model 94, 356 win

1911steelplate · August 22, 2012, 07:03 PM

I've always hunted with a ruger 308 win, sako 7mm, 308 norma mag and I have a 1886 in 45-70 and thought about hunting with it. I found this 356 in the win model 94 and have been very surprised on how well it shoots. I have no illusions of 1000yrd shots in 40 mph wind! (which seems pretty normal to most hunters I talk to) but i am gonna try antelope and deer with it. Anybody else out there shooting a 356?

Scorch · August 22, 2012, 07:28 PM

356 is a good round but never captured the imagination of the American shooters (much like its forerunner, the 358 Winchester). At 1,000 yds in a 40 mph wind, you should be able to hit an antelope at a dead run (just kidding, it is pretty much a 200-300 yds gun due to the flat nosed bullets it uses).

The 358 Winchester was designed to replicate the 35 Winchester and the 9X57 loadings that were popular in Winchester rifles in the early 1900s. The 356 Winchester was introduced in the 1980s (along with the 7-30 Waters, the 307 Winchester, and the 375 Winchester) in an attemt to slow down the shooter public rapidly moving away from lever action rifles. Didn't work. Good cartridge, just too little too late.

taylorce1 · August 22, 2012, 07:50 PM

Yep and you can use those pointy rubber tipped FTX bullets from Hornady now if you reload. It is a .356 Win after all, so not a whole lot of factory ammo floating around!

Jack O'Conner · August 23, 2012, 08:45 AM

A hunter who practises at longer distances can certainly do well with his 356 rifle. It certainly has the velocity and power for long shots out on the prairies. I almost bought one last month but decided against it due to ammo concerns.

Jack

Malamute · August 23, 2012, 03:37 PM

I have a 356 project gun. Looking forward to getting it done. It will have nice wood, checkered, rifle type fore end, rifle magazine ring, and front sight like the early extra-light rifles.

Regarding ammo, once you have some brass, there shouldn't be much problem keeping one going, unless you only shoot factory.

musicmatty · August 23, 2012, 07:58 PM

Are they no longer making 356 ammo

My brother has a Win lever chambered in 356..very nice lever and very accurate with it's open sites.

Malamute · August 23, 2012, 09:44 PM

I think they still make it, at least seasonally, but it's expensive and not in stock in many of the gun shops I've been in.

Guv · August 24, 2012, 08:51 AM

Nice gun and caliber. USRA's Winchesters were well made, nice looking firearms, in my opinion.

Tom Matiska · August 25, 2012, 12:49 PM

I've had it's 307 cousin for 25 years.

Win's Big Bore offering has a thicker receiver and heavier barrel than the standard '94. The extra pound is in the right place for off hand shooting accuracy.... It isn't quite the carry hands on all day sweetheart the standard
'94 is, but not too heavy either.

Make sure any rear peep or scope bases are specific to the 356/307 Big Bore... standard '94 and earlier 375 Big Bore offerings differ.

Never miss a chance to buy ammo or brass when you can. It isn't getting easier to find.

Win gave up on it too early, too bad they didn't see the FTX in their crystal ball.

Tom Matiska · August 25, 2012, 12:50 PM

Use Hornady's FTX published data specific to their bullet. Case length and powder charge differ from generic 200 gr bullets. My experience with FTX's in my 307 was the shape of the follower Win used in the tube isn't FTX friendly. The last round from the tube may not feed up the ramp reliably. ...But published loads look like a 250+ yard no brainer and I wouldn't let issues with the 6th shot stop me from using it for hunting.

If using standard 35 Rem flat noses be happy with the extra 200-300 fps and don't get too greedy trying to push lighter bullets too fast. My experience maxing out 30-30 bullets in the 307 was the ratio of purple jelly to edible meat at close range was unacceptable.

August 22, 2012, 07:03 PM	#1
1911steelplate Member Join Date: August 7, 2012 Location: colorado Posts: 30	model 94, 356 win I've always hunted with a ruger 308 win, sako 7mm, 308 norma mag and I have a 1886 in 45-70 and thought about hunting with it. I found this 356 in the win model 94 and have been very surprised on how well it shoots. I have no illusions of 1000yrd shots in 40 mph wind! (which seems pretty normal to most hunters I talk to) but i am gonna try antelope and deer with it. Anybody else out there shooting a 356?

August 22, 2012, 07:28 PM	#2
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	356 is a good round but never captured the imagination of the American shooters (much like its forerunner, the 358 Winchester). At 1,000 yds in a 40 mph wind, you should be able to hit an antelope at a dead run (just kidding, it is pretty much a 200-300 yds gun due to the flat nosed bullets it uses). The 358 Winchester was designed to replicate the 35 Winchester and the 9X57 loadings that were popular in Winchester rifles in the early 1900s. The 356 Winchester was introduced in the 1980s (along with the 7-30 Waters, the 307 Winchester, and the 375 Winchester) in an attemt to slow down the shooter public rapidly moving away from lever action rifles. Didn't work. Good cartridge, just too little too late. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

August 22, 2012, 07:50 PM	#3
taylorce1 Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2005 Location: On the Santa Fe Trail Posts: 8,249	Yep and you can use those pointy rubber tipped FTX bullets from Hornady now if you reload. It is a .356 Win after all, so not a whole lot of factory ammo floating around! __________________ NRA Life Member

August 23, 2012, 08:45 AM	#4
Jack O'Conner Senior Member Join Date: July 11, 2005 Location: Manatee County, Florida Posts: 1,976	A hunter who practises at longer distances can certainly do well with his 356 rifle. It certainly has the velocity and power for long shots out on the prairies. I almost bought one last month but decided against it due to ammo concerns. Jack __________________ Fire up the grill! Deer hunting IS NOT catch and release.

August 23, 2012, 03:37 PM	#5
Malamute Senior Member Join Date: June 6, 2004 Location: Rocky Mts Posts: 859	I have a 356 project gun. Looking forward to getting it done. It will have nice wood, checkered, rifle type fore end, rifle magazine ring, and front sight like the early extra-light rifles. Regarding ammo, once you have some brass, there shouldn't be much problem keeping one going, unless you only shoot factory. __________________ "Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat." -Theodore Roosevelt-

August 23, 2012, 07:58 PM	#6
musicmatty Senior Member Join Date: September 30, 2009 Location: Eastcoast Posts: 346	Are they no longer making 356 ammo My brother has a Win lever chambered in 356..very nice lever and very accurate with it's open sites.

August 23, 2012, 09:44 PM	#7
Malamute Senior Member Join Date: June 6, 2004 Location: Rocky Mts Posts: 859	I think they still make it, at least seasonally, but it's expensive and not in stock in many of the gun shops I've been in. __________________ "Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat." -Theodore Roosevelt-

August 24, 2012, 08:51 AM	#8
Guv Senior Member Join Date: February 24, 2012 Location: South Texas Posts: 2,126	Nice gun and caliber. USRA's Winchesters were well made, nice looking firearms, in my opinion.

August 25, 2012, 12:49 PM	#9
Tom Matiska Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2000 Location: Wilkes-Barre, Pa Posts: 1,029	I've had it's 307 cousin for 25 years. Win's Big Bore offering has a thicker receiver and heavier barrel than the standard '94. The extra pound is in the right place for off hand shooting accuracy.... It isn't quite the carry hands on all day sweetheart the standard '94 is, but not too heavy either. Make sure any rear peep or scope bases are specific to the 356/307 Big Bore... standard '94 and earlier 375 Big Bore offerings differ. Never miss a chance to buy ammo or brass when you can. It isn't getting easier to find. Win gave up on it too early, too bad they didn't see the FTX in their crystal ball.

August 25, 2012, 12:50 PM	#10
Tom Matiska Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2000 Location: Wilkes-Barre, Pa Posts: 1,029	Use Hornady's FTX published data specific to their bullet. Case length and powder charge differ from generic 200 gr bullets. My experience with FTX's in my 307 was the shape of the follower Win used in the tube isn't FTX friendly. The last round from the tube may not feed up the ramp reliably. ...But published loads look like a 250+ yard no brainer and I wouldn't let issues with the 6th shot stop me from using it for hunting. If using standard 35 Rem flat noses be happy with the extra 200-300 fps and don't get too greedy trying to push lighter bullets too fast. My experience maxing out 30-30 bullets in the 307 was the ratio of purple jelly to edible meat at close range was unacceptable.