I'm new to the forum. I'm also new to Winchesters, so I've got some questions. I intend to buy a Winchester chambered for the .45 Colt soon. I'll use it for plinking, hunting, and - maybe - Cowboy Action Shooting. (BIG maybe!)

First, is there really a problem with 94's feeding pistol length rounds as I read on some CAS forums?

Next, are ALL Winchesters now Angle Eject, or is it an option?

Is it possible to replace the buttstock on a "Trapper" model with the style used on a "Trails End"?

Are the receivers drilled & tapped for scope mounts, or in my case - ghost ring sights?

Thanks, y'all!

I'm new to the forum. I'm also new to Winchesters, so I've got some questions. I intend to buy a Winchester chambered for the .45 Colt soon. I'll use it for plinking, hunting, and - maybe - Cowboy Action Shooting. (BIG maybe!)

The colt can be loaded up and will pass the 44 Mag with lead bullets. Do you reload?

First, is there really a problem with 94's feeding pistol length rounds as I read on some CAS forums?

We have two trappers, one in 357 the other in 44 Mag and not a problem Beware not all 357 calipier guns will shoot the 38 Spl.. Ours will but some will not.

Next, are ALL Winchesters now Angle Eject, or is it an option?

All the 94 are .

Is it possible to replace the buttstock on a "Trapper" model with the style used on a "Trails End"?

Ask your smith. Winchester now have the tang saftey, so that might throw a wrench in it.

Are the receivers drilled & tapped for scope mounts, or in my case - ghost ring sights?
Yep.

Thanks, y'all!

Now if your thinking remotely about getting into cowboy shooting , look into the Marlin cowboy version .
We like our winchesters , but it takes some time for them to wear in . We can get a cartridge from the tube , chambered and fired at this point faster than I can with my 94 Marlin, but then the Marlin has yet to be tuned. ( just got it).

The marlins are very easy to clean, and I have yet to see a man beat the time of a well tuned Marlin with a 94 Winchester.
Then again we shoot for fun , and gonna keep trying with that winchester .
Maybe we should have looked at the 92 version.

You see, that's me. I shoot for fun, not scores. Heck, I've got a couple of good prizes over the last couple of decades because the score sheets were pulled in reverse order at the end of the match! :D Talk about shooters with egg on their faces!

*IF* I get into CAS, the Winchester would be just fine I'm sure. I am debating over the "Trails End" vs. the "Trapper". Ten rounds in the magazine versus nine isn't a big deal in the field, (I'm an old flintlock builder/shooter...), but it would be a big help at the range in the event I ever go to CAS. Mainly we're talking about a companion rifle. Something I can carry around in the woods and the range with ease.

That also gets me to the sight issue. I'm determined to buy or build if necessary, ghost ring sights for the new rifle. I've recently shot them on a Marlin Guide Gun and fell in love with them. (Darned near convinced me to buy a .45-70, but who needs the recoil in Southern Alabama? What's gonna jump out at me? A 'gator? ) Anyone got a clue about who makes such sights for the '94 other than AO?

The Winchester '94's were designed to use long rifle cartridges such as the .30-30. They generally work pretty well with short pistol length cartiridges most of the time. I have a '94 Legacy in .44 mag, which I like very much, but I have managed to jam it up a few times.

What's happened to me has been my fault. If I've been shooting in tall grass or weeds, and didn't want to take a chance of loosing brass, I wouldn't push the lever forward all the way because I was going to try to catch the empty brass without ejecting too far. If you start to close the lever without pushing it all the way forward, the live cartridge can pop out of the magazine tube underneath the lifter. At this point you have to disconnect the lever to get the live cartridge out, which requires a small screw driver. This would suck big time if you were in the middle of a CAS event, or had a trophy buck looking back at you. A buddy of mine has had a similar jam occur with his '94 in .357 mag.

Winchester has been making all the '94's with angle eject for some time now. I don't remember what year they changed over.

Your going to jam any lever if you teach yourself to short throw it to catch brass . I have done it to both the Marlin and winchesters.

To be honest if you have levered the winnie for 5000 or about rounds you will jam the Marlin, since the marlin does seem to have a slighly longer throw.
You need to learn to be a bit rough on the action ensuring full travel.
If your concerned about loosing brass during practice, bring a light tarp on practice to collect your spent rounds. Works for me.

The 44 trapper that we have is great for close range hunting, and it fits in the box of the ATV.
This puts it out of sight to run the trails,and can be quickly be but into battery when you stop.
I also found the little rifle perfect on a drive with dogs in heavy cover.
On the down side:
You can only load nine rounds @ a CAS event .
Not sure about the 44 Spl.
Found that the 44 Marlin with the twenty inch barrel shoots tighter groups than the 16" trapper.

Regarding the 44 VRS the 45 colt.
The 44 can shoot 44 Spl and a assortment of factory loads.
The 45 colt is limited in factory offerings, but for the reloader this is not a problem . You can load down for CAS events ,and load up to excede the 44 Mag with heavier bullets and more powder ,to trail the the 45/70.
Now all things concidered I probably look at the trails end and compare side by side to the Marlin 94 cowboy version.
The cowboy is more money at first maybe , but all the fine tuning is gone.

Then regarding sites. You need to review what is allowed at the CAS events, but I doubt that the Ghost Ring set up can be part of it . It would be a consideration maybe to mount an Aim point type site that could quickly be removed for a CAS event allowing iron sites then to be used. During the hunting season , you then use the aim point to get you on target instantly for that snap shot.

When I started with the single action revolver I got a deal on a used 44 ruger . I then went with it and bought the rifle to match. I got 2000 rds once fired brass for a song.
Had I bought new I would probably gone 45 colt , which would allowed me to load heavy lead loads for the hunt, than might have been possable with the 44 Mag.
The rifle should be what your pocket can afford over the long run, and what fits you best .
Think of looking at it and enjoying it for a very long time.
You could always watch out for a 1873 winchester clone for the CAS event or possible model 92 Winchester and do it all.
I ended up with two rifles , where I might have spent the same , and bought one "Winnie".

When again like me you start to gather the "winnies" and the Marlins , cause one never suits all your needs . And then one always seems to follow you home from gun shows and dealers.
I got a bedroom set up with more than one safe .
Still looking for an orfanded 73 for the CAS
Hear what I am saying
Happy