New Method Of Scoping The Model 94 Winchester

With top cartridge ejection, the Model 94 Winchester normally requires a special side mount and straight-tube scope with the turret positioned behind the rings. But where does this leave the shooter who wants a scope with a larger objective lens, the turret between the rings while still maintaining the use of open sights? With departure from the usual way, and some innovative gunsmithing, this can all be accomplished. Here’s how.

The scope adjusting turret must be rotated 90-degrees counter clockwise to get the windage knob out of the way, making cartridge ejection possible. This places the original windage dial upward to serve as the scope elevation adjuster. The original elevation adjusting knob will then be positioned on the left side and serve as the windage adjuster.

This is necessary for top ejection on the Model 94 Winchester rifle to prevent the fi red case or live cartridge from striking the scope adjusting knob cover. room for the underside of the scope turret, which is an integral part of the scope tube. The turret sides are fl at and quite thin, which helps in A slot must be milled or fi led out from the scope ring bracket to make The slit of light beneath the turret and ring bracket shows clearance.

This allows the scope turret to be positioned more forward between the rings with perfect ocular lens eye relief and clearance between the scope objective lens housing and the rear sight. The open sights remain useable in this setup. making the job easier. Removal of metal for the slot does not weaken the scope ring bracket. Making Scope Mount Changes A Weaver side-mounting system was mounted on the rifle brought to me.

The customer’s first attempt to have a scope mounted at his regular gun shop was a no-go and he ended The 90degree clockwise scope rotation permits this operation. up at my shop. He had explained to them what he wanted done, which wouldn’t be without some complications. They had tried several scopes in the rings and all attempts failed. Following a bit of discussion on the possibilities of accomplishing his request, he left the rifle with me.

The first step was to fi le or mill out the space for the scope turret American Gunsmithing Association

Open sights are still useable. While repositioned elevation dial required no changes in its operation, the newly positioned windage dial required changing of arrow direction. directly between the rings. I used a coarse, fl at fi le to remove most of the aluminum metal from the Weaver one-inch-style side mount bracket until the scope lay firmly in the rings. This requires ample clearance between the scope turret and the milled out surface for free scope rotation.

With proper turret clearance on the Weaver scope ring bracket, the scope is attached using the existing ring halves with the scope rotated 90-degrees counter clockwise from its normal position. This leaves the new position of the elevation knob projected left and the former windage knobs projected upward. At this point the side bracket is tried for fit against the mounted scope base attached to the left side of the rifle receiver. Watch carefully where the scope objective lens comes near the rear open sight.

The objective lens on the scope used is 32mm, which required a small amount of metal removed from the left wing of the open sight. Then, with ample clearance here, the scope is mounted to the side of the rifle using the two quick-removal attachment bolts. Check the reticle for horizontal and perpendicular position and adjust as needed. The rifle is ready for bore sighting at this stage.

Bore Sighting and Zeroing I removed the calibrated dials from their respective positions on the adjusting knobs and cemented them in the new positions. There is no change of rotation for the elevation knob/dial, but the windage scale will need to be turned in the opposite direction to properly indicate right-to-left or left to right bullet impact changes on target. I did change the direction of the little arrow pointed on the scope knob to avoid confusion, however.

With the scope rotation and resultant changes, there is always a possibility of running out of scope adjustment with the knobs but there were no problems with this particular scope application. The old Marlin scope sighted-in with no problem at 100 yards. Accuracy with 150 grain Winchester Silvertip ammunition was most excellent and the scope maintained a stable zero. All-in-all, things looked pretty darned good. AG