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August 29, 2025
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I recently acquired pre-turn of the century model 1894 30-30. It’s in pretty good shape and still shoots well. I love to have any information someone might offer regarding the rear dovetail site. It doesn’t appear to actuate very well or flip up all the way. Wondering if this is the way it was designed. When flipped up all the way it still shoots low at 100 yards. You may say that I shouldn’t be shooting it at all because of its age the serial number is in the 216,000 range. It looks like it’s probably around 1899 or 1900 but still Shoots Great.
May 23, 2009
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Per the serial number range it dates to 1904. I wouldn’t take anything out hunting that I didn’t sight in at 100 yards.
A 30-30 bullet can go over 1 Mile. And if you know what you’re doing it is nothing to take whitetail deer at 200 yards or more with a 30-30. We’ve shot deer with a open sight 94 at over 500 yards with a good rest.
If you can post a pic of the front and rear sight. That will tell us if they’re are factory or not and possibly what you need to do to adjust it.
If the gun is grouping well left to right and only hitting low. Then that should be an easy fix and not much else of a concern. Plenty of guys on the forum go hunting with rifles much older. Nothing like killing a deer with your 1st Model 73 in 44-40!
Sincerely,
Maverick
WACA #8783 - Checkout my Reloading Tool Survey!
https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-research-surveys/winchester-reloading-tool-survey/
August 29, 2025
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Reddogdefense said
I recently acquired near-turn of the century model 1894 30-30. It’s in pretty good shape and still shoots well. I love to have any information someone might offer regarding the rear dovetail site. It doesn’t appear to actuate very well or flip up all the way. Wondering if this is the way it was designed. When flipped up all the way it still shoots low at 100 yards. You may say that I shouldn’t be shooting it at all because of its age the serial number is in the 216,000 range. It looks like it’s probably around 1904 but still Shoots Great.
April 15, 2005
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The rear sight on your Model 1894 Sporting Rifle is a Winchester 3-leaf Express (with the center 100-yd leaf missing/broken). The broken leaf is very common due to the ignorance of past owners about the proper method required to adjust/use the sight. Without the center leaf, it will not shoot correctly @ 100-yards.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
January 27, 1992
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Another factor would be the cartridge being used. Early ammunition for the 30 W.C.F used 170 grain bullets. If you are shooting 150 grain bullets you will not get the same results. RDB
March 20, 2009
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Here is a visual from the Winchester Ballistics calculator site. IF the rifle is using the 50 yard leaf it will hit 1.6 inches low at 100 yards. This is assuming 170 grain bullet.
Michael
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation
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