You Will Shoot Your Eye Out

Here’s something the mainstream media won’t tell you about the mainstream media: its anti-gun bias isn’t just ideological. It’s structural. And it was built by Silicon Valley’s ad machine, not by a shadowy cabal of editorial writers sitting around plotting your disarmament.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

In 2000, newspapers accounted for roughly 53 percent of U.S. ad spending. By 2020, that number had collapsed to about 5 percent, according to the Congressional Research Service. The revenue didn’t disappear — it moved to Google, Meta, Amazon, and TikTok.

The fallout was immediate and severe. More than a third of U.S. newspapers operating in the mid-2000s are no longer in operation. Newsroom employment dropped by about 26 percent between 2008 and 2020 — roughly 30,000 jobs. Newspaper newsrooms alone shrank by 57 percent.

Few industries have seen that kind of collapse outside of video rental stores or one-hour photo shops.

The Local Press Was the Counterweight

Local newspapers were never flashy, but they mattered. They balanced the national narrative coming out of outlets like the New York Times, Washington Post, and Los Angeles Times. A paper in rural Ohio or central Texas was written by people familiar with firearms — people who hunted, carried, or grew up around guns.

As those papers disappeared, so did that viewpoint. What replaced it was national wire coverage from AP and Reuters, filtered through editorial frameworks that often treat common firearms as anomalies or threats.

Local journalism functioned as a decentralizing force, the media equivalent of federalism. It kept coverage grounded in reality. That check is largely gone.

Who’s Left in the Newsroom

What replaced it? Centralized newsrooms staffed by people who are statistically less likely to have ever held a firearm, let alone owned one. These newsrooms look to the Times as their style guide on everything from grammar to gun politics. They want to be in the cool crowd. And the cool crowd, as any gun owner can tell you, thinks you’re a problem to be solved.

The irony is that even the big coastal papers are showing some cracks. The Times, the Post, and the LA Times have all recently parted ways with their most stridently anti-gun opinion editors — not out of any sudden respect for the Second Amendment, but because the political winds shifted with the 2024 election cycle and they didn’t want to look completely out of touch.

They haven’t hired pro-gun replacements. But a few almost-moderate takes on firearms have squeaked through lately, which by recent standards counts as progress.

The Ecosystem has Shifted

The media ecosystem hasn’t disappeared — it’s reorganized. Independent outlets, podcasts, and subscription platforms have filled part of the void.

Pro-Second Amendment voices have more direct access to audiences than they did two decades ago.

But the broader landscape is more segmented. Media alignment now mirrors political alignment. The middle ground that once existed — including pro-gun Democrats and regionally diverse newsroom perspectives — has narrowed significantly.

Bottom Line

The mainstream media’s hostility toward the Second Amendment isn’t just about bias. It’s about who survived the economic apocalypse that Big Tech brought down on local journalism, and who didn’t.

The people still shaping the narrative are, in many cases, far removed from the communities and culture they’re covering.

Fast to shoulder, light in the woods, and still pure Americana, the Winchester Model 94 remains a freezer filler and a bucket list lever for hunters who actually hunt.

If there is one bucket list rifle that should be on every rifle shooter’s list, especially if you are a deer hunter, it is the Winchester 94. This rifle had nothing to do with taming the Old West like the Winchester Model 1873 or the Model 1892, but the Model 94 earned a reputation as a deer getter with generations of hunters. Over 7.5 million have been produced and still counting.

That in itself is a good reason that the Model 94 should be in the top 10 of a rifle shooter’s bucket list. Another reason is that the Model 94 was the first American-made rifle to be chambered in the then-newest cartridge technology at the time, which was smokeless powder. That cartridge was the .30 30 Winchester Center Fire or .30 WCF or just plain “Thurty Thurty,” the first American smokeless rifle cartridge.

Winchester Model 94 History In Brief

You probably already figured out that the Model 94 was introduced in 1894. It was originally named the Model 1894 following Winchester’s method of naming rifles after the year they were introduced. By 1927, the name was shortened to the Model 94.

Vintage Winchester Model 1894 advertisement highlighting .30 30 smokeless — This vintage advertisement for the Winchester Model 1894 played up the new smokeless cartridge, the .30 30 Winchester.

There were numerous model variants of the 94: a rifle, takedown models, trapper’s carbine, saddle ring carbine, and an Eastern version of the Saddle Ring Carbine without the saddle ring. The main difference among these variants is the barrel length. They all used the same action.

Some had fancy pistol grip buttstocks or had a plain, straight stock. The Model 94 went through three design changes, and collectors typically refer to them as a Pre 1964, Post 64, and guns made after 1982.

Pre-64 Model 94s are the most coveted by collectors because of their craftsmanship. Post 64 guns were made cheaper with sintered steel, a type of cast alloy, in place of billet steel in Pre 64 guns.

The result was a receiver as strong as billet steel, but the sintered steel did not take a traditional blue finish well and did not have the lush finish of Pre-64 Model 94s. Some small parts were cheapened, too. Post 64 Model 94s function the same as Pre 64s, had the same safety features, and were as accurate as Pre 64 models, but they were not as beautiful as the original Pre 64 guns. Winchester’s reputation took a hit with Post 64 guns.

As optics became more popular with hunters, the Model 94 lost sales to the Marlin Model 336, which has a solid receiver top and is side-ejecting. Mounting a scope to a Marlin was simple and easy.

The Winchester 94 is a top-eject rifle that didn’t lend itself to mounting a scope. In 1982, the Model 94 action design was changed to an angled ejection and allowed optics to be traditionally mounted on top of the receiver. Winchester called this new era of Model 94s Angle Eject models. Winchester also changed back to billet steel receivers.

1979 magazine ad for Winchester Big Bore 94 lever action calibers — A magazine ad from 1979 for the Big Bore 94; with more hunters turning to bolt action rifles, Winchester chambered the 94 in more powerful calibers.

A cross bolt safety was added to the rifle in 1992, which many Winchester purists feel is a wart on an otherwise beautiful rifle. In an effort to give the 94 more power, the Big Bore 94 was introduced chambered in caliber options like .307 Win., .356 Win., .375 Win., .444 Marlin, and .450 Marlin. These large-bore calibers did not have the long-range capabilities that hunters desired, but they did provide a wallop at closer ranges.

Winchester Model 94 Angle Eject receiver showing ejection notch — The notch at the top of the receiver is a clue that this 94 is an angle eject. An optic can be mounted directly above the receiver, and empties are spit out to the right, not directly above like original Model 94s.

By this time, bolt-action rifles were the top deer hunting rifles, and all lever-action rifles struggled for relevance. Bolt-action rifles are more accurate and chambered in high-velocity cartridges. No lever action could compete. In 2006, U.S. Repeating Arms, the name under which Winchester firearms restructured, went belly up in bankruptcy. FN purchased the company and slowly started to reintroduce the iconic rifle. One of the main changes in post 2006 production rifles is that the manual safety was relocated to the receiver tang, giving it a more refined look.

Receiver tang safety on current production Winchester Model 94 — When FN began production of current Model 94s, the manual thumb safety was relocated to the tang of the receiver, giving the rifle a more streamlined look compared to rifles with the cross bolt safety.

What Makes The Winchester Model 94 So Great

A few generations ago, a Model 94 chambered in .30 30 was in nearly every whitetail deer hunter’s gun rack. But whitetails weren’t the only game the 94 was used for. Add black bear, elk, and mule deer to the list, and add nearly every four-legged critter hunted in the lower 48. The Model 94 was lightweight, compact, and comfortable to carry. It was quick with follow-up shots and offered mild recoil. Hunters liked the calibers it was chambered in, especially the .30 30 Winchester.

Winchester 94 Calibers: First To Go Smokeless

Upon its introduction, the 94 was chambered in either .32 40 Winchester or .38 55 Winchester. The 94 was and is still chambered in a slew of other calibers. Over the years, that list included .25 35 Winchester, .32 Winchester Special, 7 30 Waters, .307 Winchester, .356 Winchester, .375 Winchester, .357 Magnum, .44 Remington Magnum, .444 Marlin, .45 Colt, and .450 Marlin. It has even been chambered in .410 bore.

Assorted .30 30 Winchester ammunition options next to Model 94 — The Winchester 94 is most associated with the .30 30 Winchester caliber, the first smokeless cartridge produced in the U.S.

The truth is, the Model 94 is most associated with the .30 30 Winchester cartridge since that was the caliber Winchester executives asked John Browning to design a new lever-action rifle around. In fact, the 94 is typically called a Thirty Thirty. As a kid, my dad, uncles, and their friends called them Thirty Thirtys. I didn’t realize it was a Model 94 until I read the roll mark on the barrel. Nearly 70 percent of all Model 94 rifles and carbines produced were chambered in .30 30. It was an unbeatable combination at the time.

I know what you are thinking. The .30 30 is a weak cartridge, and by today’s standards it is. Under 100 yards, it will kill deer and fill your freezer. To appreciate the Winchester 94, shoot one chambered in .30 30 to get the real feel for the rifle.

Key Features Of The Winchester Model 94

The Model 1894 is different from previous lever actions manufactured by Winchester. The 94 uses a single locking bar rather than two locking lugs like the Model 1886 and Model 1892. The single lug of the Model 94 locks the bolt in place on both sides of the receiver, so the receiver is strong not only for black powder cartridges but for use with smokeless powder cartridges.

Winchester Model 94 lever stroke shown mid cycle — The lever stroke on the Model 94 is smooth and slick, allowing for a fast follow-up shot.

The locking bar also worked with the transfer bar for the firing pin and simplified the safety system in the bolt compared to prior models. The 94 also incorporates a pin that protrudes from the bottom receiver tang. This pin blocks the trigger as the lever is cycled. The lever needs to be fully closed to press the pin and allow the rifle to be fired.

Winchester Model 94 trigger stop safety pin at bottom tang — The Model 94 incorporated a new trigger stop safety. That small silver colored pin needs to be fully depressed by the lever for the trigger to be pressed.

Winchester Model 94 Short Rifle loading gate closeup — The Winchester Model 94 is loaded via a loading gate. Cartridges are pushed into the tubular magazine through the loading gate.

New Production Winchester 94s With Modern Craft

New production Winchester Model 94s are still being produced even though they are no longer manufactured in New Haven, Connecticut. Winchester’s newest 94s are made in Japan and have a craftsman touch to them. The Deluxe Sporting and Sporter rifles feature beautiful case-hardened receivers, checkered stocks, crescent-shaped buttplates, and 24-inch round barrels. A Trails End Takedown is designed for fast disassembly and compact carry. A Short Rifle has a shotgun-style buttplate, 20 inch round barrel, and fore end cap. Perhaps the most common is the Carbine, a plain variant with 20 inch barrel that looks like what your granddaddy hunted deer with.

Winchester Model 94 Clones Worth Knowing

Sears, Roebuck may have been the first to clone Model 94 rifles. Back in the 1960s, Ted Williams endorsed a lever-action Model 100 that was a Model 94 clone manufactured by Winchester for Sears. Firearm manufacturers in Italy, like Uberti, have been recreating a variety of Winchester lever-action rifles for decades, including the Model 94. Cimarron offers the Model 1894 just like John Browning originally designed it, with top ejection and no manual safety, just common sense. The Taylor’s & Company 94 clone is the working man’s version with a smooth wood stock and blued finish, or the ranch owner’s version with case-hardened receivers and checkered stock.

Sears Model 100 lever action built by Winchester based on Model 94 — This is a Sears Model 100; Winchester manufactured the Model 100 for Sears department stores based on the Winchester Model 94.

Shooting The Winchester 94: MOD Over MOA

I like to classify the accuracy of the Model 94 as MOD, Minute Of Deer, instead of MOA. It is not a tack driver, and for hunting deer and hogs, you don’t need one. I have a new production Model 94 Short Rifle in .30 3,0 and it is a swell option for shots under 100 yards. I shoot it open sights, though it is drilled and tapped to take a scope.

Winchester Model 94 rear sight adjustable semi buckhorn detail — The rear sight of the Winchester Model 94 hasn’t changed much since it was introduced in 1894; that’s a fully adjustable semi-buckhorn rear sight.

Winchester Model 94 front sight Marble Arms brass bead post — The front sight on this new production Model 94 is a Marble Arms brass bead post.

With Remington Core Lokt 150-grain soft-point bullets, my best 3-shot group at 50 yards is 1.38 inches. With Hornady Leverevolution’s 160-grain FTX bullet, I’ll get about 100 fps more velocity, and my best 3-shot group averaged 0.68 inches. That’s pretty darn good shooting with open sights. Yes, I’m using a rest and not aiming at a buck, so my heart rate isn’t jacked up. Still, you can’t discount the round’s ability, but know your limitations with a .30 30. I prefer to hunt more and shoot closer.

Winchester Model 94 .30 30 with 50 yard three shot target group — This 3-shot group with Remington Core Lokt 150 grain soft points is what you can expect on average, depending on your ability and the ammo. The group was fired at 50 yards and measures 1.74 inches.

Collecting Winchester Model 94 Rifles

There are plenty of original Winchester-made 94 rifles and carbines on the used gun market. The pre-64 rifles, even in well-used condition, fetch high values. More affordable Model 94 rifles include the guns made post 1964 and those with the cross bolt safety. Some calibers, like 7 30 Waters, demand higher prices.

Winchester Model 94 Trapper 16 inch barrel .44 Magnum — Winchester Model 94 Trapper with 16 inch barrel and chambered in .44 Magnum.

The Winchester Model 94 Legacy

There was a time when every young deer hunter learned to silently cock the hammer of a lever-action rifle and not spook a deer. More than likely, it was on a Winchester 94. The lever-action rifle has been eclipsed by other platforms for hunting. There are some hunters, however, who understand what a near-perfect combination the Model 94 and the .30 30 Winchester caliber make. While others just appreciate the history of this iconic American hunting rifle. A definite bucket list rifle.

Shooter firing Winchester Model 94 in .30 30 at range — The Winchester Model 94 should be in the top 10 of every rifle shooter’s bucket list. The 94 is lively, fast to shoulder, and offers a rapid follow-up shot.

Specifications: Winchester Model 94 Carbine

Model	Winchester Model 94 Carbine (new production)
Action	Adjustable semi-buckhorn
Caliber	30 30 Win., 38 55 Win., 25 35 Win., 32 Win. Spl.
Finish	Blue
Stock	Smooth walnut
Front Sight	Marble Arms brass bead post
Rear Sight	Adjustable semi buckhorn
Barrel Length	20 in.
Overall Length	38 in.

Pros And Cons From The Deer Stand

Pros: Light and lively in the woods, fast follow-up shots, mild recoil, classic .30 30 effectiveness under 100 yards, Angle Eject models accept optics, timeless American design.
Cons: Limited range compared to modern high velocity bolt guns, early top eject models are harder to scope, some Post 64 cosmetics turned off purists, not a benchrest tack driver.