Model 94

[Distant Thunder]

It has been 15 years or more since I converted an old Winchester '94 .30-30 to a .38-55. It was a real beater that had been Bubba'ed up. He didn't scratch his name into the side of the receiver so I can't give him credit here, but he did do all the other Bubba mods I can think of. I paid $150 for the rifle with the cheap 4X scope and recoil pad attached. I bought it for the purpose of converting to .38-55.

I bought a ready to screw on 24" barrel from Gun Parts for around $100. That was the easy part, unscrew the .30-30 barrel and screw on the .38-55 barrel. I did have to modify the guide rails and that I did by looking at the rails from my Big Bore .375 Win. and it worked out great. I didn't have to do anything to the carrier as I recall.

I bought some Marble arms sights at a gun show for a good price and put them on. I also bought a new buttstock to replace the one that had been hacksawed off about 2" to add the poorly done recoil pad. The forend I made. In the end I had a very shootable levergun in .38-55 that does very well with cast bullets for about $325. It still needs some finishing work but it is fun to shoot as it is now.

The way I did this was a fair amount of work and would require the same tools, skill level and patience as would building a muzzleloader rifle from a kit or purchased parts.

I have heard nothing but good things from all who have gone to JES for reboring and chambering. That is the best option if the rest of the rifle is serviceable.

Good luck with your project and let us know what you decide and how it goes. There are many rough old leverguns out there that deserve a second chance at life.