What is the difference?

[Texas45]

OK - Stupid question of the day. What is the difference between the model 92 and 94?

[gamekeeper]

In a nut shell:
The 92 is a scaled down Winchester 86 designed for .44-40, 38-40,32-20,25-20.

The 94 is a completely different design for the longer smokeless 30-30.

Welcome to the fire.

[Ysabel Kid]

In a nut shell:
The 92 is a scaled down Winchester 86 designed for .44-40, 38-40,32-20,25-20.

The 94 is a completely different design for the longer smokeless 30-30.

Spot on - can't add anything to that (other than, IMESHO, I think the '92 simply looks better! )

[rjohns94]

takes care of that question, next??? Welcome to the fire. I hope you find this place to your liking!
I agree with YK, the 92 is a nice looking rifle.

[Pop Watts]

Sorry, you have all missed the point.

The correct answer is - "about two years"

Pop.

[Ysabel Kid]

Sorry, you have all missed the point.

The correct answer is - "about two years"

Pop.

Thank you Mr. Obvious!

Oh, and welcome to the forum Texas45!!!

[Tycer]

If you are looking at the .357 Mags, get the 92.

[Doc Hudson]

In a nut shell:
The 92 is a scaled down Winchester 86 designed for .44-40, 38-40,32-20,25-20.

The 94 is a completely different design for the longer smokeless 30-30.

Spot on - can't add anything to that (other than, IMESHO, I think the '92 simply looks better! )

I will add only two things:

1 - No such thing as a foolish question. It is only foolish to refrain from asking about things you don't know.

2 - If you are considering any pistol cartridge caliber rifle, go with a Model 92. It was designed around cartridges of those lengths and feeds more reliably than the M-94 which was designed around longer cartridges.

Welcome aboard.

[J Miller]

In a nut shell:
The 92 is a scaled down Winchester 86 designed for .44-40, 38-40,32-20,25-20.

The 94 is a completely different design for the longer smokeless 30-30.

Spot on - can't add anything to that (other than, IMESHO, I think the '92 simply looks better! )

I will add only two things:

1 - No such thing as a foolish question. It is only foolish to refrain from asking about things you don't know.

2 - If you are considering any pistol cartridge caliber rifle, go with a Model 92. It was designed around cartridges of those lengths and feeds more reliably than the M-94 which was designed around longer cartridges.

Welcome aboard.

OK, I'll agree with everything so far especially the part about no such thing as a foolish question.

The 92 action was designed around the "pistol" size cartridges, while the 94 action was designed around the longer "rifle" size cartridges.

Now I have to partially disagree with Doc. The 94AEs with the exception of the .357 version are quite reliable with the "pistol" length cartridges. The action has been redesigned a bit to allow for their shorter length. They've shortened the lever throw as well.

The 44-40s, .44 magnums and .45 Colts have a rim diameter very close to the original 30-30 size. Close enough that the carrier, cartridge guides, extractors and ejectors work well with them.
The problem child is the smaller .357 cartridge. The rim is enough smaller that the designers had to put in an added spring to aid in stopping the round on the carrier, and change the ejector, extractor and cartridge guides to compensate for that smaller rim. Many of these 94AEs function well, but if the tolerances do not fall right, they are very problematic.
Broken carriers, broken ejectors, bent and broken extractors have all been reported by members of this forum. Far more often than with any of the larger pistol sized cartridges.

Now to be honest the only 94AE I have experience with is my .45 Colt Trapper. Well over 3000 rounds through it and not one action part has broken. Not one malfunction that was not traceable to operator error.
It will function with extra length ammo that will choke a 92 action or a Marlin 1894. And it's very accurate out to 100 yards.

So If you are looking for a Winchester design pistol caliber lever gun up to 357 Mag, stay with the 92 style. But over that there is nothing wrong with the 94s.

I'm not really a fan of the 94AE models, I just have 23 years experience with the one I mentioned above.

Joe

[C. Cash]

Not one of the experts, but have learned some here. The lockup on the 92 is superior in terms of strength, but the 94 is plenty strong enough to do what it needs to do for several+ lifetimes. The locking lug(s) are different, with the 92 having twin lugs that rise on either side of the bolt, and the 94 having a single lug that raises and covers a portion of the back of it's bolt. The locking lug on the 94 is also at an angle, which compromises strength a bit, but again works just fine with the cartridges it was designed for.

Welcome!

[Texas45]

Thanks everyone. Just bought a Puma .45 LC and love it. Just did not know what the difference was, again thanks.

I'm sure I will be back with more questions as I discover how much I don't know.

[gamekeeper]

I'm discovering things I don't know all the time here
Welcome again and we look forward to more posts and photo's.

[KirkD]

The Model 1892/92 receiver has a solid underside (click on the appropriate thumbnail to see the underside here http://www.joesalter.com/detail.php?f_qryitem=10422 ). The underside of the Model 1894/94 receiver opens up when you throw down the lever (click on the appropriate thumbnail to see the underside here http://www.joesalter.com/detail.php?f_qryitem=12181 ) The two actions are totally different, as others have mentioned.