Winchester '94 Trapper??

Hank Dodge · Post by **Hank Dodge** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 11:45 am

I've been interested in finding a "Trapper" length .44 magnum. I'd really like to turn one up that has the old style receiver (not an angle-eject). I have a .30-30 in that configuration and love it. Can anyone tell me if Winchester ever made such an animal; or, did they not produce any .44 magnum Trappers before the angle-eject models came out? I've seen a bunch with that awful cross-bolt safety and the AE feature; I just can't bring myself to buy one of those.

I'd be interested in a model '92 I suppose. I'd just need to make sure that it could feed the 250 grain Keith slugs that I tend to prefer loading. Did Davidson's or anybody make a run of those? I know that I've seen them in .45 Colt.

Any input would be appreciated.

Hank

Pete44ru · Post by **Pete44ru** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 2:51 pm

IIRC, Winchester started chambering the .44 mag in the late 60's, but I don't recall if it came as a Trapper or not, back then.

The AE's didn't start until '82, I think it was.

It'll be a long search, but I suppose one could be found some day, and Trapperized.

BadAndy · Post by **BadAndy** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 4:31 pm

Hank, I bought one of the early Winchester '94 .44 mags around 1967 or so. It had a standard 20" barrel.

With a peep sight it was an accurate shooter. Hope this helps. BadAndy

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 4:36 pm

Hank,

I have read that Winchester did produce the Trappers in the late 70's early 80s in .44 Mag in the Top Eject configuration. They were a companion to the 30-30 Trappers we both have.
But ~ I have never seen one.

I'd love to find a late 70s / early 80's Top Eject Mdl 94 .44 Mag regardless of barrel length.

As to the feeding of full length Keith bullets, the Rossi 92 copy I had needed to be custom modified internally for them. Once that was done it would feed anything that didn't exceed that length.

Joe

Hank Dodge · Post by **Hank Dodge** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 5:03 pm

I've got one of the early '80s .44 mags with the 20" barrel and the angle-eject (pre-safety). It's an accurate rifle with the Keith bullets and has served me just fine. I really just want a Trapper for the added handiness of the shorter barrel. I like the looks of the top-eject receivers so much better. I'd never plan on mounting a scope on it; I like open sights on my levers.

Jim....What modifications did you need to make on that '92 to allow it to feed the Keith bullets?

Jeff Quinn · Post by **Jeff Quinn** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 6:53 pm

The only 16 inch Model 94 Winchester .44s that I have seen have all been angle eject, most with, but a few without the crossbolt safety. The ones without the crossbolt safety also have thinner barrels, like mine shown here:

They are handy little carbines, and mine will even feed long 320 grain LBT bullets loaded into .44 magnum cases.
It was redone by Dan Printz. Details and more pictures here:
http://www.gunblast.com/FiringPin.htm

I ain't saying that no 16 inch .44s were built before the angle eject, just that I haven't seen any.