Just picked up a clean 94 manufactured in 1906 in 30 WCF. It has a 26 inch octagon barrel and is in pretty decent shape with nice patina and honest wear. Screw heads are in good shape as well. I always try to check the bore of firearms that I buy as thoroughly as possible. Most of the time the old guns I get have very dirty bores and clean up nicely. This one looked pretty rough but with strong lands and grooves. I cleaned it well and its of course still pretty rough. I bought this as a beginning collectable but primarily as a shooter. I worry about over-pressure in a a rough barrel. Should this rifle be safe to shoot if all other parts and pieces are in good shape?

Thanks

By 1906, all 94's featured nickel steel. They were designed and built for modern smoke-less powder. A guy could argue that modern in 1906 is not the same as modern in 2005. But this arguement is invalid. Rifle powders designed for use in the 30-30 cartridge have not changed much in 100 years. Pressures are the same. Just ensure you use the correct powder and stay away from "hot loads".

Good hunting to you.
TR

Thanks for the reply. I have no doubt that the steel is fine for factory 30-30. They keep the loads tame because of these old crusty levers around. I was more concerned with the possibility of over-pressure from a rough bore.

Im doing a bit of cleaning on the bore everyday. The rifling is good and I believe the cleaning is making the bore look less rough so it may be a combination of corrosion and years of fouling. Cant wait to shoot this old timer.

TR,

You've seen 32/40s and 38/55s marked "Nickel Steel"?

dave:

The rough bore was undoubtedly caused by the old corrossive mercury primers. Some old timer was not very diligent about cleaning his rifle.

One option, not terribly expensive, is to have the barrel re-lined. This would not have much, if any, effect on it's collector value.

This would not have much, if any, effect on it's collector value.

I'm afraid to a collector it would.

Dave,
Shoot the gun before doing anything, I have a 1911 Model 1894 with a rough bore that is a tack driver.

Oh lll surely shoot it before deciding. Im not looking for MOA accuracy. I love the rifle because of the character and Im partial to octagon barrels. The rifling is strong. Ill put a box or two through it this weekend.

Good man, let us know how she does, Dave.

DLS:

If the rifle were in 90% or better original condition I would agree, leave it alone. Especially if there are any traces of original case hardning. For a rifle in the 60 to 70% range, a relined bore might increase it's value or certainly make it more sellable as 94's in this condition and price range are perhaps more interesting to shooters rather than collectors.

Your 1906 30WCF will handle any factory loads just fine. If the rifling is strong it's accuracy may surprise you even if the bore is rough. Here's what I do: Go out and shoot a box or 2 of jacketed bullets through it, bring it home and fill the bore full of one of the new bore foams, let it soak, brush it, re-foam it, and keep up the cycle for a day or two. It will usually show amazing improvement. May even shine for you.

Well...I finally got to take the old girl to the range today. Didnt have any ammo made up so I bough 4 boxes of the cheap stuff...Fusion I think its called. 150 gr softpoint.

I started at 25 yards because I wasnt sure what I would get. Well Im happy to say she makes one ragged hole in the 9 ring right dead smack above the bull with about 10 rounds.

At 50 she puts em just above the bull and groups about 1.5-2 inch. Had one flyer. Didnt take it to 100 yards...it was cold and the wind was blowing.

I did notice that she opened up a bit after 30 or so rounds. I figured the rough bore was gumming up a bit. Im giving her a good cleaning and will probable make one more trip to the range before the Thanksgiving. All in all Im pleased, things could have been much worse. She will never be a tack driver but she doesn on par with some of my other levers with mirror bores.

Excellent Dave!