Why come?

[Charlie]

I have a beautiful, modern, Winchester model 92 in 45 Colt, I love it.

Question is, why was the model 94 so popular?

[Swampman]

It was chambered in the new high velocity .30 WCF.

[Old Savage]

Longer range.

[Hobie]

Still lightweight and compact...

[Bigahh]

If there were Millions of 92's around, and very few 94's, I would bet your question would be reversed also!

[Charlie]

So the model 92 can't shuffle and shuck a 30-30?

Bigahh, I'm into mechanism, and I think them 92 is much classier.

[Pisgah]

So the model 92 can't shuffle and shuck a 30-30?

Nope. Too long. I have read that the challenge to Browning was to make an action as trim as the 92, but able to handle the new round. If so, mission accomplished, JMB!

[gak]

The 92 was strictly a "pistol length" action (yes I know, the .44-40, .38-40, etc were technically "rifle" rounds in their initial gestation, and *then* became pistol cartridges).

[6pt-sika]

I collected/accumulated Winchester 92's and 94's when I was in my teens . Got rid of most of them in my twenties and got into Marlin's in my 30's and 40's .

Still have a soft spot for Marlin's in 375 , 444 and 45-70 !

But I'm starting to come back around some to Winchester 92's and 94's again

[KSRtrd]

I likes em all no one tool suits all.

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

So the model 92 can't shuffle and shuck a 30-30?

Nope. Too long. I have read that the challenge to Browning was to make an action as trim as the 92, but able to handle the new round. If so, mission accomplished, JMB!

Up until WWII the 92's and 94's even used the same wood.

[Swampman]

The 1886 Winchester is much like the 1892 but it's very big and heavy. It seems like there could have been an in between action. It would have been a good home for the .454 Casul & the .500S&W.

[missionary5155]

Good morning
With the 94 other LONG cartriges appeared the best of which is the 38-55.. a vast improvement in power in a light weight rifle.
The smokeless powder era had arrived and the 94 was there on the spot.

[Pete44ru]

The 92 is a "short-action", for what was once referred to as pistol-length cartridges, as posted above.

The 1894/94 is a "long-action", for longer, rifle-length cartridges - but didn't have to be as large as some other actions due to the dropping link design.

It was only well after the discontinuation of the Winchester 92 that the Model 94 was adapted for short/pistol length cartridges, like the .357, .44 Mag & .45 Colt.

.

[Charlie]

So the model 92 can't shuffle and shuck a 30-30?

Nope. Too long. I have read that the challenge to Browning was to make an action as trim as the 92, but able to handle the new round. If so, mission accomplished, JMB!

I feel his pain.

An't easy making an action shoot a larger Cartridge.

Mr. Browning did real good.

I understand perfectly now.

Thanks Guys.

[Bogie35]

I have a beautiful, modern, Winchester model 92 in 45 Colt, I love it.

Question is, why was the model 94 so popular?

For the same reason bolt-action magnums are so popular now. More power, range, and noise than is necessary.

bogie

[Grizz]

I think there was a manufacturing cost calculation involved, besides the need to cycle longer rounds. Moving the locking lug to the rear of the breech also simplified the action and reduced parts count and manufacturing costs. That's from something I read long ago but I can't quote the source. Hope IRC...

Grizz

[Lastmohecken]

While you might hot rod a 45 long colt, which never was chambered in the original 92's anyway, to a respectible level or power, it never would have the range and flat trajectory of the new 30/30 round in the 94, and the 44/40 couldn't really be hopped up either, with the thin brass.

The 30/30 ran away with the show, and the Winchester 94 was the vehicle that carried it.
It made up into a light powerful, compact rifle, flatter shooting the most anything before it, and the rest is history.

It took the boltaction and scope to unseat the Model 94, 30/30. That and the bean counters at Winchester in 1964, who are also partially to blame for it's gradual fall from 1st place. Sure, there were more powerful leveractions out there, but none that could blend cartridge and gun into such a sweet package, as the Model 94 for the masses.