I could use your collective help. I am going out tomorrow to look at a Winchester 94 Big Bore in .375 Winchester, but from my searching and reading tonight it seems that there are a couple of different versions. The only thing I know for sure about this rifle is that it does not have the cross-bolt safety, but I am guessing that all of the .375s were discontinued before that anyway.

Some were made by USRAC, some by Olin/Winchester. Some are AE, some are top eject.

Some may have cast receivers, others forged???

Other than the cast/forged issue, can you give me guidance on which is better, top or angle eject? Is there a serial number you can point me to that indicates Olin vs. USRAC?

Many, many thanks.

I dont think anyone can give specific guidance on Serial numbers. Personaly I dont see in difference in the recievers.
Mine is a top eject. I believe the Angle Eject .375's were produced in the smallest numbers and will be the most rare. Several have recently sold for very high figures - new in the box.
I believe the top eject .375 and the early Angle eject rifles had a little extra preperation and the polish is very nice on them. The best wood I have seen is on the early .356 rifles. As a whole the .356 allways seems to have just a little better wood overall.
Chris Cash has a serial number thread that is interesting.

forget the winchesters. since they went under everybody thinks there made of gold look for a marlin. i have one and it beets the 2 winchesters in 375 i had in the past

the change from usrac came in the early 80's and the issue of angle eject as compared to top eject only difference is the way the shell is thrown out of the rifle.
I don't like the cross bolts so don't even look at them only a personal taste issue.
I have two both early usrac manufacture and the higher numbered one is in the 27000 range. Some of the first angle ejects didn't have the cross bolt some day I will add one to my collection.
As to the winchester being less than the marlin I have found no real difference other than one is made by winchester and the other is made by marlin.
the last 375's were made in the middle 80's I think could have been a little later or earlier as some were made from parts after they offically stopped making them.
I don't know of any real issues with the cast or forged reciever issue as mine are fine and that is as far as I am looking. On one forum a while ago someone was having a cracking issue in the receiver area but that could have been caused by hot loading the rifle or who knows what.
I love mine and will add some more when the when price is right as I only have two now one with a 20 inch barrel and one I put a 26 inch barrel on.
The cartridge is way under rated and most who one them know it. they will put meat in the freezer and that is what I want.
Someday will get a 45-70 lever to add to my collection and then who knows another 375 may just have to come home with me instead.

yup stay away from those 375 winchesters they all have bent barrels and group like shotguns.
http://www.hunt101.com/img/418031.jpg (http://www.hunt101.com/?p=418031&c=500&z=1)

If it's in really good shape, I wouldn't hesitate to plunk down 500 bucks just for investment purposes alone....perhaps more. Might just be a dandy shooter too. You could resell it for that or more in todays market.

Slim....hope to start making the list make sense on that thread...start crunching it down into "ranges" as it grows and there is more info to add. I would imagine that there is some good research out there that would help illuminate where the changes occur.

AH-1 Nice group! Gotta love that.