Home Forums Lever Action Central Lever Actions - General New to Me Winchester 1894 XTR Big Bore

Well, I went into my LGS expecting to potentially get a Henry Big Boy X .45 Colt and they had gotten a Winchester 1894XTR Big Bore in .375 Win in. This has been a bucket list gun for me for quite a while but every time I've seen one for sale, I didn't have the funds. They had it priced about $100 over the average gunbroker price from the last 30 days. I got them down the $100 and after accounting for what shipping to Alaska would be, I came out alright. It's New Haven made with no safety (like a lever gun should be). Now time to find brass, dies, bullets, and maybe a receiver sight. I'll post pics shortly but I'm sure most of you know what I'm talking about.

Looking forward to seeing it and your progress with it! It's one the few guns I'm hoping to "luckily obtain but don't expect too!" It or an original Win 94 38-55!

I can't believe I ever sold the one I had. It was mint

Nice, I bought one last fall from another member here and am a big fan. I did put one of the thin decelerator pads on it because the factory hard plate kept biting the heck out of my shoulder and leaving big gnarly bruises after 10-15 shots.

Threw one of the Skinner reciever sights on it, and it has worked really well... the windage is a bit touchy to dial in, but elevation is a piece of cake.

I can send you a box a Sierra 200 grain bullets if that helps.

Congratulation, they are nice carbines, I really like mine.

I've got a 98% condition pre-safety big bore in .307 Win.

Does yours have the front bridge drilled/tapped parallel to the bore, or perpendicular? The perpendicular ones are a total PIA to find mounts for, as the common Warne mounts labeled "1894 Big Bore" won't fit. I got lucky and found a correct set of mounts for mine, which is a perpendicular model, here on the 'fire.

It is parallel to the axis of the bore. This may be sacrilege but I found the Turnbull Red Dot Mount wondering if anyone had done one and may give that a try. I have other rifles for longer ranges so this will strictly be a fast handling, in the woods rifle.

That was a dream gun for me as teen. I’d still like to have one but probably won’t go searching. I’ve never seen one firsthand.

I have one. It's a hoot.

It became a bucket list gun for me probably five or six year ago. I'm moving to Kentucky this summer so hopefully I'll be able to put a KY Whitetail in the freezer with it. My guide gun may get angry at me but it's stock is currently cracked at the tang and an ear broke off that locks it into the receiver so until I get that fixed, or a new stock ordered, it's out of commission. I found a set of dies locally so as soon as my brass and bullet (thank you Fireball) purchases get in, I'll load some ammo and see how she does.

I think I misspoke. I meant the front scope base holes, not the rear. I think all Win 94s rear scope base holes are perpendicular to the bore.

I bought one when they first came out. Should not have sold it, but that rifle kicked like a mule in that Model 94 stock

Finally got some pictures taken





I made a dummy round by sizing up some .30-30 brass and seating a cast bullet I forgot I had (Hunters Supply 260gr H&H).




I'm going to wait for the Starline Brass to come in before loading live ammo because I don't have many of these bullets on hand and the brass is a little caddywhompus.

No need, appreciate it though. I got a couple boxes of the 200gr Shock Hammers a while back to try. Still haven't gotten around to shooting them yet... maybe this week if the weather cooperates.


May wanna check those HS 260s over if you decide to use them. I tried some through mine that I had bought years ago. Diameter and weight were all over the place, so they threw absolutely terrible fliers (bullets missing the paper at 50 yards kind of fliers) Once I sorted them and loaded groups with consistent dia/weight they shot pretty well.

I'd say 50-60% of then were about the same, and the other 40% were just wild. There were some bullets down into the 250s and some clear up close to 270 grains with diameters that varied a few thousanths.

Post up how those Hammers do once you test them. I'm not a huge fan of the break apart concept he has in theory but I'd give them a try. Going to give the Sierras a try first.

Will do. It's pretty nasty here today...windy and tstorms. The forecast looks a lot better tomorrow and Wednesday, so I'll probably do some shooting one day or the other.

The little 86gr Shock Hammers shoot really well through my Henry 327 Fed carbine, but I haven't plugged anything with them to see how well they perform on game yet. I'm hoping the 200s will be just as accurate for me in the 375.

*added*

One thing to note is the SH are EXTREMELY long for weight. I used 255gr load data backed off a bit, since they are actually longer than 255 Barnes. As a result I'm not expecting them to be particularly fast. Seated to the cannelure they are 2.520" on the nose and feed fine.

I also have a 94 in 307 with the original bi radial frt drilled and tapped scope base. Any clues on where to find a set would be appreciated...mb

Im still looking for one that is Angle Eject to go along with my AE in .356

I got a Turnbull Red Dot Mount on order. I'm still trying to figure out what sight I want to put on it (Likely a Vortex Venom) but I ordered the barrel mount after reading a few posts here and elsewhere to keep the action clean for carrying. Just need to make sure I keep the rear sight in a safe place.