Tell me about the Winchester 94AE chambered in 45 Colt.

[Dieselman]

Friend of mine has a Model 94AE 45 Colt Trapper that he is willing to sell me. I have been interested in a 16" 45 colt lever gun for awhile now and this would fit the bill I believe.

Thing is, I have never been around a 94 pistol caliber carbine before, only rifle caliber model 94's. How does that longer action work with something as short as a 45 Colt? Are they reliable? How about Ruger only type ammunition? Will it handle 30,000 psi loads?

Anything else I should look for?

Initially, I was just going to pick up another Rossi 92 with a trapper length barrel. I had not considered a 94 until this one came up in conversation.

[Bill in Oregon]

A pal and I both bought 1894 Trappers in .45 Colt from the Big Five in Medford at the same time. They were accurate, hard-hitting and fun to shoot, but both of us broke the lifters in our carbines. Fortunately there was a Winchester warranty gunsmith in Grants Pass who had spares. He told us this was a problem related to the .45 Colt case dimensions. I'd buy one again.

[Griff]

My impressions of the mdl 94 in a "pistol cartridge" is from some ancient personal use of a 44 Mag model and from the observations of the 45 Colt versions in use by fellow cowboy action shooters. My 1969 .44 Mag carbine was absolutely wonderful the short time I was able to use it. I bought it while our ship was off the shores of VN in 1972, new in the box. As you can imagine, ammo was problematic, so it was shot rather seldom, and the ammo available was special ordered, consisting entirely of 240 grain jacketed full power loads and as I recall a single box of 44 spls SWC. The 44 Mag factory ammo fed fine, the SWC 44 Specials, not so much. Until we returned to the States and I was able to visit a public range I had no way to "sight in" the carbine, except to minute of dropped military fuel tank precision. It was over the winter and spring of 1973, I was able to determine its true potential. 44 Mag was fully capable of 2" groups with almost any ammo out to 100 yards. It was stolen shortly after I got out of the Navy in the spring of '74. So, my personal use was rather short-lived and of very limited use. I'd never been successful hunting with it. (Coyote only, as I was again overseas during the CA deer season). Which spoke more to my skills, vs. the rifle.

The first mdl 94 I saw in cowboy action shooting was in 1990 thru 1991 while one of our club's founders used it. As long as he didn't try to run it fast, it was fine with RFN bullets. SWC bullets would catch on the chamber mouth and any rounds would bounce all over the place when trying to run it fast, but at least the RFN would feed pretty smoothly, as long as he held it fairly still. He kept it solely as a truck gun and replaced it with a mdl '73 as I recall. Over the past 36 years, none that I've seen in cowboy action have altered my impression of that one. But, as a firearm for general shooting, I think with good bullet selection and smooth handling, they are fine. Obviously, 44 Mag level loads are handled easily. But, be advised, from my experience, what I remember most, is that they kick as hard as they'll hit. In fact, from my perspective they kick harder than my .30-30s. I believe that is due to relative speed of the pistol powders used vs. rifle powders. But then, I just might be slightly recoil sensitive.

[piller]

My older Brother once had a .44 Magnum levergun. He got rid of it because it was unpleasant to shoot. The pistol powders and the heavier bullet made it have more felt kick than his .30-30. Does that experience carry over to the .45 Colt? I do not know. Maybe.
You might want to add a recoil pad after you try it. I am not an expert at this, and I do not play one on TV.

[Dieselman]

Well thanks everybody for the replies so far. I do already have a 20 inch Rossi 92 in 45 Colt that I shoot 250 gr and 300 gr jacketed bullets over 296 powder. So I am aware that they can be kick a bit.

One thing I hadn't considered until Bill mentioned his experiences, is spare parts. I suppose that could become an issue if something was to break.

[Ysabel Kid]

Mine in .30-30 is pleasant to shoot. Or at least it was the last time I shot it!

[OldWin]

I've got one but it's chambered in 44. I bought it about 25 years ago and it had had some rough use. I've used it hard myself, but it has been 100% and a great shooter.

[JBowen]

I have a 20” bbl. one in .45C and trappers in .44 and .357.
For hunting and plinking they are great. For going fast in SASS matches, not so much. I shot a deer with the .45 with
A Ruger load of H110 and 250 grain XTP at about 75 yards and dropped it in its tracks.
The heavier 20” is easier to handle with heavy loads than
the .44 mag 16” trapper.
It would be hard to talk me out of mine. I really like them.

JBowen

[Griff]

One thing I hadn't considered until Bill mentioned his experiences, is spare parts. I suppose that could become an issue if something was to break.

The 94AE uses the cast carrier unlike the post '64 '94s from '64 to about '73. I have 3 mdl 94s from that era and haven' ever broke or bent the stamped sheet metal carrier used in them. Any used firearm is likely to have a parts availability issue.

[Lastmohecken]

I never owned a 45 Colt angle eject, but I did own a 44 mag angle eject. I think some of them came with light barrels and some were heavier barrels. I had a light barrel model, and with full loads, it was a little unpleasant to shoot, but mine did not shoot the full loads accurately, at least the ones that I tried. But it was reliable in function.

However, it did shoot my cast bullet handloads, 240 grain semi-wadcutters, probably not a true Keith bullet, but pretty close, at around 850 maybe 900 feet per second. It shot those very well, and I used it in cowboy action shooting along with a cut down 44 mag Ruger Bisley shooting the same loads. I eventually traded the rifle off, after I acquired a Browning 92 Centennial which I still own. The Browning feeds the MagTech 44 hollow point loads pretty good and recoil is mild. I still have it.

I don't think I would buy an angle eject again, it's probably my least favorite model 94. If I bought another one, I think I would try, one of the new Ruger/Marlin's or the Smith and Wesson or Henry. Although I think Uberti did have a 44 mag model 73, and if I found one of those, I would love to give it a try. I know the 73 is not as strong an action, but they are so smooth. They do make the 73 in 45 Colt, and actually, I would not be afraid of one of those, although 44/40 might be the best chambering of the larger bores in the 73.

[Lastmohecken]

I never owned a 45 Colt angle eject, but I did own a 44 mag angle eject. I think some of them came with light barrels and some were heavier barrels. I had a light barrel model, and with full loads, it was a little unpleasant to shoot, but mine did not shoot the full loads accurately, at least the ones that I tried. But it was reliable in function.

However, it did shoot my cast bullet handloads, 240 grain semi-wadcutters, probably not a true Keith bullet, but pretty close, at around 850 maybe 900 feet per second. It shot those very well, and I used it in cowboy action shooting along with a cut down 44 mag Ruger Bisley shooting the same loads. I eventually traded the rifle off, after I acquired a Browning 92 Centennial which I still own. The Browning feeds the MagTech 44 hollow point loads pretty good and recoil is mild. I still have it.

I don't think I would buy an angle eject again, it's probably my least favorite model 94. If I bought another one, I think I would try, one of the new Ruger/Marlin's or the Smith and Wesson or Henry. Although I think Uberti did have a 44 mag model 73, and if I found one of those, I would love to give it a try. I know the 73 is not as strong an action, but they are so smooth. They do make the 73 in 45 Colt, and actually, I would not be afraid of one of those, although 44/40 might be the best chambering of the larger bores in the 73.

[trapper45]

I guess I should live up to my forum handle and tell about my Winchester Trapper in .45.

The 1984 catalog showed a 94AE in .45 with the standard 20-in barrel, and I thought I had to have one to go with my Ruger Blackhawk Convertible. Unfortunately, the announcement was premature by a year: the .45 94AE didn't appear until the '85 catalog, and then only in the 16-in Trapper configuration. Checking with the local shop I found out that that was it--no 20-in, only the 16. Even though thinking it was a bit stumpy-looking from the brochure picture, I ordered one, and it showed up around the first of December, 1985.

In anticipation I had loaded some Hornady 250 JHPs from the Ruger section of my Speer manual, and ran some test rounds at the indoor range. The next morning I was out in the Kansas 'woods' on opening day ready to harvest venison with what my buddies had already referred to as my 'Red Ryder BB Gun,' since it had a saddle ring and the nicest case-colored receiver I'd seen. It was the first-year production, with no crater safety or anything to mar the lines of the neat little gun. No Bambi appeared, but it was fun just being out with my new toy!

In the years since it has been accurate with whatever I put through it, and the only hiccup was leisurely ejection, which was cured by replacing the original ejector spring with one from the .44 Magnum model a few years ago. It's a favorite and definitely a keeper!

[Dieselman]

I guess I should live up to my forum handle and tell about my Winchester Trapper in .45.

The 1984 catalog showed a 94AE in .45 with the standard 20-in barrel, and I thought I had to have one to go with my Ruger Blackhawk Convertible. Unfortunately, the announcement was premature by a year: the .45 94AE didn't appear until the '85 catalog, and then only in the 16-in Trapper configuration. Checking with the local shop I found out that that was it--no 20-in, only the 16. Even though thinking it was a bit stumpy-looking from the brochure picture, I ordered one, and it showed up around the first of December, 1985.

In anticipation I had loaded some Hornady 250 JHPs from the Ruger section of my Speer manual, and ran some test rounds at the indoor range. The next morning I was out in the Kansas 'woods' on opening day ready to harvest venison with what my buddies had already referred to as my 'Red Ryder BB Gun,' since it had a saddle ring and the nicest case-colored receiver I'd seen. It was the first-year production, with no crater safety or anything to mar the lines of the neat little gun. No Bambi appeared, but it was fun just being out with my new toy!

In the years since it has been accurate with whatever I put through it, and the only hiccup was leisurely ejection, which was cured by replacing the original ejector spring with one from the .44 Magnum model a few years ago. It's a favorite and definitely a keeper!

Thank you, and great story! The gun I am looking at also does not have the cross bolt safety.

[Dieselman]

Well I went ahead and brought her home today. She's beautiful, looks to have very few rounds through it. Haven't shot it yet, but did cycle some ammo through it. Seems to cycle just fine. Previous owner said only thing he did to it during the time he owned it was replace the lever with one feom Ranger Point Precision.

[Bill in Oregon]

Nice figure in that stock. Bet you'll be happy with her.

[Dieselman]

Nice figure in that stock. Bet you'll be happy with her.

Yes it is beautiful wood for sure Bill. I am floating the idea of getting another stock and cutting it down a few inches to shorten the overall length. Or maybe finding a youth stock. This one is too nice to mess with.

Here it is again
And here she is with my 92 in 45 Colt as well.

[JOG]

If it has a rebounding hammer, I would replace that with a traditional hammer.
Otherwise, it looks like you found a real beauty!
Congratulations!

[Dieselman]

If it has a rebounding hammer, I would replace that with a traditional hammer.
Otherwise, it looks like you found a real beauty!
Congratulations!

It does have a rebounding hammer. Tell me more about replacing it? What would be the reason? Reliability? Better trigger pull? Or just for nolstagia? Furthermore, where does one get parts for converting it?

[Griff]

Some rebounding hammer units experienced lighter than optimal hammer strikes. The only part needed to convert one is the Hammer Spring Guide Rod. That is, if it isn't the tang safety models. I've never messed with those, and don't know first hand if the older guide rod will clear the safety mechanism. Note: The guide rod referenced is virtually unobtainium. I have a couple slotted for a couple of project guns. I've thought about having a local machine shop (fabricator), make some more. But, haven't found one willing to take on gun work.

[JBowen]

I think you will be pleased with it.
I have three of the pistol caliber AE’s
And have served me well.

JBowen

[new pig hunter]

I most definitely like the .45LC Trapper. Here's my own "range day" notes from way way back ......

https://www.levergunscommunity.org/view ... er#p624485

[Dieselman]

I most definitely like the .45LC Trapper. Here's my own "range day" notes from way way back ......

https://www.levergunscommunity.org/view ... er#p624485

Thanks Carl. That was a fun read. I look forward to getting it out to the range and making some whap noises myself one of these days. I have just been too busy with harvest to take time. At the moment I am trying to figure out why my combine is dead in the water. It won't go forward or backwards. Think I either lost the hydrostat or broke a drive coupler or something. Believe me, I would much rather be out shooting today!

[AkRay]

I bought a Winchester 94 AE in 45 Colt at a show a couple years ago because it was very fairly priced and I'd never tried one before. I kept it under the table, then got to thinking I should see it there's any interest in it. 10 minutes after I put it on the table, a guy came along and offered a pre-safety Marlin 1894 44 Magnum in trade. I still have the Marlin 44.