Winchester Eastern Vs Saddle Ring? 30 Vs 32 calibers?

[rWt]

If I was interested in an older Winchester 94 lever action- is there an advantage to the Eastern Vs the Saddle Ring models with either 22" or 24" barrel lengths. Which model typically has better hunting sights, for example?

Is there a preference for one caliber over the other( .30 cal vs .32 Spl vs 38-55)?

I'd like to own a good, well balanced hunting gun (white tail, hogs, and the like), which will appreciate( or not lose value) if it is properly maintained.

Thanks,
Dick

 

[Art Eatman]

I think the .32 Spl ammo is hard to find, compared to .30-30. The .38-55 seems to be somewhat downloaded in factory ammo, because of older rifles. I had a .38-55 Commem, and the factory loads seemed like plinkers compared to reloading manual max load cartridges.

One thing about that .38-55 with handloads: It'll sure do the job on deer and black bear, although the basketball trajectory means--for me--a limit of around 150 yards or so.

Art

 

[Old Fuff]

Saddle rings were intended to provide a place where a loop of rawhide could be attached to hold a carbine to one's saddle horn. Eastern hunters usually walked, and prefered not having the ring get in the way. The main purpose of the .32 Win. Special was to provide a cartridge that could be reloaded with black powder during the early days of smokeless. Excluding that feature, which is pretty meaningless today, the 30-30 is a better and more popular round.

Collectors like S.R.C. - wild west and all of that. The so called "Eastern" pattern is probably better for most of today's hunters, and is likely to cost slightly less, everything else being equal.

 

[mainmech48]

Fluff nailed it; nevermind.