Need help with Winchester rifle model 94

[Idaho]

Alright~

I have a Winchester 94 in 44 magnum that I've owned since I was a kid...

During last Deer season I missed a large Buck at about 65 yards {3 ft to the right}

I have spent a great amount of time shooting this rifle and trying different loads since we reload at our house & Still can't figure this out?

They don't make these rifles any longer and I wanted to give this to my Daughter for her first deer rifle..

The Heavier bullets shoot pretty well out to about 50 yds and then they {go crazy} The lighter stuff will not even hit paper at that range

The best load is the 300 gr XTP

Can you folk's think of anything?

The Gun smith looked at it and even shot it and he can't figure it out

The rifling is clean and good
Sights are good
Nothing bent or broken

Heck I shoot 8 inch groups with a pistol at 100 yds on a good day

I really want to give her this but I was looking at new Marlin's for her and thought I'd ask for input before I give up

[northmn]

If everything seems in order then I would slug the barrel. Ive seen old milsurps act up and found them to have oversized bores. See if the barrel has any bulges? I ahve heard of the barrel bands giving Winchesters some fits when they heat up so that they do not group well but nothing like you are stating. My daughter took 5 deer before she was 15 with a Marlin 30-30 and 150 grain WW factory loads. They may not kick as much, are cheap to shoot and do quite fine on deer, contrary to what some claim. She now shoots a 300 Savage bolt I bought her and fixed up.

Northmn

[missionary5155]

Greetings and WELCOME Idaho!
+1 on the slug your bore. My 1892 SRC 44-40 has a .432+ bore so anything lead under .433+ will be hitting the other side of the Pacific puddle.
Mike God Bless you and Family.

[OBXPilgrim]

I've got a 1971-72 vintage M94 44 Mag & the bore is .432" diameter.

Got mine from a pawn shop several years ago & it threw slugs everywhere. The biggest problem was the mag tube end screw that was too long. It flexed the mag tube away from the barrel a good 1/8". I cut it down until it was just short enough to not touch the bottom of the retaining hole in the bottom of the barrel.

It shoots the "big fat 44" (285 gr FN GC) Lee group buy slug very well, but I think it can do better & just haven't spent as much time as I need to work up a load for it. Also have the Lee 310gr slug now & need to try it too - I know it will feed dummy rounds with the Lee 310 gr., which I think some won't.

[nicholst55]

I have a late (tang safety) M94 Trapper that slugs at .432" also. I haven't shot it yet, but when I do, the boolits will be the largest that will reliably chamber.

[carpetman]

nicholst55---"I have a late m94 trapper". What did it die from?

[nicholst55]

nicholst55---"I have a late m94 trapper". What did it die from?


(In best Curly voice) 'Oh, a wise-guy, huh?' Okay, okay; change to read: "... late production..."

Better now? :kidding:

[Idaho]

I've got a 1971-72 vintage M94 44 Mag & the bore is .432" diameter.

Got mine from a pawn shop several years ago & it threw slugs everywhere. The biggest problem was the mag tube end screw that was too long. It flexed the mag tube away from the barrel a good 1/8". I cut it down until it was just short enough to not touch the bottom of the retaining hole in the bottom of the barrel.

It shoots the "big fat 44" (285 gr FN GC) Lee group buy slug very well, but I think it can do better & just haven't spent as much time as I need to work up a load for it. Also have the Lee 310gr slug now & need to try it too - I know it will feed dummy rounds with the Lee 310 gr., which I think some won't.


I've been unable to find any Cast larger than .430 without a long back order?

I really don't want to cast my own until my 3 yr old Son knows what No is..He would try to cook his dump truck or?

We have the Hornady .430 265 gr Soft point & 300 XTP that shoot pretty well out of my 4" Redhawk and 51/2 Super

I'm going to order some Beartooth Bullets .432”-250gWFNGC but they will be a back order also

Thanks for all the input!!

[Larry Gibson]

Idaho

I had a M94 trapper that shot bevel based cast plain base bullets well to 1450 fps then accuracy went south in a hurry. My own flat based 250 gr SWCs would do ok up through 1500 fps. Mine M94 barrel slugged at .431" and I sized .430.

The heavier bullets in your M94 are shooting well because the velocity is lower. They "go crazy" past 50 yards because of the 1-38 slow twist of the M94s back then. Suggest you keep the PB cast bullets at or under 1400 fps. Most flat based PB'd cast bullets won't shoot that well over 1500-1600 fps. Your rifle should shoot .240 J bullets just fine, the 240 XTPs are good bullets for your rifle. It also should shoot .430 GC'd cast bullets of 215 to 270 gr at 1500-1800 fps just fine. There are several places where you can get GC'd commercial cast bullets.

Larry Gibson

[Boerrancher]

I got my Mod 94 winnie from a gun shop for like $50 or $75 a few years back and it was in great shape but wouldn't hardly hit the paper at 100 yards, shot pretty good at 50 yards. It is a 30-30 not a 44 mag. when I slugged the bore it was at 309 not 308 or more common 307 for many of the 30-30s. I started shooting 310-311 cast, gas checked boolits in it and it will now shoot sub MOA for 3 shots at 100 yds. If I let it cool after 3 for about 10 min I can put 2 more right there for 5 shots. The barrel bands start causing funny things to happen as the rifle warms up. Slug you barrel and you will probably find it is 430+ in dia.

Best wishes from the Boer Ranch,

Joe

[Idaho]

I should of ask you folks first:-? I'm going to load some "softer" stuff up and try that first. That whole 1-38 in a Winchester 94? I did not know that..Marlin has a 1-38 twist rate and that's what made me want to figure this one out? Maybe I should be glad I didn't buy another 1-38.

On a better note my Wife picked her CCW pistol today..No it's not a 38 or 9mm..That Wife of mine picked a New Ruger Vaquero Montado 45 colt ?:Fire: Heck you only live once..I tried to push the Sp101 357 but she said "she needed another purse anyhow"

[Larry Gibson]

Idaho

Softer is fine just don't push them over 1400-1500 fps if PB'd.

You got to be good around a wife like that;-)

Larry Gibson

[jlchucker]

Idaho

I had a M94 trapper that shot bevel based cast plain base bullets well to 1450 fps then accuracy went south in a hurry. My own flat based 250 gr SWCs would do ok up through 1500 fps. Mine M94 barrel slugged at .431" and I sized .430.

The heavier bullets in your M94 are shooting well because the velocity is lower. They "go crazy" past 50 yards because of the 1-38 slow twist of the M94s back then. Suggest you keep the PB cast bullets at or under 1400 fps. Most flat based PB'd cast bullets won't shoot that well over 1500-1600 fps. Your rifle should shoot .240 J bullets just fine, the 240 XTPs are good bullets for your rifle. It also should shoot .430 GC'd cast bullets of 215 to 270 gr at 1500-1800 fps just fine. There are several places where you can get GC'd commercial cast bullets.

Larry Gibson

I've had a trapper 44 mag 94 since the mid-1980's. My standard load for this little carbine is the Lyman 429215 gaschecked bullet (around 215 gr), loaded with Alliant 2400. I don't have a chrony but over the years I've probably plinked a thousand clay pigeon fragments from the 100 yd berm at my gunclub range. Sized .429 or .430 doesn't seem to make much difference. When friends of mine gave me some heavier cast bullets to try, accuracy was not as good. With jacketed 240 grain loads, the Winchester bullet and Hornaday hollowpoints were OK. For some reason, my little rifle did not do nearly as well with the Remington 240 gr flatpoint. Don't overlook the 215 gr Lyman cast bullet. It's a very good one when loaded out of a 44 trapper at 1500-1800 fps. I never shot a deer with this 44, but I'd be willing to bet that out to about 100 yd that bullet won't harmlessly bounce off a whitetail.