Apparently it's considered proper etiquette to a post naked picture of your girl on this site. So, here she is! This is my second Winchester model 94 AE, chambered for .444. My first was a walnut stocke model with a 20" barrel. A friend of mine now has that one (lucky bastard). I purchased the BlackShadow as soon as it came available. One of the first things I did was modify the magazine. I replaced the short tube with a full length tube off a 30-30. I used a forward barrel band off a .44 mag. A little machine work is necessary to perform this modification. I used a milling machine, but a dremel tool could probably be used. You have to notch and drill the barrel to fit the forward band and magazine plug.
After the magazine modification, I put a Leupold LPS 1.5-6 scope and a set of Leupold QR rings/mounts on the rig. After a while, I decided the scope detracted from the slim lines of the 94. I then mounted a set of "Ghost Ring" peep sights on it. Best iron sights I've ever used, and a perfect match. I'm a big fan of Vero Vellini rifle slings, so a black sling and a set of Uncle Mikes QR swivels was installed.
Just about every gun I've ever owned has had a Pachmayr Decelerator recoil pad, installed by yours truly. The Decelorator really tamed my .458 Winchester and my 375 Weatherby. 4,000 f/lb, 300 grain loads cause the BlackShadow to kick like a mule. A Decelerator just didn't seem to be enough, so I opted for the Pachmayr 950! This recoil pad isn't as sexy as the Decelerator, however; it works. The 950 is made for the likes of the .460 Weatherby and .505 Gibs rifles. In addition to the 950, I added 10 oz's of epoxy to the hollow, synthetic stock. This extra weight, in addition to the 950, makes this gun a pleasure to shoot. The extra 10 oz in the stock causes this rifle to balance perfectly in your hand and the total weight is still less then the weight of the rifle with the scope.
I've loaded my own ammunition since I was 17. I'm a big believer that heavy bullets should be used in any gun. There are of course, exceptions. I do have a 180 grain Hornady XTP load that smokes through the chronograph at 3,000 fps! I developed it for Jack Rabbits. Shooting Jacks with this round is like shooting water balloons! Taint for the squeamish, that's for sure.
My everyday walking around load utilizes a Harnady 300 grain XTP bullet and a full case of Accurate 1680 powder. This load produces right at 4,000 f/lbs of action/reaction. My hunting round is a 300 grain Swift A-frame and the same powder charge. This round is for Winchester rifles only. It will lock-up a Marlin rifle. The Winchester is just a heavier built rifle. I only shoot bullets that have fully protected noses. Soft lead nose bullets deform slightly when loading and deform under recoil. The Swift bullet is constructed in the same manner as a Nosler Partition, except the Swift has a thicker jacket. It's probably the best bullet available today for big game huntin with the .444.
The 20" barrel, and the absence of a muzzle break, make this rifle easy on the ears. However, it is loud! My 50 BMG is the only gun I've owned that converts smokeless powder, to noise, with greater efficiency! This little rifle is easy to carry, quick, powerful and fast shooting. It's esintually a politically correct assault cannon. Sure, there are more powerfull guns out there, but none have all the faverabl qualities this rig has; in one package. Theodore Roosavelt would have called the .444 "big medicine."
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