94AE triggers

[Marlin32]

Still kicking around ideas for my ulitmate elk/moose/stag/deer lever gun. (and caliber)
I have always liked the 356win, but doesn't have quite the Umph I would like further down range. BUt I know limitations and parameters of leverguns and their bullets.

I had a 94ae in 307, didn't shoot a good enough group for me, and the trigger was abysmal. I was very young then (college) and not very learned in having any custom work done.

I was wondering as I am unfamiliar with the 94 AE's beyond that limited experience,
but I wouldn't mine getting a Win AE in 356, having a 24" barrel put on it, BUT want to know if the triggers on these guns can be improved?

Anyone have a good trigger job done on a 94 AE??

[L_Kilkenny]

I installed Wolf springs in my 94ae and smoothed up all the parts and was able to get it down to decent 4lbs +/- pull. Still shot crappy groups so I sent it down the road.

[Nath]

Had three win94s over the years. All ae models and I have all got the crumby triggers down around 2# on standard springs. Small fine stone yer' want. Oh and my 9422.

I missed out on a 307 years ago.....stupid me

N.

[retmech]

I played with mine a bit and got it down to a good clean 3 lbs but that was by a slight sear angle change along with lightening the trigger return spring. If you don't have a sear jig it's not something to try freehand. That said a year ago I ran into a fellow at a gunshow with a set of complete 94 internal parts for $45. I swapped the half cock hammer and trigger assy into my gun and now have a beautiful 2 lb. trigger. I just use it for target work and plinking so the light trigger is no safety issue.

[Nath]

Oh yes sorry....I did swap the first stage spring....my mistake.

N.

[Shasta]

Like retmech who posted above, I went with a lower tang & hammer swap for my Winchester 94 AE, which is a Legacy model with an octagon barrel in .38-55. I learned about this procedure on the old Leverguns forum, a small portion of which can still be viewed via the "One Sticky" near the top of the opening page of this forum. Here is a link to one of of the entries that may help find the right parts needed for the swap if that is what you decide to do:

http://onesticky.levergunscommunity.org ... rsion.html

I also eliminated the tang safety on my rifle as it would not work with this swap.

SHASTA

[BenT]

The early Big Bore AE's don't have rebounding hammers. So it is just like any other trigger sear. Contact smoothness,angle and spring tension , so you can get a good trigger by altering any of these. Sear angle is one I don't mess with because I can get the trigger I want without changing it. Stoning the surfaces till they are glass smooth will fix most of them.

[Tycer]

Anyone have a good trigger job done on a 94 AE??

Yes, lower tang swap or trigger/sear/hammer/mainspring/spring guide rod. Easy peasy.

I have always liked the 356win, but doesn't have quite the Umph I would like further down range.

Excuse me? Umph further down range? What limitation do you see the 356 as having? I must assume you do not hand load.

[AJMD429]

The early Big Bore AE's don't have rebounding hammers. So it is just like any other trigger sear.

What serial number did the change occur with...?

[Pete44ru]

I have always liked the 356win, but doesn't have quite the Umph I would like further down range.

With all due respect, I've found the .356 has more than enough "Umph" up to any range a sportsman would shoot a game animal with it - 250-300 yds.

It's a virtual clone of the time-honored .358 Winchester, a round never thought of as not having enough "Umph".

My 20" bbl'd .356 BB94AE shot 3" groups @ 200 yds - IMHO, outstanding accuracy from a levergun, even if it was scoped when I shot those groups.

If you intend on shooting an Elk further away, I'll respectfully suggest using a scoped magnum rifle.



.

[Marlin32]

No I do not load my own, yet.. but planning on it this winter.
If I settle on the 356win will want to as I would be using the speer 220's most likely.
(maybe the hawk bullets, haven't used any of them to date)

I want to go to 24" barrel, and get them up to as fast as I can before accuracy suffers.

Just trying to get all I can out TO 300yds. Maybe not gaining a whole lot, but am gaining ground just the same. Thanks all for the assistance.

I am not opposed to buying a Marlin in 356 or having one made, but most info out there seems to report Winchesters handling the hot loads much better. So leaning toward the winnie a bit right now.

I have not ruled out getting a 348 DC yet either...or necking up the 338 Marlin to 348 or 358, but now the 338 Marlins are getting scarce and high priced.