Winchester .44 Angle Eject Trapper with no safety

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Deaf Smith

Deaf Smith

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Ok, I bumped into a Winchester .44 Angle Eject Trapper with no safety.. 'pre-safety' or whatever to call it.

Is $650 to much? Are they reliable? Can they used cast lead bullets?

I'd love to get one to play with.

Thanks,

Deaf
 
In my area, $650 is about as cheap as you will find any Trapper...including the crossbolt safety model...they are just high here as there aren't many of them around.

I have one and $650 would not buy it.
 
Strange... Do Winchester 94s unlock if you push down on the lug at the back of the receiver?

Deaf
 
Thanks.

Now when you cock it, is the hammer not supposed to go all the way back? Now I can (yes I got that trapper!) cock it way back but the hammer goes forward about 1/3 before sitting on the sear. Yes it fires fine but my Marlins are NOT like that at all.

Also, the trapper's front sight is high, so high that even with the rear sight elevator at the top it still shots 5 inches low at 25 yards. Normal?

The photos I see of other Trappers don't have a front sight that high. Makes me wonder if someone had a Ashley Express apendeure sight on it.

Groups fine off hand. Just what I was wanting. Just shoots low with .44 spls, 240 gr magnums, and 300 grain Federal Castcores.

I'm thinking of simply cutting that front sight down 1/3 and ramp it myself. Then touchup reblue. Actually I like my sights low on the barrel. No six o'clock hold.

Just looked at the Ashely XS. Cool. But $100 buckos. I'll think about that....

Just disassembled it to the action (took the front stock, tube, and it's parts out.) Lots of black soot inside. Cleaned it all out. Unfortunately it seems to be a 16.25 inch barrel. I cannot make it any shorter. Bummer! I was dreaming of a 2/3 magazine on it. Make it a nifty 7 shot .44 that is light as a M1 Carbine.

Anyway, it's a good project.

Thanks,

Deaf
 
On mine the hammer moves forward around 1/8" from as far back as it can go.

If your front sight is dovetailed, just get a replacement factory bead.

You can always make it shorter, just costs $200 for the stamp.
 
Thanks.

Say I hear they have a twist rate of 1 in 38".

So is there a weight limit to the bullet to use in it?

Deaf
 
My 30-30 Model 94 Trapper (cross bolt model) came with a very low front sight. I put a higher bead up front and an aperture sight on the rear. And, there is some play on the hammer behind the sear. 1/8" sounds about right.
 
Thanks.

I want the sights low. I don't like front sights that stick up high.

Has anyone tried to load a .44 Magnum longer than normal (OAL) to get more powder capacity and it feed through the Winchester 94?

Or is there a .44 Maximum (like the .357 Maximum?)

I will run a brush through the barrel tonight, measuring the twist rate, so I'll see if it's a good candidate for 300+ gr bullets.

Deaf
 
You really can't go much past the normal oal. You'll have a bunch of trouble with the noses hanging up in the end of the magazine tube when the carrier starts to lift.
Besides that you'll be getting about 250-300 fps more velocity from that rifle barrel than a 7 1/2 inch revolver.
You may want to shoot that with 240's for a while and figure out if you want to go to the 300's, recoil is pretty brisk in that 6 lb carbine.
 
I can't remember how my 16" .44 magnum 94AE Wrangler shot with the factory sights. I did replace the front sight with a Lyman gold bead one after I put the Williams receiver sight on. I think I went with a higher sight...dunno.

336269241.jpg
 
FWIIW, the front sight on my 30-30 was way too low for the buckhorn. I couldn't lower the elevation enough to get it on paper at 50 yds. with factory loads.
 
Congrats on the purchase. Sounds like a fun gun. Based on what I've seen locally, the price is within a range of acceptable. If I were looking for one, I would have bought it without hesitation.

Somewhat related. About two,years ago I was at a localally gun store that is a bit more of a surplus, camping type store that has a very nice selection of guns. An elderly gentleman had brought in an older (maybe 50s vintage) Winchester 94 30-30 in good shape. This was to compete the negotiation the must had started earlier. The store paid the gentleman $200. When I went back a few days later, it had a price tag of $550 on it and was sold a few days later.
 
Cocked & Locked said:
I can't remember how my 16" .44 magnum 94AE Wrangler shot with the factory sights. I did replace the front sight with a Lyman gold bead one after I put the Williams receiver sight on. I think I went with a higher sight...dunno.

336269241.jpg
Click to expand...
What exactly is the purpose of that rifleman oversize lever? I would have thought a TV show that ended in 1963 would have lost its influence by now. Is it for wearing heavy mittens?
 
Aha!

I went by a local pawn shop and they have a Trapper 94 30/30 (saddle ring, top eject). Well the hammer cocks much farther back than my AE.

AND the front sight is much lower than mine. I think the filler screws on the top have been taken out before so I suspect a Ashely Express sight was on it as their are no screw holes for a receiver sight like a Lyman's.

So, using Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thwbDuMoQ4g

I took the gun apart. Well the whole trigger group flew apart on taking it out!

Why???

Well the Hammer Bushing was missing! Yes the bushing that holds the hammer in place (the screw through the receiver does NOT keep the hammer in the assembly, the bushing does.) Someone took the gun apart before and left that part out!

That is why the hammer didn't go well back. It was sitting on the receiver screw.


So, I'll have to order one.

Oh, that Trapper 30/30, with saddle ring, top eject, was for $399 with excellent bluing. Only problem is the forend grip was damaged with some repairs done.

But I don't need two trappers!

Deaf
 
jim in Anchorage said:
What exactly is the purpose of that rifleman oversize lever? I would have thought a TV show that ended in 1963 would have lost its influence by now. Is it for wearing heavy mittens?
Click to expand...
Wearing gloves to shoot. Can't put gloved hands in the lever to work it.

They have made oversized trigger guards for many guns just for that purpose.

Think Alaska in the winter.

Deaf
 
jim in Anchorage said:
What exactly is the purpose of that rifleman oversize lever? I would have thought a TV show that ended in 1963 would have lost its influence by now. Is it for wearing heavy mittens?
Click to expand...

If you don't have enough common sense to figure this out for yourself, I don't know if you should be able to own a gun???:uhoh:
 
jehu said:
If you don't have enough common sense to figure this out for yourself, I don't know if you should be able to own a gun???:uhoh:
Click to expand...
I am quite familer with the idea of a oversize trigger guard to acommdate a heavy glove. But that loops big enough I could run it wearing a hockey goalies mitt.
I more suspect someone likes to play Chuck Conner on the rifleman.
You may be to young to get the referance.
 
Gang, it gets mighty cold up there in the Northern parts of Alaska, so big mitts are used. Plus well maybe John Wayne, not Chuck Connors, is to blame for the real oversized loop.

But since I am in Texas , and global cooling is way off, I don't fret. I just use a normal lever. Bet you can get a regular one and swap 'em.

Deaf
 
I've been hunting all over Alaska and I've never seen a big. Loop like that. But if its that cold I just don't go hunting.
 
The big loop is for 'spin-cocking' it....which CAN be done.:) Practice a little and it's fast and one-handed....though on a range you'll likely get everyone all upset by sweeping the muzzle 360 which is a No-No. I used to spin-cock my 30-30 years ago...and it didn't have the big loop so it kind of scrunched up the fingers and the bigger loop would have been nice to have. Probably shouldn't recommend anyone doing that now a days just because there is a HUGE chance of an AD unless you have really good control of your trigger finger. In my mind, I can see someone touching one off through their armpit from doing it wrong so forget I even mentioned it.:)
 
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