38 Specials in Winchester 94 - 357 magnum
Burt Smith
believe that I could use 38 specials also. I liked this as it would be
a great cost saver. The 357s work great and it is a fun round to shoot.
However, the 38s don't feed well and don't eject well. I end up turning
the gun over and shaking the shell out as well as the round that didn't
feed. Totally unacceptable!!! I am totally happy with shooting the
357s, but I wonder if I should not even think of using 38s. Or is there
some tweak or ammo that would enable smooth operation with 38 specials.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Win a Fulton Armory AR-15 rifle and protect your 2nd Amendment Rights too!
See details at http://www.myguns.net to support MPFO!
Learn about rec.guns at http://www.recguns.net
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
jimmykent67
the greatest overall length. I remember the Winchester white box at
Walmart in 38 special 130 grain full metal case having a longer overall
length I believe. Also try .357 magnum "cowboy" loads they shoot like a
38 special in terms of power and recoil but are .357 magnum length.
Good shooting..JM
Barns
"Burt Smith" <burt...@direcway.com> wrote in message
news:dtf0im$567$1...@grapevine.wam.umd.edu...
snip
I am totally happy with shooting the
# 357s, but I wonder if I should not even think of using 38s. Or is there
# some tweak or ammo that would enable smooth operation with 38 specials.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Reload .357 cases to .38 levels? The problem seems to be with the case
length
and that should solve the problem.
Natman
<burt...@direcway.com> wrote:
#I recently bought a Winchester 94 "Trapper" 357 magnum. I was led to
#believe that I could use 38 specials also. I liked this as it would be
#a great cost saver. The 357s work great and it is a fun round to shoot.
#However, the 38s don't feed well and don't eject well. I end up turning
#the gun over and shaking the shell out as well as the round that didn't
#feed. Totally unacceptable!!! I am totally happy with shooting the
#357s, but I wonder if I should not even think of using 38s. Or is there
#some tweak or ammo that would enable smooth operation with 38 specials.
#
Your experience is pretty typical. It is safe to *shoot* 38 specials
in a 357 lever action, but that does not mean the shorter rounds will
feed and eject properly.
professorpaul
round is 0.1" longer, OAL plays a part. How about hand loading .357
casings to .38 SPL specs. Really easy to load.
LClyd...@cs.com
it shoots mighty fine but loads difficult as length of 38 spc is
shorter than the length of a 357 mag.
1 solution:
load 357 mag to a 38 spc loading and enjoy
OVERALL Length is critical
Curt Cooper
Its now only used as a backup gun or loaner to a new shooter. The Win 94 can
handle .357 loads very well. It takes a lot of special effort to shoot .38
Specials thru them reliably. It can be done, but takes a very deliberate
(notice I did not say hard or timid) cycling of the lever to prevent the
.38's from popping out of the elevator or jamming. The only way I can shoot
.38 Special cartridges really reliably is to make my handloads match the
overall length of typical .357 cartridges.
Coop
NRA Endowment
SASS Life
NMLRA
"Burt Smith" <burt...@direcway.com> wrote in message
news:dtf0im$567$1...@grapevine.wam.umd.edu...
> ...
Rich Stern
important. If you don't hand load ammo and can't control the length of
the round, try some different bullet shapes. You might find a
particular semi wadcutter or gently rounded lead bullet that works ok.
Don't use anything that has a pointed bullet; unsafe in a tube magazine.
Nick Hull
Natman <nat_...@yahoo.com> wrote:
# On Tue, 21 Feb 2006 12:20:38 +0000 (UTC), "Burt Smith"
# <burt...@direcway.com> wrote:
#
# #I recently bought a Winchester 94 "Trapper" 357 magnum. I was led to
# #believe that I could use 38 specials also. I liked this as it would be
# #a great cost saver. The 357s work great and it is a fun round to shoot.
# #However, the 38s don't feed well and don't eject well. I end up turning
# #the gun over and shaking the shell out as well as the round that didn't
# #feed. Totally unacceptable!!! I am totally happy with shooting the
# #357s, but I wonder if I should not even think of using 38s. Or is there
# #some tweak or ammo that would enable smooth operation with 38 specials.
# #
# Your experience is pretty typical. It is safe to *shoot* 38 specials
# in a 357 lever action, but that does not mean the shorter rounds will
# feed and eject properly.
OTOH, if you go with a 92 instead of a 94 you can shoot 357s and 38s
interchangeably.
--
Free men own guns, slaves don't
www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/5357/
zxcvbob
# I recently bought a Winchester 94 "Trapper" 357 magnum. I was led to
# believe that I could use 38 specials also. I liked this as it would be
# a great cost saver. The 357s work great and it is a fun round to shoot.
# However, the 38s don't feed well and don't eject well. I end up turning
# the gun over and shaking the shell out as well as the round that didn't
# feed. Totally unacceptable!!! I am totally happy with shooting the
# 357s, but I wonder if I should not even think of using 38s. Or is there
# some tweak or ammo that would enable smooth operation with 38 specials.
#
#
If you have a bunch of 38 Special cases, could you load them to 357 OAL
and get them to work reliably? That should work really good with 180+
grain bullets.
I wonder if the Marlin '94's and the Rossi '92's have the same problem?
I also wonder if you can use spire-point bullets in a lever-action if
you just load one in the chamber and one in the magazine...
Bob
Rubaiyat of Omar Bradley
grain full metal case having a longer overall length I believe.>>
You are not supposed to use FMJ ammo in a lever action - there is some
possibility of rounds going off in the magazine. It *might* be OK with
a low recoil cartridge like the 38spl... but YMMV
John Cowart
Natman
<nh...@access4less.net> wrote:
#In article <dtg9q1$n77$1...@grapevine.wam.umd.edu>,
# Natman <nat_...@yahoo.com> wrote:
#
## On Tue, 21 Feb 2006 12:20:38 +0000 (UTC), "Burt Smith"
## <burt...@direcway.com> wrote:
##
## #I recently bought a Winchester 94 "Trapper" 357 magnum. I was led to
## #believe that I could use 38 specials also. I liked this as it would be
## #a great cost saver. The 357s work great and it is a fun round to shoot.
## #However, the 38s don't feed well and don't eject well. I end up turning
## #the gun over and shaking the shell out as well as the round that didn't
## #feed. Totally unacceptable!!! I am totally happy with shooting the
## #357s, but I wonder if I should not even think of using 38s. Or is there
## #some tweak or ammo that would enable smooth operation with 38 specials.
## #
## Your experience is pretty typical. It is safe to *shoot* 38 specials
## in a 357 lever action, but that does not mean the shorter rounds will
## feed and eject properly.
#
#OTOH, if you go with a 92 instead of a 94 you can shoot 357s and 38s
#interchangeably.
The 92 is meant to handle pistol length cartridges. The 94 is actually
designed for longer, 30-30 length rounds.
R.L. Horn
<LClyd...@cs.com> wrote:
# Length of loaded ammo is critical for a lever action
Really, there's no good reason why a tube-fed action should be that picky.
That .22s and shotguns can handle much greater OAL variation has been taken
for granted for decades.
Just one more reason why the Winchester '94 (as executed by USRAC at least)
probably didn't deserve to survive...
Rich Stern
It's pointy bullets of any construction that are dangerous.
WJ
Jacketed ammo is fine so long as the tips are blunt, flat, rubber, etc....
"Rubaiyat of Omar Bradley" <cowar...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:dtk9oj$gra$1...@grapevine.wam.umd.edu...
> ...
Hank
'tis the truth. My Marlin (mumble mumble, forget model number) feeds
any cartridges with roundish bullets of either length. I can't recall
testing it with wadcutters, but can't remember it failing with .38s or
.357s,
Hank
Hank
zxcvbob wrote:
#
# I wonder if the Marlin '94's and the Rossi '92's have the same problem?
#
The Marlin does not. I feed mine a mix of both, even in the mag at the
same time, and it works flawlessly.
# I also wonder if you can use spire-point bullets in a lever-action if
# you just load one in the chamber and one in the magazine...
#
Probably changing the topic here, but the most recent (like yesterday)
American Rifleman had an article on some pointy but soft tip bullets.
Supposedly give you better downrange performance but won't set off the
primer of the round in front of it. After reading it I pictured
something like a hollow-tip filled to a point with RTV silicon or such.
I think it must be stiffer than that though.
Hank
EmailF...@yahoo.com
it. I've heard of this problem with Winchesters before, but Marlin
seems to be okay with it.
max
wrote:
#My Marlin '94 feeds everything... .357 or .38 doesn't seem to bother
#it. I've heard of this problem with Winchesters before, but Marlin
#seems to be okay with it.
#
My Marlin '94 also feeds .38 just fine. Never had a problem with
either caliber, but I haven't put a whole lot of rounds through it.
max
Master Jhondo
problem with either caliber in my WIN and most are OK with either, most
Marlins will feed either/or but not both.
<EmailF...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:dtm6q8$5f3$1...@grapevine.wam.umd.edu...
> ...
m62...@yahoo.com
# Jacketed ammo is fine so long as the tips are blunt, flat, rubber, etc....
Are Winchester white box .38 special 130 grain full metal jacket
flat-nosed enough to be safe in a Winchester 94 or Marlin 94C?
M625