Can't decide, 45 LC or 357 for 1894

F

Fred S

New member
I am going to get a Winchester Model 1894, one of the 20 in barrel versions. I'm torn between a .357 mag or .45 LC. This rifle will mostly be used in a 50 yard competetion shooting at a B9 target.

Other factors: I reload, the .357 should be less expensive to reload, but I don't see it as too much less expensive.

Any problems in reloading the .45LC? I assume that the .357 is just as easy as the .38 Specil, which I reload.

Recoil, how much more recoil will the .45 LC have over the .357? I hear the .357 has almost none. Will the .45 LC recoil affect shooting at the target much more that the .357?

.45 holes can help scoring better than the .357.

I don't own a pistol in either caliber. May get a SAA replica in the future and that one more than likely will be in .45 LC.

Although I have a nice Model 70 in .308 for deer hunting, I hear the ,357 Model 1894 make s a good brush gun. How about the .45 LC?

Thanks for your input.

Fred
 
Of the two you mention, I would go with the 357 mag.

I dont think 45 Colt will recoil any more than 357 mag.

Personally, I would also go with a 44 mag though...
 
I have a Marlin in .45 colt and I love it. Whenever we go to the range everyone has a blast shooting it. I have to say it does recoil some but nowhere near unpleasant. That's why the cowboy action shooters use the .357 with .38's.
So it all depends on what you are going to use it for. For competition I would use a .357, for hunting the .45 colt.
 
I personally lean toward the .45 Colt - - -

-- - - Of the choices you mention.

Let's face it: Neither .45 Colt nor .357 (nor the .44 Mag, for that matter) are the "traditional" lever gun calibers. Each of these is far superior to .44-40, .38-40, and the smaller ctgs.

I, too, would tend toward the .44 Mag, for sheer versatility with factory loads, but that caliber is not included in your question.

As for a close-range brush gun, anything the .357 will do, the .45 C wil do better. You don't need expansion. The big, flat point slug slaps harder, and allows more sky in and more fluid out. Easier tracking.

Only advantage I can figure for the .357 is slightly flatter trajectory at long range, and you don't say anything about putting a scope sight on the arm.

Whichever caliber, I strongly suggest installing an aperture read sight for precision and speed.

Hope you enjoy your new rifle.
Johnny
 
someone correct me if i've got it wrong but...

isn't the reason that winchester didn't chamber their lever actions in .45lc was problems feeding due to the small rims of the shell casing?

my first choice would be the .44 spl/mag too with 2nd being the .357
 
I would get the 45 Colt and a Ruger Vaquero, or two.

"Other factors: I reload, the .357 should be less expensive to reload, but I don't see it as too much less expensive. Any problems in reloading the .45LC? I assume that the .357 is just as easy as the .38 Specil, which I reload."

I don't have any problems reloading the 45 Colt, same as any other cartridge. It's more expensive to reload, but should be a given, bigger case and larger bullet.

"Recoil, how much more recoil will the .45 LC have over the .357? I hear the .357 has almost none. Will the .45 LC recoil affect shooting at the target much more that the .357?"

With cowboy loads there is very little recoil. With heavy hunting loads recoil can get stout.

"Although I have a nice Model 70 in .308 for deer hunting, I hear the ,357 Model 1894 make s a good brush gun. How about the .45 LC?"

My standard deer load is a 250gr. XTP at 1500fps. For heavier game, I use a 300gr. WFN bullet at 1650fps. Both are out of a 20" barrel. And a factory load, Buffalo Bore's 325gr. load does 1680fps out of the same 20' barrel.

For what it's worth out of about 10,000 rounds I have NEVER had a failure to extract.


Garrett
 
The only...

...stuff I've tried through my '94 in .45 Colt so far is Georgia Arms 260gr SJHP. Ran like a top, and knocked down steel with some authority.

Have some Blazer 200gr Gold Dots that're next on the list.
 
Can't decide,45LC or .357 for 1894

After considerable thought, I bought a Winchester '94 Trapper in .45 Colt. I do a great deal of reloading for my .45 ACP for bullseye shooting, and I have started to use a 185 gr. semi-wadcutter in my .45 Colt rounds. Shoot great out of my Colt SAA and my Winchester. The .45 LC is easy to load,and with the Winchester you can work up a good load for hunting. And like the man said, a .45 hole is bigger than a .357 hole. That may make a difference in targets and game. Good shooting!;)
 
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