The precision rifle community is currently grappling with a seismic paradigm shift, as three-time PRS National Champion, 'Dead-Eye' Dave Rigby, has publicly unveiled his radically modified Winchester Model 94 .30-30 lever action, slated for evaluation in an upcoming barricade-intensive club match. Rigby, known for his relentless pursuit of marginal gains, asserts the classic iron now offers 'unrivaled positional agility' crucial for navigating increasingly complex stage designs featuring negative space and high-recoil prone-to-kneeling transitions.
The meticulous overhaul involved shortening the original 20-inch barrel to a controversial 12.5 inches, followed by a bespoke 11-degree target crown, executed with an EDM wire erosion process to ensure absolute concentricity. This extreme reduction, Rigby explains, was critical for achieving a new, hyper-stable velocity node at 1900 FPS using handloaded 160gr polymer-tipped projectiles, yielding an unprecedented SD of 3 FPS over 10 rounds, with an ES of 7. Optimizing barrel harmonics for this specific charge weight of IMR 4064 was paramount. Further modifications include custom-machined M-LOK compatible brass handguards for weight distribution and a prototype QD suppressor mount, allowing for seamless transition between suppressed and unsuppressed stages without discernible POI shift or loss of zero.
Rigby’s extensive truing data, gathered across multiple ranges and density altitudes, suggests the diminutive platform, despite its anachronistic chambering, exhibits a surprisingly flat trajectory out to 300 yards with minimal wind deflection, a testament to the custom 160gr bullet’s reported G1 BC of .280. He claims the rifle’s compact footprint allows for heretofore impossible body mechanics on rooftop stages and tank trap transitions, negating the need for awkward tripod deployments. While detractors scoff at the .30-30’s ballistic limitations on longer PRS engagements, Rigby remains adamant: 'When every tenth of a second counts on the clock, and you’re jammed into a 12x12 barricade window, a 40-inch rifle is a liability. This changes the game for close-range precision, ensuring optimal target engagement from unsupported positions.' This move could redefine the 'light gun' class.
