Some rifles are just guns. Others are pieces of history.
In this episode of Beyond the Target, Rob and Jeromy take a step back into the early days of Bald Guys With Guns and talk about one of their favorite rifles ever featured on the channel — the Winchester Model 94 chambered in .30-30.
These two rifles aren’t just similar. They are nearly identical.
Their serial numbers are so close that there’s a good chance they were manufactured within the same year during World War II, making them an incredible pair of historical firearms.
And beyond the history, they’re simply one of the most fun rifles you can shoot.
Watch / Listen to the Podcast Episode
The Winchester Model 94 – One of the Most Iconic Rifles Ever Made
Few rifles have the legacy of the Winchester Model 94.
Originally introduced in 1894, the rifle quickly became one of the most widely used lever-action hunting rifles in North America.
Chambered in .30-30 Winchester, it was known for:
- Reliability
- Fast follow-up shots
- Lightweight handling
- Effective performance on deer-sized game
Even today, over a century later, it remains one of the most recognizable hunting rifles ever produced.
As Jeromy put it during the podcast:
“Man, is this just not one of the greatest guns ever made?”
Family History Behind These Rifles
What makes these rifles especially meaningful is where they came from.
Jeromy’s Rifle
Jeromy’s Winchester came from his grandfather, and it has been one of his favorite rifles to shoot since childhood.
Growing up, the lever action made the experience unforgettable:
- The loud report
- The recoil
- Cycling the lever
- Watching targets explode
It captured that classic Old West feeling that lever guns are famous for.
Rob’s Rifle
Rob’s rifle came from his half-brother, who wanted the firearm to remain within the family.
After purchasing it, Rob discovered something incredible.
The rifle was almost identical to Jeromy’s.
Nearly Identical Serial Numbers
When Rob and Jeromy compared their rifles, they discovered something unusual.
The serial numbers were extremely close together, suggesting they were produced within the same time period.
After researching Winchester manufacturing records, they discovered both rifles were likely produced in the early 1940s during World War II.
During that time, Winchester briefly stopped tracking serial numbers, which created a narrow production window.
Because both rifles fall inside that gap, there’s a strong chance they were produced within two or three years of each other.
For two rifles from different families to end up together decades later is pretty incredible.
A Look at the Rifle Setup
Both rifles are classic lever-action configurations chambered in .30-30 Winchester.
Rob’s rifle also features something interesting:
- It is drilled and tapped for a side-mounted scope.
This style of mounting was occasionally used on older lever guns to allow hunters to stretch their shooting distance beyond traditional iron sights.
While modern scopes could technically be installed, Rob and Jeromy agree that if they ever add an optic, they would want something period-correct that matches the rifle’s era.
Accuracy Testing the Winchester 94
During a later review video, Rob and Jeromy tested the rifles for accuracy at 100 yards using iron sights.
The results were interesting.
Jeromy’s shooting pattern showed:
- Very tight vertical spread
- Wider horizontal spread
Rob experienced the opposite:
- Tight horizontal grouping
- Larger vertical variation
Combined, they joked that they could create the perfect iron-sight shooter.
For a rifle of this age and configuration, groups around four inches at 100 yards were considered respectable.
The Christmas Lever-Action Competition
One of the most memorable videos featuring these rifles was filmed around Christmas.
The idea was simple:
If Santa had a favorite rifle… it would be the Winchester .30-30.
Jeromy dressed up in a Santa suit, and the competition began.
Competition Targets
Shooters engaged targets at close range including:
- Christmas lights
- Glass ornaments
Distances ranged from:
- 15 yards
- 25 yards
The goal was to see who could break the targets fastest using their lever-action rifles.
Some of the plastic bulbs didn’t explode as expected, which made the challenge even funnier.
The video also included an early editing experiment where Rob added falling snow effects, pushing his editing skills far beyond what he originally expected to attempt.
Why Lever-Action Rifles Are So Fun
One of the biggest themes of the podcast was simple:
Lever-action rifles are just fun to shoot.
There is something uniquely satisfying about:
- Running the lever
- Cocking the hammer
- Hearing the round chamber
- Pulling the trigger and hearing steel ring
As Rob described it:
“When you pick up a lever action, you know you’re going to have a good time.”
The mechanical interaction with the rifle creates an experience that modern rifles simply don’t replicate.
The Limitations of the .30-30
Despite its popularity, the .30-30 Winchester does have limitations compared to modern cartridges.
Because most lever-action rifles use tube magazines, ammunition must typically use flat-nose bullets to prevent the bullet tip from striking the primer of the round in front of it.
This means:
- Lower ballistic coefficients
- Less aerodynamic bullets
- Reduced long-range performance
For this reason, the .30-30 is generally considered a 100–200 yard hunting cartridge.
Beyond that range, bullet drop and wind drift increase significantly.
Could a Scoped Lever Gun Go Further?
One question Rob and Jeromy discussed was whether adding a scope might extend the rifle’s effective range.
With Rob’s rifle already drilled and tapped for a mount, it would be possible to test.
However, if they ever do it, they would prefer installing an old-style scope that fits the rifle’s era rather than a modern tactical optic.
A modern long-range scope mounted on a World War II lever gun might look a little… ridiculous.
Lever Actions and the Cowboy Spirit
Another reason these rifles remain special is the cultural history surrounding them.
Growing up, many shooters imagined themselves as cowboys when they first handled a lever-action rifle.
Working the lever and hearing the mechanism cycle brings that Old West feeling to life.
It’s a reminder that firearms history stretches far beyond modern precision rifles and tactical equipment.
Final Thoughts
For Rob and Jeromy, the Winchester Model 94 .30-30 represents more than just a firearm.
It represents:
- Family history
- American firearm heritage
- The early days of the Bald Guys With Guns channel
- And some of the most fun shooting experiences they’ve had
If you’ve never shot a lever-action rifle before, it’s something every shooter should experience at least once.
As they say in the podcast:
“If you haven’t experienced a lever action rifle, go do it. It’s incredibly fun.”
Follow Bald Guys With Guns
If you enjoy discussions about firearms history, shooting competitions, and long-range precision shooting, be sure to follow Bald Guys With Guns.
The Beyond the Target Podcast will continue diving into topics such as:
- Rifle and caliber comparisons
- Reloading and ballistics
- Interviews with experienced shooters
- Stories behind the firearms featured on the channel
And of course, more conversations about the guns that helped shape the channel.