Model 94 problem

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notenough

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Mississauga, Ontario Canada
I currently have a Winchester Model 94AE Trapper in 44 Rem Mag that I'm having a problem with. I've never encountered this problem while working up loads or range shooting. This problem happened when I was able to get out this year for a single day of deer hunting.

After loading the gun fully, all 10 rounds, no problems. When I went to unload at days end the second round went under the lever. No tools on me so I waited to unload completely until I was home. Tried the action fully loaded again and got the same results 3 times in a row. I noticed that this happens only when 5 or more rounds are in the tube, less than that and the frequency drops off.

With a round under the lever you can not close the action or remove your loaded rounds without removing the tube spring and end cap.

Any suggestions? I really wanted this gun for Deer stalker, but it needs to be alittle more reliable
 
I don't know how you are unloading your 94 but it probably is slowly . A 94 usually works better if operated forcefully and quickly. But I would try that at the range.
 
If the cartridge stop gets worn it will allow a cartridge to jump past it. When you remove bottom link examine the projection on the forward inner end for wear, chipping or even bending. In late production 94's the stop is not mearly as substantial as it previosly was. With a full mag and maximum spring compression any glitches will show up.
 
My 30/30 94 did that a few months ago, but it was the fault of a snap cap.

It happened while I was in the gun store so the gunsmith took it apart for me and fixed it up.

In this case the rim on the snap cap was too soft, and slipped past the cartridge stop. That would have really sucked on a hunt with a real cartridge.

Yah check your cartridge stop for wear.
 
other guys have got it right. happens with pump shotguns to. the shell stop gets worn and you get shells that skip over it and under the bolt. makes it a pain in the butt on some of them because you cant open the action with one under the bolt.
 
I'll try it

I'll try looking at the cartridge stop but I doubt it's from wear, the gun looks almost brand new. Maybe it's just broken, happens to the best of Winchesters every now and then. Never had this problem with my old 30/30?

It must be that dam cross bolt safetly that's screwing things up.:)

I'll take it apart tonight.

Thanks for the heads up.
 
This happens even in very lightly used Big Bores from my experience and the web research I've done. The finger on the link doesn't prevent the shell from exiting the tubular magazine because it's not high enough when the lever starts to cycle the action. I believe this is because the hole for the link pin is drilled too close to the bottom of the receiver. The lower surface of the link on my Son's .307 is about 1 MM below the bottom of the receiver. I ordered a brand new link and it matched the original exactly (so it wasn't the link at fault), so I had a stainless steel weld done to the link finger and slowly reshaped the link finger so it was a bit longer (higher) than the original. It now prevents the jams during every cycle of the action.

Don
 
Take it to a gunsmith with your ammo and have him adjust it... it will not get better on it's own....
 
My opinion shell stop...by the way was that 9 rounds in the magazine?

Because when I bought my winchester AE trapper 44 from a friend, I am sure the technical specs were 9 rounds in the magazine, the tenth, had to be the one in the chamber?
 
Dump the gun!! Virtually everyone has a horror story about 1 or more firearms that they have owned. He's my Winchester M94 lever horror story;

In '94 I was looking for a lever in .357 because I was doing alot of .357 shooting out of my M66 and wanted a cheap and easy round that I could reload in abundance. After looking around for about 6-8 months I couldn't find one, I even phoned Winchester! The nice lady said that they didn't have enough calls to start manufacturing them again. Remember this was before Cowboy Action got bigger.

I finally gave up on .357 and found a 1994 Winchester Wrangler in .44 Magnum. Shades of John Wayne that large loop lever was kewl! Little did I realize that with 2 years, I'd start shooting Cowboy Action. I did lots of testing and came up 7.2 grains of Unique pushing a 240 grain LSWC bullet as an accurate target load.

Within the first 20 rds down range, the pot metal feed ramp broke. Off for warranty work! Eight months later I get the rifle back. After every 50 rds the rear sight elevator would fall off. So we have to install a Williams rear sight! Shooting again after every 50 rds the screws in the receiver would work loose. Locktite!! After 1,500 rds the tubular magazine spring gave up the ghost! Wolfe Gunsprings to the rescue. After this the Lever Link broke, 3 months and 5 nasty letters later, Winchester told me they would sell me the part but without warranty! They wanted me to send the gun to the warranty centre again!

That was the last straw, I found a sucker to buy the Winchester and bought a Marlin M1894S, after 8,000 rds through it, it broke a firing pin. I love the quality Marlin builds in.

P.S. My Wrangler was one of 4 Wranglers in town with the same problems.
 
I think the pistol caliber Trappers have a design flaw. My .45 Colt jammed up in a cowboy competition. Testing showed that hesitation in cycling, or tilting the rifle to the side(common) would cause the cartridge to ride over cartridge stop. My buddy's .44 mag trapper often jammed up when he cycled with tilt. A gunsmith knew of problem and fixed? winchester's design flaw! expensive too.
 
Its hit and miss guys, my 44 AE Trapper made in 1983 is almost flawless in operation.
Slow or fast levering, straight or tilted.......no problems.
Just hangs up on semi-wadcutters, it shoots RN 44 Special, 240 HP Magnum, and 300 grainers SP or cast no sweat...

Seems though, more 357 and 45 LC trappers are much more troublesome than the 44s...the 44s and the 30-30s have been around alot longer in AE Trappers.
Does anyone really disagree or agree?
Perhaps I have the "best 44 Trapper???"
 
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Before I sell my little bundle of joy, I think I'll try a gunsmith build up on the cartridge stop. The lever link does appear 1mm below the receiver so that sounds like the problem. With a hit or miss attitude I don't really want to take this out hunting until I get the problem fixed.

Thank God I've got more than one gun to hunt with and more than one lever action to play with.

Like my name applies NOTENOUGH guns!
 
Agreed....my best guess still a faulty shell stop then...
I just remember I had a friend in Cold Lake and his 444 Marlin did the same, but with any round in the tube magazine.
He found that the tube magazine at the receiver end, was once removed and partially crushed.
This allowed a small gap to interferre with the shell stop, funny enough,and it would always let any round in the mag, due to its oval shape,to slip into the mechanism and lock it up solid like yours does.

But your snag sounds a little different...
 
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Here's a photo of the finger that you need to add some materiel to and shape a little longer. Web searches will tell you to expand the metal by flattening with a hammer. NOT! You'll fracture the metal as it's heat treated. Other searches will tell you to add silver solder. NOT! Won't bond properly and it's too soft, wearing away after a few cycles. I took it to a welder and he added materiel using stainless steel. Excellent! I was able to file to shape well, and it's tough.

Don

link94ae-1.jpg
 
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