Winchester 1886 or 1894??

[ohiochuck]

Which model/caliber do you prefer for shooting/hunting?
Why?
Thanks!
Jim

[1500FPS]

That's a tough question for me. The 94 has the lighter weight, but smaller calibers. The 86 is a much better, to me, and stronger action. Of course it's heavier, but chambered in larger more powerful calibers. I own both models. My 86 is a Browning carbine and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. I guess I in a way answered your question. I always felt Browning should have made an intermediate 86 action for the cartridges the 94 uses.

[ajjohns]

I think it's been said before that the 94 was kind of an intermediate action of the 86? I thought I read that somewhere anyway. Using one wide lug in the back instead of the two on the side of the 86, hence scaling it down a bit. Anyway, I guess I've always liked my two 94's (30 and 32) because of the lower weight and ample power. My 86 isn't an 86, it's a 71 but that's pretty close to an 86 and the 348 has some pretty good wollop. More than I need for the whitetails around me. Still like the 71 though.

[John Allen]

I like the 94's for the smaller calibers but 86 for the 45/70's and such. I have a First year Marlin 1895 in 45/70 it is not bad as long as you have a decent recoil pad.

[40-82 hiker]

Which model/caliber do you prefer for shooting/hunting?
Why?
Thanks!
Jim

Original '86: 40-65 if you want to shoot heavy boolits a la 400gr., 40-82 is good if 240 grs. is okay. 40-82 rifling is too slow to stabilize the heavier boolits. .45-70 is good with the lighter boolits (400 or less). .45-70 for sure if you want to have brass readily available. .40-65 next (make brass from .45-70, which is at least readily available), and .40-82 last (I make mine from Starline .45-3" cases).

[40-82 hiker]

The 1886 is the better action design. Likewise, the 1892 action is a better design than the 1894. I think Marlin designs superior in that the bolt can be easily removed for cleaning from the breech.

The '86 IMO is the better as well, but I must also agree about the bolt. Putting an '86 action back together is very hard indeed. I've done it twice for my '86 (once to replace the carrier hook, and once to replace the ejector spring), and even with excellent directions it takes three hands, a hefty rubber band, a drink of Wild Turkey, a punch and hammer, and lots of patience. Got better the second time, but been so long... Nice to know the gun, though. I guess this is why they make gunsmiths.

[40-82]

The '86 is a professional rifleman's tool as reflected by the difference in the original price between it and the '94. The '86 originally sold for $57 as opposed to $19 for the '94. The '86 is much heavier and more powerful. The needs of most deer hunters are adequately covered by the '94 unless the distance or the angle is bad. Brass for the .33, 38-56, and 40-65 can be formed from 45-70. The longer cartridges 38-70 and 40-70 can be formed from 45-90 or purchased direct from Buffalo Arms, as can the fifties.

Throughout its production Winchester lightened the '86. An '86 made in 1887 or 1888 will be noticeably heavier than a rifle from the 1890's, as will an 90's rifle be compared to one made after the turn of the century. Those early '86's represented a highwater mark for Winchester in terms of fit and finish that the world will be unlikely to see again.

My preference for the '86 aside, I find it hard to imagine that someone who loves rifles could pick up a '94 and not recognize that he holds something special.

[021]

This is kind of an apples and oranges comparison. Both rifles are good at what they do, but they dance better with different partners on the same dance floor.

[bearbud]

For hunting I would prefer the 94 in 30-30. It is much lighter then the 86, and the 30-30 is more then enough for my hunting needs for black tail deer and wild boar. Also, there are so many of them around, that it doesn't break my heart to d&t one for receiver sights.
For shooting at the range the 94 and the 86 are the same although a 1886 on the shooting line, always gets more attention.

[Four Fingers of Death]

The 1886 is a fine rifle and I would love to have one, but in reality, the 94 in 30/30 will get er done most times and is light easy to carry and cheap to boot, what's not to like? I have a pre 64 3030 and have a BB 375W on lay away. I would love an 1886, but they are out of my reach at the moment and my big bore lever needs will have to be catered for by my Marlin 444.

[StrawHat]

I find the 1886 to be a heavy rifle, the 94 is not chambered for cartridges I prefer, so I ended up with the WInchester 1895. I can load it down to duplicate BPCR and use factory for heavy loads. Not for everyone, but it works for me.

[HABCAN]

Blued steel and walnut.......'real' rifles......Win .44-40 carbine and .40-70 rifle............guess that means a '92 and an '86. "They're an investment for the grandkids............!!" (It's a fine tool, but I just don't like the way a '94 'disassembles' itself when you open the lever, LOL!)

[Four Fingers of Death]

so I ended up with the WInchester 1895.

What calibre is your 1895?

[OverMax]

For my purpose with the thin skinned animals I hunt if I had too carry one or the other? It would be the 1894 no doubt. I have absulity no need or ambition in wanting a 1886 Winchester. Those that want to shoot a 45-90 or a 50-110 Express you be my guest. I'll manage to get by with that little 30-30 smokeless powder cartridge instead.

O/M

[Four Fingers of Death]

If you are a Black Powder affondicio and want to hunt big game with a BP lever and you feel the 45/70 hasn't got enough grunt, the 1886 in 45/90, 45/110 or similar would be a fine choice, an expensive choice, but a fine choice! As far as an 1886 in 45/70 unless you were committed to the Winchester brand, why use such a big expensive rifle when a Marlin 1895 will do it all at a budget price.

[double8]

My 1886 Lightweight with anything from a 300gr at 1000fps, up to the 405 at about 1600. I've pushed a J word to 1800 for hunting....killed at both ends:mrgreen:

[Four Fingers of Death]

How much does the lightweight weigh? The 1886 would be strong enough to load to the stage where the brass wouldn't like it, mind you, you would need to some special kind of masochist to always shoot at these levels.

I wasn't knocking the 1886's as such, but just saying that if you weren't overly concerned with nostalgic authenticity, or that the rifle wasn't flying the big W brand and were using modern smokeless powders at high level loads (which the 1886 can no doubt handle), most shooters who aren't rolling in cash would be better off with a Marlin at half the price.

Modern Smokeless powder doesn't need a case bigger than the 45/70 - 444Marlin - 450 Marlins to launch boolits at shoulder breaking, game flattening velocities, but it would bring a smile to your dial loading and cycling those big shells. Like the satisfying feeling you get dropping 12Ga shells into a double or throwing 45Colts into a Colt peacemaker or clone.

Nowwwwwwwwwww, if I had the cash, I would have the occasional hunt with an 1886 in 45/90 or 45/100 chock a block with Black Powder pushing big a$$ed soft lead boolits. That would be a hoot! Be fun at the range as well.

[Kansas Ed]

I have several of each in the stable. 25-35, 32WS, .219 Improved, .375Win, 40-82, 45-70, .348, 50-100. All are good for deer except for the .219 improved. But I'm a big bullet fan, so I lean toward 40 caliber or greater. With a cast 265gr bullet, the 40-82 will shoot lengthways through large whitetails...ask me how I know....Personally, they each have their place. If I were hunting deer in the hills, and doing a lot of walking, I'd take the '94 hands down. It's much easier to carry weight and bulk wise. Even the 86 carbine can become an anvil by noon. But if you are sit hunting and moving less, I sure like the '86. It's a lot of rifle and a lot of cartridge and the game just doesn't go anywhere after hit.

Ed

[StrawHat]

...How much does the lightweight weigh? ...

FFoD, If I recall correctly, the weight of the standard Marlin 45-70 and the 1886 lightweight is the same within a couple of ounces. I recall reading that in one of the Pet Loads columns by Ken Waters. He was testing the Marlin 1895 CLTD. The CLTD weighed 7 pounds 8 ounces with a 24 inch tapered barrel.