DaMatRat

[DaMatRat]

Hi Everyone,

Today I purchased a new rifle for my son’s 10th birthday which is in a week. It’s not really the rifle I wanted to be his first, but the cost was closer to what I wanted to spend.
I ended up buying the Winchester Model 94 30-30 on sale at Big-5 in Burbank.

For target practice at the range I will most likely buy whatever ammo is the least expensive or on sale.
However, for pig hunting what manufacture\type\grain of ammo would be best?
For example I use the 160 gr. Winchester Fail Safes for my 7mm.

Also, in layman’s terms would you please tell me a little about Ghost Rings and how they function, and are they worth buying?

Thanks in advance for any\all replies.

-MatRat

 

[Common Sense]

I find the 150 grain shoots much better in my Model '94s than the 180 grain; and the 150 grain that hits where you aim is far superior to the 180 that misses.


It doesn't matter what me or anyone else thinks is the best ammo. Buy a box of every type you can find for the target practice, then when you go hunting; use the ammo the rifle likes best.

Great to hear you getting your son a rifle, if more fathers did what you are doing, there would be lots less violence in our streets. Don't forget to tell your son to "keep your powder dry".

 

[DaMatRat]

Thanks Common Sense.
Funny how the person in your avatar looks like this one guide I hunted with a few years back, August Harden?

 

[Rancho Loco]

You asked for advice, so please don't take it wrong -

Unless he's a pretty stout lad for age ten, I would think he's a couple of years away from shooting a 30-30..While the recoil isn't a shoulder breaker in general, it might be a little stiff for his first rifle. If you reload, you can roll up some softer loads for him to get going.

When he gets to shooting pigs

170's are generally considered the way to go. Good 'ol corelokts would do the trick.

As for the ghost rings, get him started and comfortable on traditional, and then switch to the GRA's. The GRA's give a better sight picture, and i love them, but he'll need to learn to really concentrate on the front sight.

Good luck, you sound like a good dad.

 

[DaMatRat]

Loco, I know I asked for the advice and I really do appreciate any\all.
I have taken my son to the range with me many times and he shoots his .22 Ruger like it’s a bb-gun. He has also shot my 12 gauge over\under.
I was looking to get him something like a .243 or .270 in a bolt action, but add a decent scope to it and it was just a little more then I wanted to spend.
Also, I chose the 30-30 because ammo is almost always available at Big-5, Turners, and Wal-Mart, and at the range we got to, plus it is relatively inexpensive (compared to ammo for say the 7mm).

Thanks again for your advice\suggestions.

 

[Speckmisser]

The 30-30 will thump him a little bit, but it shouldn't be unbearable. Teach him to handle it properly, and make sure it fits him (get the stock cut down).

I always shot 170gr Core-lokt or 190 gr handloads in my 30-30, and they knocked deer flat. I'm sure if you keep the shots in range, even the 150 gr will be fine for hogs and deer.

I really like the Ghost Ring sights, but I'm not sure they're the best bet for a youngster. They are a TON better than the factory sights that Winchester puts on their M-94, though. It's up to you, but if you can let him try a rifle with those sights before you kick out the $90 for a set, you might be better off.

Good luck, and congrats on getting that youngster started early!

 

[beastslayer]

I agree with Common Sense, 150 grain Winchester indeed groups better with that rifle model.

And, careful with the recoil unless your 10-year old is heavy set. My shoulder turned black and blue the first time I shoot with a box of ammo. Even lately, it gives me a nasty lesson if I turn careless.

 

[Rancho Loco]

Originally posted by DaMatRat@Jul 6 2005, 07:37 AM
he shoots his .22 Ruger like it’s a bb-gun. He has also shot my 12 gauge over\under.

Good deal then..

Just keep an eye on him so he doesn't develop any bad habits, and have a blast.

Like I said, you're a good dad.

 

[Common Sense]

I wouldn't shoot a deer/hog with 150 grain bullet if it was over a 100 yards away (couldn't if I wanted too). But under 100 yards, any 30-30 bullet is very effective; so just shoot whatever the gun likes best. My son's first deer was with 150 grain 30-30 from an old model '94, he was ten at the time. The next year he started using my old 30-40 Krag. Wasn't till he was 16 or 17 that he figured out my .270 was the better choice.

I envy you; taking your son hunting is really a good thing. I just about gave up hunting after my son got old enough to go by himself; but guess what? My grandson will be ten in a couple of months, last week I bought a couple of boxes of 30-30 shells(and a box of 30-40 Krags).

 

[Gyopo]

I recall the '94 30-30 being quite a handfull.
The rifle is light, the stock ,at least one the one I shot, had a hard butt plate and
the stock is thin. To me this led to a rifle w/quite a bit of felt recoil.
I had problem shooting it more than 3 times w/out serious pain.
I can shoot full power loads out of my '06 w/180 grainers all day.
Difference is stock design and weight of rifle.

If it were my son, I would get a recoil pad and a shoulder pad.
Like speckmisser said, sacrifice the first stock, or an after market one,
cut down the stock and put the most absorbative (word) pad you can put on it.
Start w/ a "light" load.
No need to rush things and get a bad flinch.
Have fun.

 

[pig guide]

DaMat rat. That does look like August Harden. You hunted with one of the best guys on the central coast. No offense chopper!

 

[DaMatRat]

Hey guys, thanks again for all your great replies.
Yesterday was my son’s birthday but we were not able to pick up his new rifle until this morning because of the mandatory 10-day wait.
When we picked up his new rifle this morning he was totally stoked and had a grin on his face from ear to ear.
Anyways, I took him to the Angeles Shooting Range (a local range), to try out his new Winchester .30-30.
Unfortunately he was only able to fire off 5 rounds before his new rifle started to show problems.
For some reason the first chambered round would not fire, you would pull the trigger and nothing would happen ~ chamber the 2nd round and it seemed to work okay?
The other problem was the forearm was coming loose and started to slide towards the front of the barrel?
I was so disappointed with this new rifle, but I guess you get what you pay for?
I should have spent the couple of hundred dollars more and got him the bolt-action rifle I wanted to in the first place.
In any event we had a great time at the range anyways, with him shooting his .22 Ruger and me plinking metal silhouettes 300 yards away with my 7mm.
Also, while there I registered him for the ‘hunter’s safety course’ which they teach there the 2nd Saturday of every month.

 

[Rancho Loco]

Nice picture..

About the Failure to fire...Remember M-94's need the loop to be closed all the way when pulling the trigger for the hammer to fall completely - it's a safety feature.

As for the foreend, can't help ya there..

Good luck.

 

[seamaster]

what Rancho said, the lever needs to fully squeezed to activate the firing mechanism. It may need some breaking-in and I know them to be very reliable guns. Barrel band issue???

The butt stock looks long in your photo. Any plans on shortening it? Some gun parts stores sell cheap replacement butt stocks that you can cut down and save the original for when he gets bigger.

IMO, the big advantage that 94 has over most bolt rifles is that it's safety is in the right place. The Savage safety is similar but it's stock is thick at the magazine which makes it difficult to carry especially for a youngster.

I recommend sticking with a 94 but exchange it if need be.

I'd start my son on the same rifle but in 357 mag. Very low recoil and still good out past 75 yards for deer.

I remember my first rifle, it was very exciting!

Happy birthday to your son,
Seamaster