Late model Winchester 94AE... wow!

[Newtosavage]

Just snagged a great deal on a late model 94AE and I have to say, I am impressed. And that's not easy to do, considering my first deer rifle is a pre-64 Winchester I've carried since 1984. That rifle has been beyond great to me, but as my eyes have gotten worse, I've struggled with the irons (and to be honest I've just gotten used to scopes on all my hunting rifles).

I always knew I'd end up with a 94AE someday, but nothing I handled ever impressed me - especially the cross-bolt safety models - until now. I consider myself truly blessed to have gotten a killer deal on a minty 94AE with the tang safety. The action is super smooth and it handles like a dream. Only 6 lbs. 3 oz. bare, or 7 lbs. even with the 2-7 Leupold, this is the rifle I remember from my youth. I haven't been this excited about a new rifle in some time!

 

[someguy2800]

Nice rifle

 

[LoonWulf]

sweet rifle!

 

[Bushpilot]

Nice Rifle, Congrats....

nothing I handled ever impressed me - especially the cross-bolt safety models

Ditto..

 

[J-Bar]

How wonderful to be so excited over a new firearm! Each of us yearns to find the gun that pushes all our buttons.

Please post pix of your results this fall. Enjoy the process!

 

[Poper]

Sweet!
In 1995 I snagged a NIB Winny '94/'94 in .30-30 (100th anniversary model) for $135 at a gunshow. I'm not really fond of lever guns, myself, so I gave it to my brother for Christmas just because he always wanted a '94. He has shot the Dickens out of that gun and loves it like his first born!

Good on you! You will never regret that purchase, I am sure!

 

[someguy2800]

I have been pining over a winchester 94 timber carbine in 444 marlin.

 

[Bushpilot]

I have been pining over a winchester 94 timber carbine in 444 marlin.

I take back what I said earlier.. sort of...there is an exception....... a Winchester 94 timber carbine in 444 marlin is a cross bolt safety Winchester I could get excited about... A while back I debated between getting a 45-70 or a 444 and bought the marlin in 45-70. I like it, have no complaints but I still want a 444. It's probably because I have a couple 44 mags and would like to load with the same bullets... anyway, a 94 in 444 I could get excited about....

 

[Geno]

Nice carbine. Congrats!

Geno

 

[someguy2800]

I take back what I said earlier.. sort of...there is an exception....... a Winchester 94 timber carbine in 444 marlin is a cross bolt safety Winchester I could get excited about... A while back I debated between getting a 45-70 or a 444 and bought the marlin in 45-70. I like it, have no complaints but I still want a 444. It's probably because I have a couple 44 mags and would like to load with the same bullets... anyway, a 94 in 444 I could get excited about....

I have a Marlin 45-70 with the cross bolt safety and while I originally thought it an eyesore, I don't mind it now that I found a use for it. When I rack a round in the chamber I put the safety on, lower the hammer to half cock, take the safety off. Just to make sure I don't slip on the hammer.

 

[eastbank]

I bought two win timber carbines in .444 marlin about 20 years ago and sold one to a friend and kept this one, I have killed a few deer with it with a hornady 265 bullet at 2000 fps. it is a very light- handy woods rifle and shoots 3 shot groups of 2" or less at 100 yards with a 4x leupold.

 

[chicharrones]

Congrats on the great find.

 

[PapaG]

Good deal. I added one of those about six months ago, albeit with the cross bolt safety, also mint, but opted for a receiver sight. Shows promise.
Been playing with a Rio Grande 45-70 but not much. It hurts.

 

[Bushpilot]

while I originally thought it an eyesore, I don't mind it now that I found a use for it.

I don't mind it on the Marlins as much. With the Winchesters and the recess for your finger it's just a little more obvious. I probably make a bigger deal out of it then it is... Regardless, of whether they have the cross bolt safety or not though , all of those Winchester BIG BORE, and Timber carbines are some really cool rifles....My favorites would probably be the those in 444 and 375 but I'd be proud to own any of them...... I kindda forgot about those rifles, thanks for reminding me...

 

[SwampWolf]

I'm a "traditionalist" when it comes to all things concerning firearms for the most part but, for some reason, the looks and method of operation of tang/cross-bolt safeties on lever-action rifles have never bothered me that much.

 

[someguy2800]

I would love to have a tang safety 94. I think it’s a nice feature and they look nice. I’m used to tang safety shotguns.

 

[Riomouse911]

Nice deal for you! I LOVE the looks of the 1894 Winchesters (I have 4, one is an AE trapper .44), and the 1892's (I have three Rossi knock-offs). I like the AE since it lets you mount the scope/peep sight like Marlins do, and that 2x7 will be great on that gun.

Stay safe!

 

[T.R.]

I've been toppling deer with my 30-30 carbine since 1970 and none got away. Your AE model is a keeper!

TR

 

[Newtosavage]

I have wanted to like Marlin 336's for many years. They seem very solid and well engineered. But they just don't handle like a Winchester and IMO are too heavy (once scoped) for an all-day carry gun. And what's up with the fat stock forend on the Marlins? I've never understood that.

This 94AE with that 10 oz. 2-7x33 handles like a dream. 7 lbs. exactly and balances right at the receiver, the same way classic 94's have forever.

Might get a chance to take it to the range late today. Fingers crossed!

 

[Carl N. Brown]

I was raised on hammer guns with the half cock safety. I still have a traditional .22 Marlin 39 and 12ga H&R single shot gun. I find the add-on safeties annoying on the Savage 24V, 336W, Rossi M92, Taurus pump. I have however, accepted them as useful for unloading tube magazines, or loading chambered round and lowering the hammer to half-cock (still keeping muzzle awareness and not letting the muzzle cover anything I can't fix a hole in: even though there is an add-on safety, mechanical parts can fail). It is too easy in the field though, to cock to shoot and click to find the frame button or bolt lever has been left on safe or slipped on safe.

That said, the tang safety on the last Winchester AE I briefly owned was intuitive to me and not easily forgotten or accidentally engaged/disengaged.

"And what's up with the fat stock forend on the Marlins?"
I like to say the Winchester 94 is a deer carbine and the Marlin 336 is a deer rifle even when they are both with 20" barrel.
The extra weight and bulk of the 336 takes some of the sting out of the recoil I felt with the 94.

 

[Newtosavage]

"And what's up with the fat stock forend on the Marlins?"
I like to say the Winchester 94 is a deer carbine and the Marlin 336 is a deer rifle even when they are both with 20" barrel.
The extra weight and bulk of the 336 takes some of the sting out of the recoil I felt with the 94.

Fair enough. I am sure the Marlins are a bit more pleasant to shoot. Were I only sitting in a blind I might be tempted to choose the Marlin, but a lever gun seems so out of place in a blind. That's where I carry the bolt-action 7mm-08.

 

[Newtosavage]

Range report -

As I expected, it's about a 1.5-2" gun with my handloads (35g of LeverEvolution under 160 FTX's). I can live with that. I had no trouble hitting 4" clays at 200 yards with a 2-7x33 Leupold scope.

I wish the trigger was a little better, but hopefully it will improve with use. The action is already smoothing out. All in all, it's precisely what I wanted and should be a great brush / short range hunting gun to hand down someday.

I admit I had grandchildren in mind when I bought this one. I mostly hunt with my Tikka and Savage bolt actions these days, but in 20 years who knows what someone might have to pay for a clean Winchester 94AE with a tang safety.