Winchester 1894 Trapper

[Doc Sunrise]

I recently was in my favorite FFL's shop and noticed two 1894 Winchester Trappers, one in .44 Rem. Mag. and one in .357 Rem. Mag.  After playing around with them for a bit, I just couldn't give them up.  Luckily my FFL always treats me right on prices, so I went home with both.

I took the .44 Trapper out to the range and sent through a box of .44 Specials.  It took a few shots to find where the silly thing was hitting at 25 yards.  Really high.  The sight was adjusted for elevation, and then all the hits were dead on.  What a blast!  The Trapper shot wonderfully without any hiccups.  Then I sent through a couple of boxes of .44 Rem. Mag.  Wow, that heated things up.  It still shot dead on, in fact the groups were even tighter.  So I took it out to 50 yards and then 100 yards with the same results.  The action eased up and remained with no failures or stoppages.  I am sure for Cowboy shooting, a shooter would want to have the action smoothed up a little more for speed, but these Winchester Trappers are a lot of fun and good shooters.  With only 18" barrels they are quick to bring up to target and easy to sight in on short ranges.  For long ranges, sighting took a bit more with my aging eyes but was still simple.

I know they are not being made anymore, but apparently there are some Winchester lever guns still floating around at very reasonable prices.  I would highly recommend these Trappers.  Also, if you are a John Wayne fan, check out the Winchester 1892 John Wayne Lever gun announced at the Shot Show!

[Mustang Gregg]

Mornin', Doc:

If you like 'em---Fine.  Good report.
But ye best warn other folk that them M-1894 Trapper's MAY NOT hold the 10 rounds that is usually required for a stage.
Most experienced folk know that a 16" or 18" ain't got a mag tube long enough to hold 10 rounds.  But some CAS tenderfeet might not.

The M-1894 also has a lot longer throw than needed & not always 100% feedin'or pistol length ammo.  The rifles & carbines were designed for .30 WCF & that length of cartridges.   I just traded off an "old" .44 mag M-1894 (made in '71 or '72).
The M-1892's are much better at runnin' CAS ammo IMHO.

Not tryin' to be critical.   

Much 'bliged,
Your Pard, MG

[Tuco Forsyth]

You have to do some spring trimming to get that 94 to hold 10 specials, tight but it will hold'em.  I've been shooting a .44 in sass, well it's the only lever rifle I had until now, just bought a toggle link gun.  Even after a I installed a leather wrap on the lever, after a match my right hand would ache for several hours.  You really have to work that mile long lever extremely hard in a 94.  No more for me, mine's being retired.

[Arcey]

Howdy, boys.

In the time I've been doin' this I haven't found many shooters satisfied with a '94.

As has been pointed out, they may have trouble with the mag tubes, unless modified, holding what a lot of stages require.  Their actions, originally designed for rifle cartridges, doesn't lend itself well to pistol caliber cartridges.  In actual use for Cowboy Action Shooting they seem to leave something to be desired.  Also, there seems to be better choices for the CAS shooter.

But, I don't know.  I've used Marlins almost from the start of my participation in this silly game.  My perspective is limited.

Sure would like to hear from folks who use or have used and abandoned '94s for the game.  What modifications they've made 'n how often they shoot them in cowboy matches.

Tuco 'n Gregg's comments were interestin' 'n informative, as was Doc's learned endorsement.  I'd like to see more opinions and details of their performance in CAS if we can get them.

Happy trails, cowboy action shooters.  Waitin' ta hear from ya.

[Tensleep]

Arcey you know that I started CAS with an 1894 Trails End in 45 LC.
Took FOREVER to slick up the action and get all the hitches out. It did hold 10 shells in the mag tube, but that was the only thing that I didn't have to fix.
The lever throw was too long, the ramp was rough, the trigger was heavy.
It was very accurate, but it isn't a CAS rifle.

It now belongs to someone else as a hunting rifle.

[Arcey]

Thankee, 'Sleep.

Who else wants ta step up?

[Major E A Sterner]

Howdy Arcey,
I started CAS about the same time that Y'all did(1997) and I started with a 94 Trapper in .45 Colt. It was amazingly accurate, had some of the nicest wood I ever saw on a production gun and it was not very suitable for CAS. as mentioned before, it only held 9 rounds, and an on the clock reload while not hard, still took some time. I used mine for about a year before moving up to a 92, then a 73 & 66. They're a good starter gun if thats what you have. I wouldn't recommend someone starting out to buy one.

[Arcey]

Evenin', Maj.  Darned good ta see ya 'ere.

What I was hopin' ta see.  An evaluation from sumbody what actually had ta depend on one when the clock goes 'beep'.

Thank ya fer offerin' up yer thoughts ta help folks that ain't been there yet make a decision.

[Major E A Sterner]

Anytime Pard, Good ta see ya as well, Ya need ta stop inta tha chatroom some night. We need ta catch up on whats been going on.
if things work out as planned, I'll be coming into yer area tha 1st week of april fer vacation

[Arcey]

Lemme know where yer gonna be 'n when.  See ya there.

[Mustang Gregg]

Arcey: 
I had one too.  It was an earlier 1971 manufactured rifle (not a Trails End).  Not an angle eject, neither.  It shot & worked better'n the newer TE guns in my estimation. 
But it don't hold a candle to what the newer M-92's, Marlins or toggle clones.
Mustang Gregg

[Abilene]

I started CAS in '99 with a '94 Trapper in 45LC.  Why?  Because (1) it was inexpensive (more so because of being used) which was important at the time, (2) I was lured by the name "Winchester" on the barrel, and (3) I didn't know any better.  Bought it at a gunshow, along with a Brazillian-made coach gun which never saw a single match due to its own problems.

The '94 was accurate.  And inexpensive.  That's all the positives I can think of.  Besides the 9-round capacity, it would throw a live round out with the empty once or twice per match.  Also broke two extractors, and those guns are NOT easy to work on.  Replaced it with a stainless '92, which has since been replaced by toggle-link guns in several calibers.

Doc Sunrise, I'm glad to hear that yours is working well for you.  I hope that continues.

[Doc Sunrise]

I have not started yet in CAS shooting and was drawn in by the fact it is a Winchester.  As I stated it was a fun gun, but now I see it would be the wrong gun for CAS.  Arcey has invited me to visit a shoot sometime where I can get a better idea of what's what.  Meanwhile, I will keep reading and listening to everyone so I can better understand CAS.

[Tensleep]

Doc take a look at the Marlin CB series if you like American made historic guns.

Arcey will tell you that I am not a Marlin fan, but that ain't so, I just like giving him a hard time 

My wife shoots one in 38spl that is top of the line and functions great after a little slicking up.

The Marlin 1894 is a good rifle, and good for CAS.

[Missouri Marshal]

WHAT!  Tensleep endorsin the FISH Gun!   What has this world come to?   Tensleep is right though, especially for someone starting out.  The Marlin 1894C is a 38/357 carbine with an 18" barrel.  Holds 10 .38spl or 9 .357 without modifying anything.  Will hold 10 357 if ya shorten the mag spring.  You can get one for about $400.00 +/- a few bucks brand new.  It's what I started with and the wife shoots it now.  Bet it have over 20,000 rounds through it and I haven't had ta fix nothin on it yet. I now have a Marlin 1894CBC .38spl. and I love it but it starts at around $600.

[Arcey]

WHAT!  Tensleep endorsin the FISH Gun!  What has this world come to?  

Careful, cuzzin'!  It's a trap!

[Pappy Myles]

OK pards, heres my story with my winchester 94 AE   trapper  45 colt

I got mine about 4years ago from a sporting goods store going out of business...... the price tag was $275 so it came home with me.

My 1st match, I found out the hard way that the tube would hold only 9 rounds.

Ohhhhhhh kaaay.    what to do without spending a wad of cash on purchasing a different rifle.   

After reading several stories on reloading, esp with the new cartridge 45 cowboy to reduce the void space.   Now I have a problem with the industry coming up with a "new" cartridge for cowboy action........something just aint right about that.   So after some research, I discovered the schofield round.    and guess what, the fit, I can get 10 rounds in the tube, it all chambers beautifully and shoots well.   And guess I got lucky, in that they fit my ruger vequeros well, all with NOW modifications or gunsmithing.   Not only that, I'm one of the very few that uses the schfold round so brass pick up is sweet too.

the only problem I have had is if I accidently short stroke it, the tube releases a round under the loading lever and its a bitch to get out.  shoots well and fast


my 2 cents

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Like Pappy's reply, mine is behind the original post's timeframe, but here goes.

I started in about late '98 or early '99 with a 44 M Trapper.  Long before I ever went to a match I found the 9 round thing and didn't care.  I wanted a rifle that shot the same as my Rugers and when I finally did shot matches with it, shoving one more round in it was no biggie.

It was a pure joy to shoot.  It was plenty quick enough for me - heck, they time me with a sundial.    (And I really don't care much about times, only hitting ALL targets.)  It was very smooth out of the box and NEVER hiccupped.  Ever.  I only got rid of it when I decided I had to have a '66 and it was 45 Colt, so I changed all my stuff 'cept for my shoot-gun, a Stoeger. 

I've NEVER regretted getting the '66, but I'm sorry I had to get rid of the Trapper to do it.  I've heard MANY say "not too good' comments about the rifle-converted-to-pistol-round action, but it seems that, at least in MY gun, they got it right.