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Not a bad choice. Very simple to operate, as you probably found out, and plenty of recognition from the movies.
You might want to consider a semi-automatic .22 caliber as a starter rifle. No scope. Learn how to shoot with the iron sights first.
But a Winchester 94 in .30-30 caliber is also a good pick. The lever action makes you start from scratch with your aim every time you chamber a round, which is why I suggest a semi-auto.
Cool screen name. The first carrier based fighter that met the Mitsubishi Zero on even terms.
Just do it.
If you're going to go with the .30-30 caliber, my experience has been that Marlin makes a better rifle than Winchester.
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The Winchester M94 is a fine rifle, so go get it.
The .30-30 cartridge chambering is great for hunting deer and black bear.
NO
If your heart is set on a lever action or a 30-30, buy a Marlin, say a 336 or similar model. You will find a much more accurate and a rifle that has true side ejection (as long as you are right handed.)
A starter rifle should be something that you will develope your skills with and that you will use a lot. The 30-30 lever action has been used for deer hunting at 100 yards or less over much of the US. It is not a long distance rifle for antelope in the wilds of Montana or Wyoming, nor a rifle for moose in the Northern states.
Another post suggested also getting an inexpensive 22 LR bolt action rifle.
They practically give away 22 LR bolt actions at gunshows. I would suggest you look at K-Mart to see if they have any end of hunting season 30-30's or some other discount chain if you really want a lever action. Unless you really know what to look for, I would pass on buying a lever action at a gun show. If you have a very knowledgable friend then a gunshow will most likely get you a decent price on a used lever action
Personally for a starter rifle, I would opt for a military surplus rifle. One can get a military arsenal refinished Turkish or Yugo Mauser bolt action for under $150 or a nice Russian MN 1891/30 for under $80. While ammo can't be found at most local sporting goods stores, it can be purchased at gunshows and over the internet at very reasonable prices. Several major sporting good chains, like Big 5, are starting to care military surplus bolt action rifles.
don't forget to buy only blunt nose ammo..
If you've got your heart set on it, go for it. It's a great rifle and you'll never regret the money spent on it. The 30-30 is the most popular centerfire hunting caliber in North America for a reason. The kick is not punishing and it's got the knock down power to handle anything North Amreica has thrown at it.
Pay no attention to the naysayers. If you feel comfortable shooting a 94 by all means it is a good starter rifle. Your comparison to a Telecaster is apt. Like a guitar, an important part of choosing a firearm is how it feels to you. A 94 is a classic, fun to shoot and a joy to carry. You didn't say exactly what you planned on using it for. If your plans include hunting get the 30-30. You will have to limit yourself to 200 yards or so, but most hunting is within that range anyway. If you just want it for plinking and self defense, consider a 357 Magnum which also shoots .38 Special. Pistol ammo costs a lot less, recoil is lighter, and the magazine will hold 10 shots instead of 5. And you can get one new for about three hundred dollars. As for a Marlin, they are good also, but it's really just a matter of preference, like Fender vs. Gibson. Marlins are better for mountng a scope due to the side ejection, but who wants a scope on a lever action? Ruins the whole feel and balance IMNHO. Pick one that feels right to you, and have fun.
bump
Well, I have a confession to make. I asked my husband about that Winchester 30/30, and it turns out it was a Sears & Roebuck. Forget everything I said about a Winchester being a piece of cr*p. < /feeling like an ignoramus girl >
The Marlin 336 is a good contender with a Winchester, but after it's all said and done, much like the Telecaster, just go with whatever 'feels' right. (Maybe one costs less than the other? I dunno.) The Winchester 94 IS a classic. You and I are roughly the same age (but I'm 39 and holding), and we probably grew up watching the same westerns on TV. One of my favorites was "The Rifleman." Some website I just looked up said his rifle was a "modified 44.40 Winchester with an enlarged trigger guard." Whatever Winchester it was, Chuck Conners was way cool carrying it. ;-)
Anyway, like Lurker said above, don't forget the cost of ammo when you factor in the costs. With the .22 caliber, you can shoot all day and not put a dent in your pocketbook. (Go to cheaperthandirt.com to compare ammo prices. I've used them for other things and have always been pleased with their service.) And listen to what tortoise said: A bolt action is more accurate then a semi-automatic. Plus, it's safer for someone not used to gun safety. (When you're just starting out, you really DO have to consciously THINK about that rule, "Always treat a gun as if it's loaded.")
Oh, and if you have kids, it's now your solemn duty to instill in them the proper respect and admiration for guns. You've caught the bug; pass it on. I'll be forever indebted to my dear ol' Dad for doing so. :-)
Here's a bit of useless trivia related to that famous Winchester carried by Lucas McCain:
Source: http://www.tvparty.com/rifle.html
"The rifle was not in any sense a "self-cocking rifle". That is quite clearly seen as Lucas obviously has to cock it for each shot. And it is not a semiautomatic weapon, either, which is defined as a weapon that uses the bullet's energy to load each round and cock the weapon with every single pull of the trigger.
"What it was is a Winchester model 1892 with a large cocking handle that could be manipulated rapidly, but it still had to be cocked manually for each shot. It also had a screw that could be adjusted to *fire* the rifle every time the cocking lever was returned to the resting position.
"In a sense, it is the opposite (inverse?) of a semiautomatic rifle. It had to be manually cocked for each shot, but the shot went off by itself. A true semi-auto has to be manually fired, but the cocking takes place by itself.
"It was also a wildly impractical design - you could not cock the rifle without having it fire! That meant it had to be carried in the "already fired" mode, requiring a cock to fire it the first time.
"And of course, we won't dwell on the fact that a rifle that fires as the cocking lever is moving is probably the least accurate rifle every developed. But damn, it was fun to watch!"
no. its not as safe as modern rifles since it cant be unloaded unless you cycle all the live rounds thru the firing chamber. better to go with a removeable magazine or a floor plate magazine that drops the cartridges into your hand. any modern bolt action. or even a ruger mini 14 w removeable magazine if you want to just plink.
I have a Model 94 in .375 Win. and love it. It's a great brush gun and packs a good punch. It's not good at a long distance though. Where I hunt I barely get more than 75 yards of semi-clear distance. Most of the time it's less than 25 yards. I have a Rem 700 ADL in .308 I use for my open area hunting.
If I really what to reach out and touch something I break out my M1A w/ a 20X scope. I can hit pennies at 200 yards. I give them to my daughter's dates the first time I meet them.
At the risk of sounding like a pointless maverick, I have to disagree with most on this thread. I think the first thing you need to do is decide what it was about shooting that you liked so much.
If it's the "rush" of being able to project lethal force, it'll wear off rather quickly, and you'll regret wasting the money on a firearm.
There is no one-size-fits-all first rifle, but you may find the first one you buy isn't very good at what you like to do.
