Picked it up a while back and am going out to fire it a couple times just to say I did. It is in good shape and working order but my question is, would it be safe to fire modern store bought ammo through it? Thanks in advance!

Any idea on the date of manufacture? I assume that because you're asking it's older, but they still make the 1894, so it could be 5 days old, or 115 years old.

If it's older, obviously fully inspect the barrel for cracks, bulges, wear, spider-monkeys etc. and if you can, check the chamber dimensions, then I would probably load some low power rounds and shoot those. Chances are that you'd be fine with super-hot loads, but if you're firing it just for fun, why bother?

Winchester stoped making the model '94 lever guns about 6 years ago. I have a 2000 model and it shoots great groups at 100yd. I'm not really sure that the ammo has changed at all. The brass is the same as the original gun, and it was the first series of smokeless powder repeating rifles made. If the gun is 50 years old I'd take it to a qualified gun shop first and have them check it over bbefore shooting it.

Any idea on the date of manufacture? I assume that because you're asking it's older, but they still make the 1894, so it could be 5 days old, or 115 years old.

If it's older, obviously fully inspect the barrel for cracks, bulges, wear, spider-monkeys etc. and if you can, check the chamber dimensions, then I would probably load some low power rounds and shoot those. Chances are that you'd be fine with super-hot loads, but if you're firing it just for fun, why bother?

DOM:1901 sorry about that, it is in good shape and I have inspected everything as I do with any other gun in my collection and cant find any reason to worry really. It is in great shape considering its age but just would rather ask before finding out the hard way. I have several old guns that I have never fired, but this is one of my favorites and have wanted to be able to say it will fire just for the fun of it.

In all of my older stuff I use "cowboy loads" like Ultramax.. Cabela's and others carry it.. it's a good plinkin ammo thats loaded a little lighter. It wont stress the gun as bad as a full power load like those from doubletap/buffalo bore. (which btw rock)

Mine is from '43 and I run all the new loads through it, including the hornady lever evolution. Not a problem to date, and never heard any reason why not too.

DOM:1901 sorry about that, it is in good shape and I have inspected everything as I do with any other gun in my collection and cant find any reason to worry really. It is in great shape considering its age but just would rather ask before finding out the hard way. I have several old guns that I have never fired, but this is one of my favorites and have wanted to be able to say it will fire just for the fun of it.

The M94 was one of the 1st US cartridges to be designed for smokeless despite the .30 and 30 gr 2f designation. ;)

Now would I reload hot for an older piece, no but theres lots of loads out there that use more mellow charges and any of the factory loads should be safe assuming the piece has been check and deemed ok by a competent 'smith...

D.