Winchester 1894 Accurate / Fun?

[357SIG]

I'm planning to buy a Winchester 1894 357 Magnum or 44 caliber.
Probably a "short" barell (Ranger, Trapper).

Are these accurate to shoot still targets at 100 yards?
Are they fun?
Are they well-built and reliable nowadays?

[Hammerhead]

Heck yeah they're fun.
I shoot Marlins, but it's all pretty much the same.
The 1894 Winnie can be sharp in recoil in 30-30 or .44 mag.
.357 is a better choice for fun.
Get some 110 grain Win JHP's (reduced recoil load) and smack tin cans!
Heavier max loads like Blazer 158 JHP's or Federal 158 JSP's work better at long range.
Get the Trapper or the Ranger compact. The compact has a shorter length of pull and a recoil pad, it would be my choice in a Winchester.
Winchester 1894's may have trouble feeding .38 specials.
IMO, the Marlins are a little better and feed specials no problem, but they are heavier and more expensive.

[kkb]

I've had my Win. '94 Trapper in .44 Mag. for about a week now - bought as a "just 'cause" gun. (My first rifle.)

Yeah fun to shoot , but... the buttplate is hard plastic and gives me a sore shoulder after a while; a 50 round session left me with a bruise. I can't really comment on accuracy yet as I was shooting at 2' round gongs though I can say I couldn't miss the 100 yd gong, hit 200 yd 50% and was hopeless at 300 yrd. I'm not that good a shot anyway so take this with a grain of salt.

Took some numbers with a crony 5' from the muzzle:
Win. SuperX 240gr Hollow soft point (X44MHSP2)
Count: 9
Low: 1673 fps
High: 1719
Avg: 1698
SD: 16
Penetration: 5 one gallon water filled plastic milk jugs

Speer GoldDot 270gr GDSP (23968)
Count: 3 (shooting too high over the crony's sensors)
Low: 1503
High: 1537
Avg: 1523
SD: 18
Pen: >5 jugs (darn it, only brough 10 jugs to the range )

Hornandy 200gr JHP/XTP (9080)
Count: 9
Low: 1944
High: 2005
Avg: 1975
SD: 24
Pen: ? (ran out of jugs)

[Cal4D4]

I've got the Winchester Trapper AE in .44M. I've never had any problems but I don't shoot it much. Some of the Cowboy Action shooters report feed problems with the pistol caliber Winchester 94s. Marlin is probably the better bet.

[Tom2]

If I were gonna get a Winchester in a pistol caliber, I would lean towards maybe a 92 type. It is sized for pistol cals and does not have that complicated lever system that was designed for rifle cals. But you might find that a bit expensive unless you were satisfied with one of the Rossi or South American 92 clones. The Marlin 94 was designed for pistol carts like the 92, and I think it has a smoother action than the 94, for those loads. Might look in the used market for one without the pesky safety button. It is an abomination on the late 94's also. The action of the 92 is surely slicker to work than the larger 94. But if you like it, I guess you can live with it. Browning 92's can sometimes be found used in ex. shape. Otherwise antique converted 92 Winchesters are rare and expensive. Guess the limited edition new Win 92's are nice but still not cheap. I have never said "wow" checking the accuracy of a pistol lever gun. Some with more experience with them might have more data, but my groups would make me not shoot at a small target over about 50 yards. However I have not tried every ammo combo or every model of gun. Fun is the keyword with these guns I guess.

[Lawyer Daggit]

I cannot comment on the Winchester in this calibre, but used to own a Browning 92 in .357.

While fine as a home defence gun, in the field it is limited to about 60 yards. I would recommend a .44 instead.

[drinks]

The '94 is not the action the '92 is, the '92 is a baby 1886,- m71.
It was designed for the short rifle cartridges, .25-20, .32-20, .38-40 and .44-40. It is very smooth and has a good lockup.
The '94 was an attempt by Winchester to have a medium length lever action without having to pay Browning for a design.

Many were rebarreled to .44mag. in the '60's and '70's before collecmania put used firearms to silly prices.
If you can find a Browning '92, at a decent price, go for it.
I have looked at the Brazil knockoffs, the ones from 10 years or so ago are pretty crude, the latest models are better, not up to Winchester or Browning, but better.
Don

[Lazy D]

I wouldn't part with mine. One of the funnest guns to shoot. I installed a Marbles tang sight. I shoot Win silver tips and they are ACCURATE. I know some will throw the BS flag but this is no lie, I can come up 15 clicks and consistantly hit pepper poppers at 300 yard. It took some doing to find my dope for it but it's about the most fun a person can have with their close on

[AirAssaultMP]

I own a win '94 and my brother has the marlin '94 30-30's, we have had them since we were kids, never had a problem out of them. Recoil has never been an issue with them.

[whatsthedealiebob]

I have a Model '94 Legacy in .357.........It is very accurate and all my shooting buddies (including the ladies) want to shoot it cause it is so different from their bolt or semi-auto rifles. I orginally thought .38 specials were a good choice for the type of plinking we were doing, but the .38 is not intended to withstand the spring pressure of the magazine. I had bullets that were coming apart!
I've ordered 140 grain .357 on-line to get affordable target ammo and will give the .38s to friends with revolvers!

I also have a .17 HMR Henry that may be even more fun than the Winchester. The action on a Henry is far smoother than a Winchester. You can also get a .44 Henry that has been highly praised by reviewers and owners.
The 24" barrel on the Legacy helps with accuracy, and now they are making a 26" version!