Home Forums Lever Action Central Lever Actions - General Winchester 94 in 30-30 or 44-40?

Winchester chambered the 44 WCF in the 94 Carbine for two or three years in the 70's. They also had a special run that they partnered with Colt to produce, a boxed set, 44 WCF SAA and the 94 in 44 WCF, I believe in 1976. Both were engraved with gold inlay. My personal experience is with the more workman like standard carbine.
Other than the abbreviated loading gate, and the shorter throw of the lever, the 44 looks and handles almost exactly like a standard carbine in 30 WCF. 10 44 rounds weigh more than 6 30's, so the gun is a tad heavier when full.
I don't know how many Winchester made, so I couldn't hazard to guess how many are still around, but it is true that they certainly are less than common.

Thanks man..I figured it was something like that...
I used to shoot their first run ( about 1967 IIRC) of 94 in .44 mag so I knew they could do a shorty in the '94....

Second time today Ive learned something new on the 'fire!

And they say you can't teach an old dog...

Ingwe

You've shot Kangaroos with the .44? How is a Kangaroo? I mean, how tough are they? Have you ever shot anything that compared to our Whitetail Deers? If so, how does a "roo" compare to that game animal? The only Kangaroos I am familiar with are at the zoo or on that one show where the Kangaroo is beating the shixt out of all the bad guys.

What do you do with a roo? Do you eat 'em or just feed 'em to the dogs?

I would like to shoot a Kangaroo. I could kill me some Dingo's too.

Hey guys! ok I have never shot a deer. (poor bambi lol) Kangaroos are in my opion a soft skin animal. They are not too hard to kill, but in saying that they can get quite big eg big red roos easy over 6ft and very very soild. Skippy the grey kangaroo on the TV show is the average size for a grey roo. Some pro roo shooters sell the roos for meat and for their skins. I just leave them where they fall so pigs come to eat the roos and I wait to kill pigs. I have shot roos with my 22lr. Either a head shot or in the chest. Chest is first option. I personally think unless you are a good shot I wouldnt use anything under a 222.
They are a wonderful animal. I dont shoot them any more. No sport in that. I just stick to feral pests now. But they are nice to eat in meat pies. Not sure if I could eat a croc though!
Dingoes 9 times out of 10 you wont even see them. They are very smart and cunning. I will never shoot pure dingoes,I am not a sook but I do respect them alot. Some people have them as pets, but they are a truely one man dog. If you are after a dog with alittle dingo then get a Blue Cattle Dog or a Red One. They are very very smart. Real cattle dogs howl like a dingo, and if you are noy used to it they can scare the crap out of your friends. I have agreat story if you want to hear it.
Hope I have answered all your questions.
Thanks

Definately .30-30. Based on versatility alone!

Very interesting. Yep, I wanna hear the story. Tell it...

I'd heard of Kangaroo Chili before, but had forgot about it. Some folks hereabouts eat possums too.

Oh, ok then, Story time. My mate (Kev) and I went out one nite. We had a few drinks so Kev asked if he could stay over,yeah mate no worries! You can sleep on the couch in my room, yep algood kev replies. Now my dog Esky is a pure blue cattle dog,a true one man dog. Very very clever,doesn't like her routine getting inter-rupted. I couldnt even sneak girls home at nite cause she would bail them up at the front gate. Even when I locked her outside she would paw at the door and start crying. So if I let her in side she would do a big grrrr and I would have to call a taxi for the girl.
Anyway we are both asleep Im in my bed with me dog poor Kev on the couch, the dog hears a noise out side,she starts to howl like a wild dingo. The dog bolts outside,meanwhile poor Kev screams and says"f***! I will just climb down now off the ceiling! If that dog only just barked like a normal dog it would of been ok! Now I have to change me pants. Dog walks in like nothing has happened,poor Kev just laid there shaking for half a hour.
Not sure if you guys have heard a dingo go off before. Just picture a wolf howling aggressively. Dam that was funny.
Rest in piece Esky!
Thanks guys!!!

Not to sure if I could eat a possom! I know the kiwis (New Zealanders) do. Wouldnt be that much meat on them would there?

Know lots of folks who have, but I've never 'et one. I'll hafta ask. I've ate raccoon before, but never a possum. They are greasy critters, that is certain-shore. Thanks for the story.

I have shot enough deer with my grampas 44-40 and 38-40 to believe you would be hard pressed to find a worse deer caliber..they work OK up close and with perfect shot placement, especially if your a good tracker...

I would much prefer the 30-30 and its alway worked well for me on deer and elk in my youth, that was when everyone used 25-35s and 30-30 and all of those old men were glad to get shut of the 38 and 44s...Most of those old hunters actually prefered the 30-30 to the 45-70 and the 99 Savage in 300 Savage was the magnum of the day and the 250 was a great elk and deer cartridge! my how things have changed.

Not for me. I'd prefer any of those cartridges to the 45-70, which I've shot extensively. Why use a hard-kicking SOB for a little Whitetail or even a big one or a Muley?

Ant264

Are you refering to the 444 and not the 44-40. Winchester made the 94 in the 444 for a few years calling it the Timber Carbine. You could load 300g or better in that as long as they would function in the action. I imagine that would be a big pig stomper.

Now that cartridge is a whole 'nother ball game than the 44-40.

No just the good old 44-40. I really thought it performed better than what I have read. Looks like the 30-30 lever is the way togo. I guess theres no real difference in a angle eject model to the standard model as no scope will be fitted.

Sounds like you have a good plan. A .30-30 carbine with a receiver sight is a fast handling little rig, and has plenty of punch for up-close hog work.

OK. Just checking. A friend used an original 1873 Winchester on hogs in California some years ago with no complaints.

No thats ok,if I didnt post this thread I would of bought the 44-40. But thanks to everyones professional advice the 30-30is the way to go.
Thinking about williams peep sights. Any thoughts?
If anyone of you guys are comin to Australia/Queensland please let me know.