Opinions on a Win 94 in 375

[Jammed]

I've got a local shop with a Win 94 XTR, 375 Win, top eject & pre USRA, in 98%...with 3 factory boxes of full ammo for $600 OTD

Seems like a fair deal to me...anyone have any thoughts?

[homefront]

That's not a bad price at all - depends on what you want.
If it's the rifle itself you want, go for it. If it's the cartridge you're interested in, I'd find a cheap .30-30 and have it re-bored.

[Kapincrunch]

I like the 94 big bore. I had one in 307 win a while back. The gun was nice to carry and hunt with. It was slightly heavier than a normal 94 but it had more punch. I have the 375 win in a Marlin 375. I like the round, lots of power out to 200 yards. Factory ammo is expensive at around $40. You can get cheaper at places like Reed's in OK City for around $22. If you reload it can be pretty practical. Some of the 375 Big Bores are more collectable than others. I just dont remember why or which ones.

Jim

[Idahoser]

Good luck finding a cheap 94 for that price, nowdays. I'm kinda kicking myself for not paying $50 more than that at a local shop last spring. Could'a been the same rifle, it came with ammo too.

These guys had me wishing I could've had it. Still don't know what I'd do with it, since I can't get to a rifle range. Stupid, huh?

[new pig hunter]

I've got one and like it alot. One nice aspect: you can also shoot .38-55 through it, should you be interested in such. Two calibers for the price of one.

Cheers,

Carl

[Jammed]

I'm thinking of getting the gun because it's an unusual caliber that I don't have & I really like lever guns...I wish I had a more fancy answer like I need it for my next Tiger hunt in the Congo, but unfortunately that's the truth.

I hunt as much as I can & get drawn for, but I primarily just carry a different gun on my quad when I go out in the sticks & target practice weekly...

I don't reload, so I'll be stuck with factory ammo...

I guess my main question is... are the Pre-USRA Model 94s better than the USRA ones?

I can get the gun for $450, & $40/box of factory ammo... plus tax, which comes out to around $600

[C. Cash]

You won't loose with a price like that, with the condition that it's in. I personally love the Big Bores myself. I've only had the 356 Win. though and not handled the lighter 375. At 40 bucks a box, I would just start from scratch with the ammo. Use the money for a good set of dies, brass, etc. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

[Old Savage]

Should be a great gun. Check Paco's article.

[Idahoser]

it would be silly to buy a strange chambering if you don't reload (on purpose). You can get a better cartridge for less money if you go with something commonly available.

Alternatively you could drop the 'I don't reload' gimmick and make good use, for a LOT less money, of any cartridge.

[Jammed]

it would be silly to buy a strange chambering if you don't reload (on purpose). You can get a better cartridge for less money if you go with something commonly available.

Alternatively you could drop the 'I don't reload' gimmick and make good use, for a LOT less money, of any cartridge.

Sooo....going by your logic, I shouldn't buy a gun in an unusual caliber just because I don't re-load? I think that logic is far more silly than mine...

I have many guns in odd calibers & plenty of ammo for all of them. You see...I just don't shoot them as often as the guns I have in common calibers (shh! that's a well kept secret of non-reloaders)

My intent wasn't for a die-hard re-loader to be condescending on those who don't, my question was if the gun was a good buy given my circumstances.

[Idahoser]

Okay.

[KCSO]

375 Is almost as good as a 38-55! No predujice there...
I don't consider 357 as an odd ctg. as a lot of folks around here use them. It is an ideal ctg for deer bear and moose with a lever gun and in all actuality willl even beat my old favorite 38-55 by a pinch. Reloading just broadens your horizions. I load everything fromm a 38 round ball for rabbits in a near silent load to a 265 grain bullet at over 1800 fps for bear. The upside of this is that Winchester marked rifles aren't going to get any cheaper till we are in a full blown depression and then they may be worth their weight in gold.

[Jammed]

375 Is almost as good as a 38-55! No predujice there...
I don't consider 357 as an odd ctg. as a lot of folks around here use them. It is an ideal ctg for deer bear and moose with a lever gun and in all actuality willl even beat my old favorite 38-55 by a pinch. Reloading just broadens your horizions. I load everything fromm a 38 round ball for rabbits in a near silent load to a 265 grain bullet at over 1800 fps for bear. The upside of this is that Winchester marked rifles aren't going to get any cheaper till we are in a full blown depression and then they may be worth their weight in gold.

I think I'm gonna go get it. I almost didn't buy my last Ruger 357 Maximum & that is my favorite gun to shoot. I know I would have regretted that...

And, you're right...Winchesters aren't going to get any cheaper.

[kimwcook]

I'd get it. If you don't like it you'll be able to re-sell it for at least what you have into it.

[RSY]

I don't reload, so I'll be stuck with factory ammo...

That's not the best of plans. Factory ammo for the .375 Win. is:

1. Scarce
2. Expensive
3. Underpowered

Here's mine. I love it (and my Redding dies, Hornady bullets, Re-7 powder, and Forster Co-Ax press ).



Good luck,
Scott

[J Miller]

Jammed,

First and foremost: What's NEED got to do with anything?

You think it's a good deal, and you want - go buy it. Guns like that simply do not show up every day.

Oh, and if you do buy it you are required to post pics, even if RSY already did.

You don't reload? Nows the time to think about that. Buy the rifle, shoot the factory ammo for a while, and KEEP the empty cases. Eventually you will be buying reloading equipment. It doesn't cost a fortune to get a good set up to load with.
With the coming political nightmare factory ammo is going become much more expensive and scarcer. Count on it.

Joe

[tman]

i had one, sold it during bad times. i've since aquired bigbores in .356wcf and .444 marlin. bigbore 94's are the equal to, maybe better than the pre 64 winchesters. if times weren't so bad and money so tight, i'd get one. it shoots 38-55's also so you can always scrounge ammo somewere. if you handload , you can take any game in north america with it. it ain't a 400 yard carttridge by any stretch of the imagination. not a bad gun for the price they are asking.

[Old Shatterhand]

American gun prices are not my cup of tea, but Win 94Bb is it indeed. Buy it if the price seems OK, because you get a handy light-weight powerhouse with mild recoil. I got one, and it's beside my Win 88 my favourite gun.

Old Sh.

[Kapincrunch]

If reloading isnt in your near future check this out.
http://shop.reedsammo.com/category.sc;j ... egoryId=63

You will end up with 2x's the shooting for the same price
Jim

[brokenhand]

Get it. I missed out on one a while for thinking too long.
Jim

[marlin shooter]

I have a marlin 375 and a Win bb.375. I like both of them alot. I've had all the win BB's and the .375 is my favorite (hiding behind computer as I say this ) That is a good price and I say buy it. As everyone else say's you could help yourself out by reloading, especially for this round. Let us know if you get it and post pic's. Good luck.
Karl

[winchester1886]

To much talk, just get it, and get a picture on here.Simple.

[Lefty Dude]

I HAD a 94BBXTR .375 Win. I still kick my self for trading that piece for a Remington 74 30-06, straight across.

One gorgeous Lever Gun, kick self, kick self.

[new pig hunter]

another ammo source, these shoot quite well in my BigBore94:
http://www.wisconsincartridge.com/produ ... dproduct=1

Cheers,

Carl

[1886]

Certainly a handy, hard hitting combo. I have seen many BB .375s. In many instances they look to be some of the prettiest, nicely fit newer model 94s to be found. Win. seemed to dote a little extra care when producing those rifles. They can be tricky from the bench. 1886.

[RSY]

They can be tricky from the bench.

I think both Carl and I can agree with that statement.

Scott

[Slick13]

My intent wasn't for a die-hard re-loader to be condescending on those who don't, my question was if the gun was a good buy given my circumstances.

I don't think he was being condescending, he's just pointing out that it's a fact of life that that gun almost requires it's owner be a reloader (die hard or casual) if they want to shoot it. Sorta like my 94AE in .25-35. Sure, I could buy factory ammo for it, but I'd like to put more than 20 or 40 rounds a year through it. And for the cost of 40 rounds ($73 at Midway), I can buy 300 .25 cal Hornady bullets ($64.50). In your case, if either were in stock at Midway you could pay $41 for a box of 20 .375 Win cartridges, or $18.29 for 50 Sierra 200 gr. .375 bullets.

~Michael

[Slick13]

They can be tricky from the bench.

I think both Carl and I can agree with that statement.

Scott

Tricky? I don't get it.

~Michael

[Idahoser]

I don't think he was being condescending, he's just pointing out that it's a fact of life that that gun almost requires it's owner be a reloader...

Thanks, you are correct but I wasn't finding a way to say that without digging myself deeper. So I just let it go.

[1886]

My intent wasn't for a die-hard re-loader to be condescending on those who don't, my question was if the gun was a good buy given my circumstances.

I don't think he was being condescending, he's just pointing out that it's a fact of life that that gun almost requires it's owner be a reloader (die hard or casual) if they want to shoot it. Sorta like my 94AE in .25-35. Sure, I could buy factory ammo for it, but I'd like to put more than 20 or 40 rounds a year through it. And for the cost of 40 rounds ($73 at Midway), I can buy 300 .25 cal Hornady bullets ($64.50). In your case, if either were in stock at Midway you could pay $41 for a box of 20 .375 Win cartridges, or $18.29 for 50 Sierra 200 gr. .375 bullets.

~Michael

Point very well taken. 1886.

[Old Time Hunter]

This one is extremely accurate with the "ungodly" XS Ghost ring, but works great with 31 grains of H4198 or 33 grains of AA1680 and a Hornady 220 grain pill. In a pinch I've used the Wisconsin Cartridge loads and actually won a match with them shooting three distances of 75, 125, and 250 yards, so I'll attest to their consistancy.

[RSY]

They can be tricky from the bench.

I think both Carl and I can agree with that statement.

Scott

Tricky? I don't get it.

~Michael

I meant that mine doesn't like being on bags or in a rest, but on the shoulder it's the cat's pajamas.

Scott

[RIHMFIRE]

decent price...and packs a wallop!
But I prefer the 38-55...I like the cowboy rounds

[Buck Elliott]

IMNSHO, the .375 Winchester is the ultimate ALMOST cartridge... ALMOST as good as a heavy-bulleted .444; ALMOST as good as a .45-70; ALMOST as good in the deer woods as a .30/30 or .32 Spl.; ALMOST as cool as a .38/55 or .32/40; ALMOST...

Still, some folks like living in the ALMOST world, and if that fits your pistol, more power to you...

[FOTIS]

375 Is almost as good as a 38-55! .........................

how so?

[RSY]

Here's my humble take on the .38-55 vs. .375 debate:

The .375 is arguably not as "cool" as the .38-55, based solely on their respective historical significances.

However, the .375 is inarguably "better" than the .38-55 since it encompasses and surpasses the entire performance spectrum of the .38-55. That would seem pretty hard to deny.

Now, if we're talking rifles instead of cartridges, for me a .375 rifle wins, hands-down, because I can shoot both rounds from it. After all, if one is firing .38-55 through a .375 rifle, aren't they really carrying .38-55 that day?

FWIW

Scott

[Old Savage]

Though marked 375, Marlin and Win both seem to be chambered for the 38-55 .080 short version. And the 375s have more consistent bore dimensions that match commercial jacketed bullets.

[handirifle]

You are not stuck with just the big ammo makers. Conley makes 3 different loads

http://cpcartridge.com/cart2/?main_page ... Path=1_113

All are around $40 a box but these three loads will drop anything on this continent. I don't think I'd go after a Brownie with it but if the need arose and that's what I had, it would work, I'm sure. I push a 250gr bullet to 2150fps from my BB, using RL-7 and 38-55 brass. The 30-06 is rated to 2200 with the same weight bullet.

Get the darn thing and enjoy it. That is a good price for a good rifle. Based on the logic of some of the posted comments you should only buy a 308 bolt rifle, to be sure they'll be around tomorrow.


Besides, if you look at conley's prices for the 45-70, it's not pratical either.