Winchester 94 in 44 Magnum feeding / reliablity

[okanagan hiker]

Hi all...

Any opinions out there about the Winchester 94 in 44 Magnum feeding / reliablity? I would love one in that caliber, but keep hearing feed issues ( ie - the action was not designed for pistol cartridges ). If there are issues, can has anyone found them and has solutions?

Thanks in advance
OKH

[Duff L Bagg]

If you are planning on cas shooting I would recommend a model 92. But if you are looking for a plinking and hunting rifle the Winchester 94 in 44 mag will be a great gun. I have been shooting my model 94's in 45 colt for close to 20 years with out so much as a hiccup.

[mescalero1]

When I was younger, my brother had one; and he seemed to be able to have isssues in this arena.
I found that working the action briskly, worked for me.

[thornblom]

thanks

[J Miller]

Hi all...

Any opinions out there about the Winchester 94 in 44 Magnum feeding / reliablity? I would love one in that caliber, but keep hearing feed issues ( ie - the action was not designed for pistol cartridges ). If there are issues, can has anyone found them and has solutions?

Thanks in advance
OKH

OKH,

I can't speak for the 44s you asked about but I have a Win 94 AE in .45 Colt that has been issue free. I bought it new in the box in 1986 and have had zero action caused feeding problems with it. It feeds any shape of bullet that will fit in the magazine, without fail.
I'm sure with manufacturers tolerances there will be one now and again with issues, but it's the same with any gun or design.
As far as the 94 being designed for handgun calibers I consider that a non issue. Winchester (USRAC) reengineered the action quite well.
As for using the Win 94 for CAS, no lever gun was designed for that kind of abuse. They all have problems unless they are specially tuned for the game.

Joe

[okanagan hiker]

Thanks all for your replies.

I wasn't thinking about doing CAS ( maybe in the future? ). Just looking for a 44 ( or 45! ) lever, and have a thing for Winchesters. It seems that reliability is individual to the rifle.


OKH

[Birdman]

I agree on the SWC. Ya gotta work the lever a little bit harder than with round nose but they will go. Another thing I recently found out while shooting with my brother. He has a Henry Bigboy in 44 Mag. I was shooting some 250 grain SWC in my 94. He tried them in his Henry and they flat would not go into the chamber. Too long over all length.

[GANJIRO]

I have a 94AE Trapper in 357 magnum which has a worse reputation than the 44/45 models but in almost 5 years I've owned this gun it has been 100% reliable with a variety of ammo. I'd recommend one without hesitation.

[Noah Zark]

I have a 94AE Trapper in 357 magnum which has a worse reputation than the 44/45 models but in almost 5 years I've owned this gun it has been 100% reliable with a variety of ammo. I'd recommend one without hesitation.

+1. My 94 Trapper in 357 has digested everything including 38 Special without a blip.

Noah