Musings from the Miller; The 94 can do it all!

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 2:59 pm

I was sitting here reading the "How did you get here" six page thread when a thought hit me.

I have ALL the lever guns I'm likely to ever need. As a matter of fact I can sell some and still be OK.

The 94s can do it all. From .22 RF to pistol calibers all the ways to rifle calibers That one model is all you need.

.22 RF = Winchester 9422 or 9422M

Pistol calibers = Marlin Mdl 1894

Rifle calibers = Winchester 1894

That's it, three lever guns can do it all. Pick your game and go for it. Boy did I simplify things. OK, now I got a headache, this thinking is a lot of work. Where's my Excedrin?

Joe

cnjarvis · Post by **cnjarvis** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 3:02 pm

I can agree to that but I can't bear the thought of excluding the 92's, 86's, 71's, Marlin 1895's, Savage 99's.... etc, ad infinitum. It just wouldn't be right.

Post by **Old Savage** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 3:38 pm

Wrong - can't match the 88 and BLR.

Pete44ru · Post by **Pete44ru** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 3:54 pm

Oh, Boy !

Please pass me the popcorn, this oughta be good.

iceman · Post by **iceman** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 4:06 pm

You are right except you forgot the 94BB 356 and then all you need is one of each and you are good to go for anything in North Aamerica. Just my .02 Canadian.

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 4:14 pm

iceman wrote:You are right except you forgot the 94BB 356 and then all you need is one of each and you are good to go for anything in North Aamerica. Just my .02 Canadian.

No I didn't. Is the 94 a 94 or isn't it? My 94 included all Win 94s of all calibers. Duh......

Wrong - can't match the 88 and BLR.

Nah, them Johnny come latelys are just a fad. They don't do nuthin better than the 94s.

Joe

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 4:33 pm

Ya know, Joe; I just gotta agree with ya. But, when I think '94, it's only the Winchester Mdl 1894/94 that comes to mind. And with it, the next thought is the venerable .30WCF/.30-30 caliber. And you know what? I still agree.

But, there will be those naysayers that just can't abide facts.

gundownunder · Post by **gundownunder** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 5:00 pm

Nah, them Johnny come latelys are just a fad. They don't do nuthin better than the 94s.

I beg to differ,
The BLR strips its cogs better than a 94

jhrosier · Post by **jhrosier** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 5:17 pm

J Miller wrote:...
I have ALL the lever guns I'm likely to ever need. As a matter of fact I can sell some and still be OK.....

Joe,
Don't go spreading this sort of stuff around.
If my wife hears about this, I won't have a leg to stand on when I decide that I need "just one more."

I'll probably have bad dreams about this tonight.

Jack

505stevec · Post by **505stevec** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 5:41 pm

Sssssssshhhhhhhhhhh!!!!! If my wife hears that one she may not be as considerate the next time I tell her I NEED one.

What the heck fun is that ? I am still trying to find the money to expand the collection!

CowboyTutt · Post by **CowboyTutt** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 6:14 pm

The '94 wasn't really built for pistol cartridges although it seems to have been adapted to them OK. Like O.S., I like BLR's and '88s, but I wouldn't even call myself a levergunner if I didn't own a '92 or '86! They were the high-water mark of the breed. Everything that came after was no better, just different. I might make an exception for the Win 1895 in 405.
-Tutt

tman · Post by **tman** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 7:46 pm

got to agree with joe. when you throw in the bigbore cartridges, aint nothing in the world that you can't knock down with one.

Post by **Old Savage** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 8:55 pm

No Joe, you are still wrong, just closing down your view.

Grizz · Post by **Grizz** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 8:57 pm

tman wrote:got to agree with joe. when you throw in the bigbore cartridges, aint nothing in the world that you can't knock down with one.

how do you throw a 45/70 in the '94? not gonna happen. and I can't imagine not having one in my battery. that and a 22. so, whatdya say Joe?

Andrew · Post by **Andrew** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 9:04 pm

Grizz wrote:
tman wrote:got to agree with joe. when you throw in the bigbore cartridges, aint nothing in the world that you can't knock down with one.
how do you throw a 45/70 in the '94? not gonna happen. and I can't imagine not having one in my battery. that and a 22. so, whatdya say Joe?

Didn't the 94BB get the .444 Marlin cartridge? That would do, wouldn't it?

rjohns94 · Post by **rjohns94** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 9:13 pm

Joe said there is nothing that they can't do and I have to agree. Now, having said that, I have settled on a marlin 39 in .22, a 92 in .357, and a sharps in 45-70. Extra rifles include a marlin 94 in .357 and a 73 in .45lc. which I will be probably be selling in the next few months. I expect if I didn't have the sharps, I would have an 1886 in .45-70 so I could do anything I wanted with three levers, and none of them would be a 94.

I have chosen the .22lr, the 38/357, and the .45lc for my pistols and so I am experimenting with levers in those calibers, but I am sure I will settle on the NKJ 92 in .357 as my pistol centerfire rifle. I think my Marlin .39 TDS is a keeper in .22,I am very happy with it. I"m not ditching the Sharps so I may not ever get that 1886 (well maybe I can trade the marlin 94 cowboy in .357 and the 73 in .45lc for a browing SRC in 45-70

) so I'm ditching Joe's 94s though what he said is correct, they can do anything.

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 9:13 pm

Old Savage,
I'm right according to history and my point of view of course. The Mdl 94 in its varried calibers, both Marlin and Winchester, has taken everything that walks on this continent. The Win 88 and BLR are no better, they are just different.
Closing down my view, naw.

Grizz,
I didn't say for you to not have a 45-70, RE-READ my post, I was talkin about ..... me.

Joe

Bigahh · Post by **Bigahh** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 9:17 pm

Joe,

I agree a little bit, but every man needs a few for Back Up purposes!

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 10:04 pm

J Miller wrote: I have ALL the lever guns I'm likely to ever need. Joe

BLASPHEMY! What has "need" got to do with leverguns?!? Or guns period? As I always say, "I have more than I need but not as many as I want!"

Joe, you are just joshing us on selling the others, right?

Post by **Old Savage** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 10:08 pm

Yes Joe - closing your view - they don't match up well at distances of 250 yds and up where many opportunities occur out here.

CowboyTutt · Post by **CowboyTutt** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 10:36 pm

O.S., so the argument your making is based upon the fact that the BLR and '88 can shoot spitzer bullets, am I right? Its a good point, and the one I was thinking of when I mentioned the '95 in 405 Win. Just trying to understand the debate. Joe, the '94 does very well, but it wouldn't be my first choice, but then again, I've always sort of wanted one! (a BB in 444).

-Tutt

Post by **Old Savage** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 10:55 pm

Tutt, pointy bullets at 2800 to 3000 fps and high BC make range estimation a much smaller issue out to about 290 yds or so. Shoot hair hit hair. Drop the velocity to 30-30 velocites and the problem becomes much harder. Not that some people can't hit a pie plate at known distances but when the distance is long and not sure it is much harder. Bullets with a BC of .37 and up and velocites of 2800+ simply can't be matched by 94s. It is a job they are not well suited for. You may recall when the group went to Texas last year a couple mentioned they were unprepared for some of the distances. Specify disance of 225 yds or less and it is a different situation. Maybe 175 would be a better choice. So compound range estimation with with any shooting error and you get much less surity.

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 8:48 am

Old Savage,

I'll tell you what, since we don't agree, and this is my thread, how about you use your modern types and I'll stick with my 94s. Hmmmm. That should work shouldn't it? No, you'll probably want to argue some more.

At any rate, LISTEN UP NOW ......... THE 94'S RULE, ALL OTHERS DROOL!

Joe

jhrosier · Post by **jhrosier** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 9:20 am

I would have thought that this whole business was solved a century ago by the Winchester Model 1895, in 30-06.
How can anybody not like a levergun with both power and a flat trajectory?
Not only that, but they are pretty to boot.

Jack

Grizz · Post by **Grizz** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 9:23 am

Andrew wrote:
Grizz wrote:
tman wrote:got to agree with joe. when you throw in the bigbore cartridges, aint nothing in the world that you can't knock down with one.
how do you throw a 45/70 in the '94? not gonna happen. and I can't imagine not having one in my battery. that and a 22. so, whatdya say Joe?
Didn't the 94BB get the .444 Marlin cartridge? That would do, wouldn't it?

No, but it's the subject of another very very tired topic that has to do with throw weight. Joe is right IF you accept the throw weight limitations of his choices.

Grizz

Post by **Old Savage** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 9:35 am

So Joe, you are throwing me off your thread

. Well OK then, I am just going to take my scope sighted AE 30-30 and leave this alone.

Post by **Old Savage** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 9:43 am

On second thought Joe, I think I will partially agree with a caveat from another post in response to Griff,

Well Griff, I think I agree with you (on the all aroundness of the 94) for your reasons. Best to have both and the rest. And, if they do what you want then nothing is better. Let's see .22, 25-35, 30-30s, 444. Do I need more of them. Passed a chance a beautiful 307 BB AE, no safety. Had my eye on other things. Now throw the .308 88 in and I think it pretty well does cover it all.

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 10:02 am

Nope O.S., since my musings turned into an argument and the whole point was skewed off my original point, I'm throwing ME off this thread. I do not abdicate my position, I'm just tired of arguing with you.

Joe

KCSO · Post by **KCSO** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 12:51 pm

Not only can the 94 do it all but one 94 the 30-30 can do 99% of it!

If you reload and especially if you reload with cast bullets, the 30-30 is good for mouse to moose. Add a supplemental chamber and you can shoot 32 ACP, 32 S and W 32 S and W Long, 32 H and R or 30 Carbine. With cast bullets you can load all the way from a 32 acp cast bullet at 700 fps to a 180 gr. bullet at 2000 fps for moose. My 30-30 l 94 will shoot 90 grain cast bullets into 3/4" at 30 yards and puts the bullets on poa at 30 yards with the same sight settings as my big game load at 100. I can and have dropped a turkey in the morning and a deer in the afternoon all with the same gun.

Although the 30-30 is not my first choice for Elk or Moose at under 100 yards it has and stilll will get the job done and most folks will never hunt a Grizzly anyway, Even is you don't load cast you can load bulllets from 100 grains to 170 grains at velocities ranging from 750 fps to 2200. I keep ONE gun hid in the hunting cabin all the time, a 94 30-30 with a 310 loading tool and if I were stuck there for the next ten years I wouldn't starve and wouldn't consider myself under gunned. With cast loads and a small charge of pistol powder I can practice as cheaply as with a 22 and with the same gun I will be taking to the deer woods. For the hunter and woodsman the 94 30-30 is still THE all round gun.

Jaguarundi · Post by **Jaguarundi** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 1:47 am

KCSO has a valid point.Beware of the man that owns only one gun.My earlier post "The 30-30 of Legend still slays large game"http://www.levergunscommunity.com/viewt ... f=1&t=6167speaks volumes.

El Chivo · Post by **El Chivo** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 3:27 am

one point about the 45-70, the Winchester 94 DID come in 450 Marlin. Would that be close enough?

J Miller, I think you have to limit yourself to one model when you say "the 94". If you are referring to any company's 94, you would have to say "a 94".

Well. The Winchester 94 is more famous than the Marlin 94. And it came in more calibers, barrel lengths, etc. Mostly real rifle calibers in addition to the pistol calibers. So, to be fair, if you just say "the 94" without qualifying it, it would be the Winchester.

But it's discontinued, so you have to talk about it in the past tense. You should say, "The 94 used to do it all".

This has no bearing on the discussion, but I think you can still get spare parts for the Winchester 94. I found their 2008 catalog and sent away for some springs and stuff. If they arrive, that means they're still there in Missouri.

Grizz · Post by **Grizz** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 7:04 am

one point about the 45-70, the Winchester 94 DID come in 450 Marlin. Would that be close enough?

good catch! I completely forgot about that one...

but I don't feel TOO bad, so did Joe

Poohgyrr · Post by **Poohgyrr** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 7:14 am

Ahhh heck.

If you can't sneak up on your game, just load 165 gr spitzers into your 30-30 AI '94 and go shoot some antelope. It's been done. (Not by me..

)

I would need to keep a tuned M92 though. I am spoiled.

RIHMFIRE · Post by **RIHMFIRE** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 7:15 am

J Miller wrote:I was sitting here reading the "How did you get here" six page thread when a thought hit me.

I have ALL the lever guns I'm likely to ever need. As a matter of fact I can sell some and still be OK.
[/color][/size]
The 94s can do it all. From .22 RF to pistol calibers all the ways to rifle calibers That one model is all you need.

.22 RF = Winchester 9422 or 9422M

Pistol calibers = Marlin Mdl 1894

Rifle calibers = Winchester 1894

That's it, three lever guns can do it all. Pick your game and go for it. Boy did I simplify things. OK, now I got a headache, this thinking is a lot of work. Where's my Excedrin?

Joe

I think you need to go to your room and think about what you said young man......
I dont want to hear anything like that ever again...
And tomorrow you will buy another levergun!

...........

But for most guys that hunt....the winchester model 94 is the best all around action...
unless you are going after really big game such as grizzly...moose...or realy big elk...
then i would grab an 86 or a 95...would'nt mind a 76 either...
Hell....I need one of each!

El Chivo · Post by **El Chivo** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 4:38 pm

and for those that live in Chicago, the 94 is probably the handiest expressway and it takes you right through town. It goes from Indiana all the way to Wisconsin I believe (I didn't drive much when I lived there, but when I did, it was on THE 94).

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 7:44 pm

sobenk,
There's no need for me to use the past tense. There are so many 94s out there they can and will do it all.

I think you need to go to your room and think about what you said young man......
I dont want to hear anything like that ever again...
And tomorrow you will buy another levergun! ...........

RIHMFIRE,
Trust me, after the trouncing I got with this thread I won't ever say anything like this again. Even if I am right. As for buying another lever gun, I did not say I didn't want any, nor did I say I wasn't ever going buy buy any more. I said "I have ALL the lever guns I'm likely to ever need. As a matter of fact I can sell some and still be OK." But as I've said before, What's need go to do with it?
Now if you'll kindly fork over some cash I'll trot right out and buy another lever gun. Otherwise, I gotta wait for a while.

Oh and I did not miss the 450 marlin chambered Win 94. It was not necessary for me to mention every single caliber or cartridge that the 94s have been chambered for to make my point. You guys would have missed it and argued about it even if I had.

OK, now I'm done with this thread. Bye bye, see ya.

Joe

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 8:21 pm

J Miller wrote:OK, now I'm done with this thread. Bye bye, see ya.
Joe

Now, for all that over-looked, ignored or are otherwise dis-inclined not to believe what Joe said, ""The 94 can do it all!", I must point out that he didn't say that others couldn't do it better, from farther away or ??? He just said the 94 CAN do it. Any questions?

Post by **Old Savage** » Wed Jun 11, 2008 9:07 pm

Griff apparently you didn't pay attention to Joe's invite:

thats it, three lever guns can do it all. Pick your game and go for it.

Here is the game - hunting here - 5% success ratio. Many kills are beyond 250 yds. Not like back east where you guys are - and I lived - 94s are a handicap. Maybe my Tacoma will do all trucking jobs. After a couple years here I understand the cult of the 30-30 but it is fantasy in some situations.

Poohgyrr · Post by **Poohgyrr** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 6:18 am

Joe,

Your original post says it all and is right on the mark. Hard part for me would be deciding which three to keep, but whichever three they were - I would do fine.

txpete · Post by **txpete** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 8:01 am

I have 2 94's ready for the hunt.win BB 94 375 and a old win 94 30/30.nothing in texas they won't drop

.those sav and blr's will never catch on

.