Wonderful woods gun, the Winchester 94. The receiver is a comfortable place to carry in hand (though the 1892's rounded bottom is even better). Flat profile, moderate recoil, not too loud and easy to find ammunition for - a lot to like. The local Wal-Mart has Remington green box 150 grain SP for a bit over $15 and no shipping cost at all.

    I have better accuracy with an aperture receiver sight (Lyman 66 I believe it is), and if it is a scope, the AE versions are easier to accomodate. If you can locate a functioning Redfield FrontIER mount and scope, it is worth consideration. The IER is of course Intermediate Eye Relief, a 2 1/2x 'scout mount' scope in front of receiver, replacing rear saddlehorn sight assembly. Sweet little rig if can be found - manufactured in late 1960's if I remember correctly. The sight was made for the Winchester 94 and Remington 600, that too a fine carrying carbine with more power.

    ReplyDelete

*AGGREGATOR* -NEWS-WEATHER-SPORTS-OPINION-SCIENCE-TECH-RELIGION-POLITICS-GUNS-HUMOR-ENTERTAINMENT-

This Blog's most viewed posts during the past week

This Blog's most viewed posts during the past month

This Blog's most viewed posts during the past year

This Blog's Most Popular Posts of All Time


Be they Republican, Democrat, third party, fourth party or beyond, make each candidate earn it. Vote NO MORE GUN LAWS!

'We the Politicians of the United States, in Order to avoid a more perfect Union, manipulate Justice, destroy domestic Tranquillity, provide for the common offense, promote general Warfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty for ourselves and our Progeny, do blaspheme and eviscerate this Constitution of the United States of America." ("Zack," circa 1966 -1970)
Please consider RECURRING UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS of ALL FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL POLITICIANS (including but not limited to school records, acquaintances, employment history, Social Media, financial, drug, and psychiatric screenings). Please consider TERM LIMITS; political power corrupts.