Winchester 94 30-30 scout rifle

[Bart Solo]

I am thinking about converting my pre-angle eject 1894 in 30/30 into a lever action scout rifle by installing a Leupold or Burris Scout Scope.  Has anybody else made the "conversion."  What mounts did you use?  Is it worth the effort?

[spruce]

I've been thinking about doing the same thing to my top-eject 94. 
 
So far it looks like there may be 2 possibilities for mounts:  the XS scout mount and also, Rossi makes a scout mount for their M92, but I don't know if it could be modified to fit the M94.
 
The XS websight says the rear sight dovetail has to be 4" ahead of the receiver for their mount to fit.  They show it mounted on an angle-eject.  I haven't even measured my rifle to see if it's 4" or not.  The top-eject would have to be drilled and tapped (2 holes on the receiver) to secure the rear of the mount.
 
Hope somebody can figure out a good mount system as there are a lot of top-ejects around and a lot of us with older eyes who own them!!

[Bart Solo]

Old eyes is exactly my modivation.  My top eject 94 is really handy but I just can't see as well as I could 30 years ago.  A nice low powered scope would be great, but I really don't want a side mounted scope. 
 
I think squaring up the XS mount would be the most difficult part.  The dovetail is great for one contact point, but there would have to be holes drilled and tapped for the second and third.  One of the great things about the XS mount is that is a rail so you could swap you scope for other optics with ease.
 
I was hoping XS had some competition.  I also noticed that they had their mounts attached to an angle eject 94 and thought that is stupid. The angle eject 94 is set up for a normal scope. The scout scope mount is best for a top eject 94.
 
After installing the mount the rest it would be a matter of picking and mounting the scope.   I think both Burris and Leupold make scout scopes that would do the job.   
 
I really think the old 30-30 meets a lot of the Scout Rifle criteria (except bolt action) with style and grace.  A lot of people have old top eject Winchesters in their safes needing an upgrade.

[Rangr44]

There's yet another option for tired eyes.
 

 
I've mounted a Burris Fastfire both on a rear barrel sight dovetail adaptor (an old longleaf rear sight), and a Winchester 94 bolt top, via first mounting one (front or rear) Weaver base for a BAR (the base concavity is the same as the bolt top's convexity) to attach the Burris to. (The Burris has unlimited eye relief)
 
On the bolt, the Burris travels with the bolt, giving no interference with the top ejection.
 
The Burris can also be mounted like a side-mounted Lyman/Williams receiver/peep sight - an angle-iron-type adaptor can be made from aluminum, that fits the peep sight prep holes on the side, AND the Burris mount holes on the top.
 
.

[Rock Home Isle]

Though some would say that it doesn't meet the definition of a Scout Rifle as defined by Col. Cooper...I am intrigued by the idea. I kinda like things that go against the norm. Please keep us informed as to your findings and advancements....The 94 Lever has so much to offer and so versatile.

[sidewinder319]

Why not use a 99 Savage in .300 Savage caliber. There are tons of them around. You can mount anything on them and they can take .308 pressures. The .300 Savage brass can be made from .308s. The Lee .309 150 grs Flat nose poured from Linotype can hit 2,200 FPS.    They are very accurate and you can load pointed hollow points in the magazine.

[Bitterroot Bob]

Howdy,
I like the idea of an intermediate eye-relief scope forward of the action much better than those ugly side-mount gizmos, but the idea of the "Scout Rifle" was to have a long gun that could serve every purpose from food gathering to fighting. Cooper chose a bolt-action in .308 Win with detachable box magazine that could also be loaded with stripper clips, hence the need for the scope to be mounted forward of the action.
The only thing the M94 lacks is power. The cartridge is common as dirt, and the magazine can be topped-off at anytime during a fire-fight, so the gun is almost there. Then again, so is the Mosin-Nagant.
 
Bitterroot

[Savage .250]

Why not use a 99 Savage in .300 Savage caliber. There are tons of them around. You can mount anything on them and they can take .308 pressures. The .300 Savage brass can be made from .308s. The Lee .309 150 grs Flat nose poured from Linotype can hit 2,200 FPS.    They are very accurate and you can load pointed hollow points in the magazine.

  You said, " There are tons of them around."     Where are you located ?   Not all parts of the country are blessed with "tons" of 99`s.   Just wondering.   

[sidewinder319]

I live in the Northern Rocky Mtns. The old 99s are the most common used rifle in this area.  The .300 and .308 calibers are much less expensive then the . 243, 259. 30-30, .284 etc. In the past the 99s were bought by ranches for use by the hands. Many of these old 99s are saddle worn but in good shape.

[wade86]

hey guys, im new here, and i was googling around to see if anyone was building scout rifles out of the 94 winchester, because i did this about two years ago. My gun is about a 72 model so its not worth a whole lot but its accurate, fun to shoot, and has plenty of knock down power. i was prettty good with the old iron sights, but i wanted more, especially after one of my buddies got a remington 270 with a nikon prostaff scope. so i used the xs scout scope mount. i took the gun and the mount to a local gunsmith he charged $15 a hole. after that was done i bought a leupold m8-4x  extended eye relief scope. i shoot hornady's lever evolution 160 gr. im good for a 1.5"-3" pattern at 210 yards. it costs me about $230 for the scope, scope mount, and having the mount installed. i love my setup, and it was worth it to me.

[wade86]

here is what my setup looks like.

[spruce]

Thanks for posting the picture - nice set up!
 
Sure looks like the best solution for scoping a top eject 94.

[ScoutMan]

Just remember, that with the scout scope installed the comb will be too low. Comb needs to be built up.
Solution:
1-Cheap way. Get a section of water pipe insulation, cut out about a 4" section, split, tape to stock.
2-Expensive-Buy a commercial comb riser.

[wade86]

thanks. i have no problem with my setup, much better than a side mount.

[cheapsandwich]

In theory wouldn't a leather butt cuff raise the comb a little?
Also if you had a Williams peep sight mounted on the receiver, would the rail interfere with it when the scope removed?

[mannyrock]

 
  Somebody makes a nice leather tie on, that has a raised comb built into it.  Except, it doesn't actually tie with string.  Instead, ar you wrap it around the butt, one end overlaps the other, and stays in place with a sewn in piece of velcro.  Really sturdy, really nice.  Doesn't have shell loops in it, just the raised comb.
 
   I think the company that made it was called CheeknStock, or something similar. The guy told you how to measure the circumferance of your buttstock in two places, and then he custom made it for you.  Paid about $60 for one about 10 years ago.  Don't know what they would cost now.
 
  Mannyrock
 
 

[mannyrock]

 
  P.S.-  Just checked.  The CheeknStock company is still in business, has a nice website.