Winchester model 94 .357mag question.

[drone23]

Question for you guys.

I know that I can shoot .38spcl and .38+P in my .357 revolver with no problems. My question is, if I picked up a Winchester model 94 chambered in .357, would I be able to shoot .38 in that rifle?

I know that it would not perform as well as .357 would, but would it feed, etc.?

Thanks,

-D

 

[ChristopherG]

The 1894s are designed to feed .38s (assuming a suitable bullet shape), though some are more sensitive than others to cartridge length. Only you can discover whether your gun will do it reliably.

If yours will do it, and you do it a lot, you'll need to clean the chamber carefully to get the crud-ring out so it'll still feed the 357s smoothly.

 

[Pumpkinheaver]

Mine feeds them fine.

 

[czhen]

Ok, no problems

Dear drone23
Once I asked to Winchester the same questiona and te response was afirmative, but some brands cartridge might cause failure to eject.

 

[WonderNine]

I wouldn't do it mostly because I'd be worried about erroding the ridge at the end of the .357 chamber.

 

[mondocomputerman]

How many .357's can you fit in the magazine, and how many .38's can you fit in the magazine. Just curious.

 

[WonderNine]

I don't know, but I would guess maybe 1 or 2 more .38 specials.

 

[SASS#23149]

The trapper models hold nine of the .357's,my Trails End holds 10,and i could modify it to hold eleven I believe.My buddy's '94 holds 13...I forget the model of his '94,it's a cowboy edition.
I believe you could get 38's to feed ok...at least I know mine willl but since I reload I just stick with .357's to avoid the 'crud ring'.

 

[Kurt S.]

I had a feeding problem with Winchester 130 grain FMJ in .38 Spl. I have shot 158 grain truncated roundnose hard lead ("cowboy" loads), 125 grain softpoints with a fairly large meplat, and 147 grain JHP without problems so I'm thinking the bullet profile may have had something to do with the jam. But I'm not sure what.