What Cal. for a Winchester 94?

[Arcli9ht]

Getting paid this week, not enough for an AR, but enough for a decent katana for cutting practice and a nice camp/beater/plinker/hunter rifle.

I've settled on the Winchester 94 Lever gun, in either .30-30, .357/.38, .44mag or .45LC.

If I go for the .30-30, I can use it as a deer gun.
.357/.38 gives me the versatility in plinking with either cartridge.
.44mag is a nice cartridge, and .45LC has historical value

So far, I'm leaning towards .357, cause I dont have a pisol caliber carbine yet, but I do have a decent deer rifle.

/Arcli9ht

 

[Preacherman]

If you already have a decent deer rifle, by all means go for the .357 Magnum. It's a very versatile round, and great for SD in that rifle.

I would suggest, though, that you consider the Marlin rather than the Winchester if you also want to fire .38 Special through it. I've found the Model 94 to be very finicky about feeding the shorter rounds, whereas the Marlins I've used in this caliber just eat 'em up with no problems. The Marlins are also easier to scope, if you decide to do that later on.

 

[AZTOY]

I would go with 357 or 45 LC because i have pistol in both.

 

[jjmorgan64]

357 makes a lot of sense, but I love my 45 colt so That's what I voted for, great gun, can also be used for deer, if you reload, and are fussy about your shots.

 

[David4516]

.30-30 is the way to go. I liked my Model 94 .30-30 so much that I had to buy a second one

It isn't just a decent deer gun, it is THE deer gun... IMHO...

 

[JohnBT]

Does it come in a .35 Remington? JT

 

[Johnny Guest]

Hard to believe the other calibers - - -

- - -garnered so many votes. I guess the product development people at Winchester/USRA knew what they were doing.

I think of the pistol caliber '94s as either very special purpose items or as plinkers and "play guns." (Not that there's anything wrong with either purpose. )

Somehow, though, I view the 1894 as an all-around piece - -Way too powerful for casual plinking, but very handload-friendly, so that is possible.
A little weak for true long range work, but good far past handgun range, unless you consider scope sighted, stockless rifles to be "handguns." Adequate power and flat-enough trajectory for meat hunting, and certainly for defensive use, when black plastic/aluminum ubertaktikul A-Salt guns are not required.

And, withal, the 1894 is a classic in its own right - - as a rifle or true carbine. For handgun cartridge use, I prefer the idea of the '92 Winchester or its Marlin cousin.

Not putting down anyone for their choices - - - Just explaining one man's concept of a classic firearm.

Best,
Johnny

 

[lawboy]

I voted 357 but the 45 Colt would also be a fine choice. In either caliber, I would get the Win 94 trapper carbine. I have one in 357 and it cycles and shoots 38 special just fine. With either Winchester or Marlin, in 357 or 44 Mag, shooting the shorter cartridges with reliability is a gun-by-gun thing. You take your chances ...
I choose the pistol caliber carbines over the 30-30 for several reasons. First, you are not giving up much if anything in the way of 100-yard effectiveness with properly handloaded cartridges, especially out of the 16-inch barrels on the Trapper carbines. Trajectory does suffer a bit, but for large animals and people, it isn't enough to cause a miss.
Reloading the pistol cartridges is easier and cheaper. Brass is more easily found for free, plinking loads are easier to make, The pistol cartridges are superior for social work, at least for most of us living in cities and populated suburbs. With either the 357 or 45 Colt you cand do everything from plink, to hunt small game, to hunt deer and wild hogs, it is just a matter of proper load selection and keeping to the limits of the gun and shooter. As for scope mounting, you can mount a scope on either Marlin or Winchester. My solution is a Lyman 66 receiver sight working with the Win. factory front sight. This set up is cowitnessed with a red dot sight with one-inch tube mounted forward of the ejection port over the front receiver ring and first few inches of the barrel. It is in quick detach mounts also. This set up is good out to 100 yards easy for social purposes and reasonable hunting scenarios. Finally, the pistol calibers allow for 9+1 capacity in the 16-inch Trapper models whereas the 30-30 holds a lot fewer cartridges.

 

[six 4 sure]

If I were you I'd go with .357/.38. That was my first lever gun purchase I've since add several other including 30-30 and 44-40.

Unless you reload I think it's the best way to go. While .45 colt has the historical value the factory selection of ammo pretty much sucks. My second choice for you would be the .44 mag. Ammo selection is very good, and recoil is still minimal. The 30-30 would be my last choice, for you, unless you'd really like a deer gun.

Now if you reload things change. I'd put the .45 colt at the top of the list.

six

 

[H&Hhunter]

30-30.

Becuase if your going to look cool you need to be cool.

 

[BusMaster007]

I voted for the .30-30 before it started to gain on the others...
Unless you're trying to match the rifle/carbine with a handgun in the same caliber, the 94 just has to be a .30-30.

My next choice would be .44

 

[hansolo]

I like pain/.30-.30

I recently aquired a Winchester '94(.30.30). I don't handload yet, so it's 150 or 170g. I will never part with this historical and powerful "Cowboy" gun. I don't even hunt, but hit the 200 yard targets a good percentage of the time. I now keep it next to my .38 Special and 9mm for HD.

 

[cratz2]

I've got a couple 30-30s... The Winchesters have always felt handier in my hand than the Marlin 336s.

I'd get a 44 Magnum if I though I'd ever hunt with it, otherwise, I'd get a 357 Magnum for cheapness of factory ammo. Esp if it properly feeds 38 Specials.

 

[Mike Irwin]

Go esoteric and get one in .32-40 or .38-55.

 

[Solinvictus70]

.357 so you could match it with a good revolver & use it as a camping/fishing gun.

 

[sm]

30-30

I think everybody needs the first lever gun in 30-30. I've had a 94 for a long , long time, great blueing and the wood is purty.

Now the next one...you can't have just two...you gotta collect the whole set I'm told

I'm still at only one...but I want the .357 -the Marlin I shot was real sweet. Then I'd go .45 colt...oh heck... get the whole set...its simpler it seems.

 

[Brian Williams]

I voted 357, but prefer the Marlin 1894

 

[chaim]

I have a Winchester 94 in 30-30 and it isn't only my favorite rifle, it is my favorite gun! I absolutely love this gun. Still, if I was to do it again I would start out with one in .357mag or .44mag.

There are advantages to all three:
-The 30-30 is simply more powerful. As a result it would be able to handle deer sized game at longer distances. It also feels like a real rifle when you shoot it.

-The .357mag in its heavier loadings as enough power to handle most deer at reasonable ranges and the .44mag is certainly more than enough.

-The pistol calibers are a bit cheaper to feed (even the .44mag).

-The pistol calibers have the advantage of being able to be used at both rifle and pistol ranges (more practice).

-The 30-30 is the tradition caliber for this rifle.

-The 30-30 will be about $100 cheaper.

Personally, I really do love my 30-30 and I do intend to buy the Marlin in that caliber as well. However, due to the ability to practice more and to use cheaper ammo I certainly intend to get one in either .357 or .44 first (I haven't decided which). If I was buying my first lever rifle knowing what I know now it would certainly be one of the revolver calibers. Pick the one that you already have a revolver in that caliber for maximum convenience (I assume you have a .357mag, .44mag or .45lc since you are an American gun owner- it is almost un-American to not have a revolver in one of those calibers if you own any guns).

 

[Arcli9ht]

No handguns... yet. Stupid New York

Thanks for all the feedback.

I am really leaning towards the 357 now, and I found a deal on one that I dont think I can pass up.

230 beans for a NIB 357 Winchester 94AE Ranger. Is this a fair price? or is it too good to be true?

/Arcli9ht

 

[hansolo]

Price "too" good?

It's Twue, it's twue!

That's a lot of gun for the price, IMHO.

 

[Arcli9ht]

Its not 230 to my hands, take 20 shipping and 25 transfer. So, 275, but that still beats the 30-30 from wallyworld (290+tax)

/Arcli9ht

 

[Newt]

Where I live, you can never take too many guns to deer camp. Plus, it gives you that other option of "Which gun will I take with me today?". I have a Winchester Model 94 30-30 and have personally tagged 2 deer with it. If I want to be honest, I have to say, I don't have any experience with the .357 or .44 in a rifle. I can say, if you're a deer hunter, you'll probably like the 30-30.

Newt

 

[Monte Harrison]

.38/.357 is a good choice if you have any young'uns or small-statured adults you are intending to teach to shoot. Start with poofball .38 loads and work up from there.

 

[mainmech48]

Since you mentioned that you already have a deer rifle, I voted for the .357.

For the same reasons as previously mentioned, my opinion would be to look for a nice used Marlin 94 or one of the Rossi '92 clones. Even shorter, lighter and handier than Winchester 94, with better reliabilty using .38 Spls.

Both can be had for the same money or less than you quoted for the 94 Ranger.

My personal favorite .357 lever gun is my Rossi 92 "Trapper". Bought it new at a gunshow a couple of years ago for $239 + tax. 16 1/2" barrel, holds eight rounds of .357, and weighs just 5lbs, 6 oz. empty. Great plinker and "woods walking" carbine.