Model 94 AE 45 Colt

[wolfdog]

Think this is worth $500
I don't have a Winnie or a 45 Colt at present, thinking hard about it.
http://floridaguntrader.com/index.php?a=2&b=476718

[plowboy 45]

For 12.00 more I bought a Rossi 92 bran Skippy new
That's just my 3 cents


PLOWBOY

[AJMD429]

I thought the 94 action (AE or otherwise) was optimized for longer cartridges like 30-30 Win, 35 Remington, 375 Win, and so on, and that the 92 was more tuned for the shorter 'pistol' cartridges like 38-40, 44-40, and the modern 357 Mag, 44 Mag, 45 Colt, and so on.

For a beautiful, and historic, firearm, I'd spend the extra money for the Winchester, but for a practical and reliable shooter, I'd probably get the Rossi. On the other hand, if I wanted to have a really quality levergun in 45 Colt, and had a good budget, I'd get a Marlin...

[Griff]

The 94 action (AE or otherwise) is optimized for longer cartridges like 30-30 Win, 35 Remington, 375 Win, and so on, while the 92 is more tuned for the shorter 'pistol' cartridges like 38-40, 44-40, and the modern 357 Mag, 44 Mag, 45 Colt, and so on.

For a beautiful, and historic, firearm, I'd spend the extra money for a Winchester, but for a practical and reliable shooter, I'd probably get the Rossi. On the other hand, if I wanted to have a really uncomfortable carrying levergun in 45 Colt, and had a unlimited budget, I'd get a Marlin...

There Doc, fixed those sentiments to a more factual basis...

[AJMD429]

On the other hand, if I wanted to have a really uncomfortable carrying levergun in 45 Colt, and had a unlimited budget, I'd get a Marlin...

Not a big Marlin fan, eh...?

Leaving Marlins out of it though, I think I'd prefer the shorter action Winchester (or generic) for a 45 Colt, vs. the longer1894 action. After handling a 16" 45 Colt chambered 1892 (Rossi version) it would seem shameful to bulk it up any.

[ndcowboy]

I don't know how you would possibly get hurt paying $500 for a Winchester. It isn't going down in value.

[Old Savage]

Buy it.

[J Miller]

>The 94 receiver is less than an inch longer than the 92 receiver. Insignificant at best.
>Although originally designed for the longer rifle cartridges, the designers at USRAC did a great job altering the action for the shorter cartridges. They got the bugs out right off.
>The action differences will allow for a much longer than standard cartridge overall length, so your not hampered by the COAL limits of the action like you are with the 92.
>The loading gate is longer and doesn't pinch your fingers as much as the short abbreviated 92 style.
>The 94s have their foibles but in general with the .45 Colt cartridge, they are not as finicky as the 92s.

I have a 94AE Trapper in .45 Colt. Had it since 1986. Have over 3,000 rounds through it the last time I went to the range. Not one bit of trouble has it caused me. Accurate, reliable, versatile are the words I'd use to describe it.

Is $500.00 a good price, I'd say yes.

Joe

[Chuck 100 yd]

I have both the Win. AE and Rossi 92 in .45 . With the exception of the Winchesters heavy trigger it is a lot more gun and better made than the Rossi. It also came with very high grade WALNUT instead of the mystery wood from South America that would make a nice pallet.

[Merle]

I thought the 94 action (AE or otherwise) was optimized for longer cartridges like 30-30 Win, 35 Remington, 375 Win, and so on, and that the 92 was more tuned for the shorter 'pistol' cartridges like 38-40, 44-40, and the modern 357 Mag, 44 Mag, 45 Colt, and so on.

For a beautiful, and historic, firearm, I'd spend the extra money for the Winchester, but for a practical and reliable shooter, I'd probably get the Rossi. On the other hand, if I wanted to have a really quality levergun in 45 Colt, and had a good budget, I'd get a Marlin...

I agree - the Winchester M94 is way too big for a pistol caliber cartridge.
Go for the Marlin, or maybe the Rossi....

[Sixgun]

Don't forget about the 1-36 twist. I have yet to hear of one that really shoots. I HEAR the newer ones have a 1-20 twist.

I have a very nice Browning 92 in 45 Colt with the 1-36 twist. Well, that's about all it is...it looks nice. I know what I'm doing and the best I can get is 2" groups at 50 yards with the 200 gr. 45 acp bullet sized .454. Standard sized bullets run about 4-6" at 50 yards.

Sorry son....I just can't get it to shoot......with cast.----6

[Old Savage]

Define really shoot. Mine would do 3" at 200 yes with 225 gr. Silvertips.

[aussie]

I have one of these in 45 Colt with a 24" barrel. Lovely rifle to shoot and yes it is accurate. Prefers lighter loads though for accuracy. $500? In a minute!

[Nath]

I love this
I love the Win94 action. It is so easy to work on.

Now these poor accurate ones or ones that only like light bullets, DO make sure the lever is not holding the bolt closed even modestly over the raised lug and report back please!

N.

[2ndovc]

I have one of the Trails End models that I really enjoy shooting. For the best accuracy I do have to use .454 dia. bullets
but have no complaints with mine. $500 for a Winchester that will never be again is a deal in my mind.

jb

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

Don't forget about the 1-36 twist. I have yet to hear of one that really shoots. I HEAR the newer ones have a 1-20 twist.

I have a very nice Browning 92 in 45 Colt with the 1-36 twist. Well, that's about all it is...it looks nice. I know what I'm doing and the best I can get is 2" groups at 50 yards with the 200 gr. 45 acp bullet sized .454. Standard sized bullets run about 4-6" at 50 yards.

Sorry son....I just can't get it to shoot......with cast.----6

Early on that 1 in 36" or some say 1 in 38" was a problem with the 94's, the B92's and the Marlin 1894's. About the time Marlin came out with the Cowboy they went to 1 in 22" or there about. Some tell me that Browning changed too. But, I don't know for sure. I do know I had one here that was sent out for rebore to 45lc twist 1 in 22" and the owner says it shoots really well now.
Some feel the Rossi's with their 1 in 29" is too slow as well. But, the NRA silhouette shooters seem to like it.

[Griff]

Browning 1885, 45 Colt = 1:18"
Rossi 1892 "Short Rifle"= 1:24"
Uberti 1873 Rifle = 1:16"
Uberti 1860 Henry = 1:16"
Marlin 1894 45 Cowboy = 1:34"

The 1885 and Ubertis are the most accurate of the bunch with "standard" weight 45 Colt bullets... down to about 200grains. My 185 cast WFN will tumble from the Uberti 1873... I ain't even so much as tried to shoot them from the others. Surprisingly, it and the 1885 will shoot a 160 RFN just fine out to about 50 yards...

Admittedly, my distance shooting is pretty much limited to a 10"x5" steel cutout of a jug at about 105 paces... But, outside that 185WFN cast bullet, they all can ring that target all the time! And that's shooting bullet weights from 160 to 225 grains.

So... if the weather is good, I'll set up an actually target and put each rifle on paper... maybe...

[w30wcf]

I have a Marlin Cowboy in .45 Colt I purchased in 1997. It definitely has the 1/38" twist.
It will shoot all of these heavier bullets really well.....



The heavier 350 gr bullets need to be pushed over 1,300 f.p.s. to be completely stable.
Favorite load with them is 20/296 which = 1,390 f.p.s.

More than a few steel rams at 500 meters have fallen to 350 gr bullets turning 1 revolution in 38" of travel.

Don't know why others are having trouble with the 1/38" twist and heavier bullets.
Must be the zip code I'm located in......

w30wcf

[7.62 Precision]

>The 94 receiver is less than an inch longer than the 92 receiver. Insignificant at best.

That is the brilliance of the 1894 Winchester. It fit rifle cartridges in a rifle sized similar to an 1892.

[wolfdog]

Ended up without it. Could not work out getting over there before it sold.

[Sixgun]

Jack,
Who in the heck wants to shoot 350 grain bullets at 1300+ out of a 6-7 lb rifle? It's a pistol cartridge rifle and in order to have pleasurable shooting, a 200-250 gr. bullet at 1000-1200 is needed.

I shot some 300 gr. 45-90 Lymans, sized 454 and they grouped in about a foot at 50 yards but the velocity was running around 1000.

Well, I really have not seriously experimented with it yet, just playing around. Guess that will give me something to do this coming winter.-----6

[Old Savage]

I have some 360s at 1350 LOADED BY Cowboytutt. Surprisingly they are not uncomfotable out of my Rossi. I have gone throught the first box of 50. They feel like shooting a shotgun.

[w30wcf]

Jack,
Who in the heck wants to shoot 350 grain bullets at 1300+ out of a 6-7 lb rifle? It's a pistol cartridge rifle and in order to have pleasurable shooting, a 200-250 gr. bullet at 1000-1200 is needed.

I shot some 300 gr. 45-90 Lymans, sized 454 and they grouped in about a foot at 50 yards but the velocity was running around 1000.

Well, I really have not seriously experimented with it yet, just playing around. Guess that will give me something to do this coming winter.-----6

6....,
I don't shoot a lot of the miniature .45-70's in the .45 Colt Marlin Cowboy as compared to the standard 250 gr / 1,000 fps cowboy loading which is definitely more pleasurable to shoot. But it is interesting to see what a particular firearm is capable of.

As it turns out, if other .45 Colt Marlin Cowboy rifles are like mine, they can shoot up to 350 gr bullets just fine if they are pushed to 1,300+ f.p.s. which replicates the early .45-70-350 gr. loading.

I do like the looks of the old Gould 330 gr. hollow point loaded in .45 Colt brass.

If you were to tip the powder can a bit more with the 457191 bullet, you should find happiness at 1,200+ f.p.s. Personally, I like 4227 with that bullet. 5744 should work as well. With the heavier 330-350's H110 / 296 gets the nod..

Oh.....I shoot the heavier bullets at .457" diameter since they are a slip fit in a case fired in my rifle which has a .4525" groove diameter. They reduce to the groove diameter just fine for the 24" trip.........

w30wcf

[J Miller]

Jack,
Who in the heck wants to shoot 350 grain bullets at 1300+ out of a 6-7 lb rifle? It's a pistol cartridge rifle and in order to have pleasurable shooting, a 200-250 gr. bullet at 1000-1200 is needed.

I shot some 300 gr. 45-90 Lymans, sized 454 and they grouped in about a foot at 50 yards but the velocity was running around 1000.

Well, I really have not seriously experimented with it yet, just playing around. Guess that will give me something to do this coming winter.-----6

6....,
I don't shoot a lot of the miniature .45-70's in the .45 Colt Marlin Cowboy as compared to the standard 250 gr / 1,000 fps cowboy loading which is definitely more pleasurable to shoot. But it is interesting to see what a particular firearm is capable of.

As it turns out, if other .45 Colt Marlin Cowboy rifles are like mine, they can shoot up to 350 gr bullets just fine if they are pushed to 1,300+ f.p.s. which replicates the early .45-70-350 gr. loading.

I do like the looks of the old Gould 330 gr. hollow point loaded in .45 Colt brass.

If you were to tip the powder can a bit more with the 457191 bullet, you should find happiness at 1,200+ f.p.s. Personally, I like 4227 with that bullet. 5744 should work as well. With the heavier 330-350's H110 / 296 gets the nod..

Oh.....I shoot the heavier bullets at .457" diameter since they are a slip fit in a case fired in my rifle which has a .4525" groove diameter. They reduce to the groove diameter just fine for the 24" trip.........

w30wcf

Well, that confirms my theory about why the 24" barreled Marlin Cowboy I had in the late 90s just would not shoot good with anything. It would keyhole at 25 yards, maybe hit the target frame at 50 and at 100 most of the bullets never made it to the back stop.
I tried every load I could think of but none would shoot accurately. I didn't try the larger diameter bullets at that time because I had yet to learn about those.
At the time the biggest bullets I had shot were 265gr Keiths sized to .454". Even those loaded over 9.0grs Unique, almost always an accurate load, were dismal failures in that rifle.
To say I was disappointed was an understatement.
Had I kept the rifle, it would have gone back to the factory. As none of the ammo made in the 90s had bullets big enough to shoot accurately through a barrel that big.

Joe