Issue with Win 94 Trapper :(

A

American Made

New member
I purchased this rifle during last deer season, but never had the chance to shoot it until now. It's the Winchester trapper 44 mag that was sold as "NIB" and looked as if it was. If it makes any difference, the firearm was purchased at cabelas.

Now for the issue:

The first shot at the range was at 50 yards = no hit.

Walked over to the 25 yd range with five types of ammo.

First- shot 5 hornady 240 xtps that went REAL high and left, not hitting the target. Targets are all 100 yd large rifle

Second - tried some 300 gr xtp that shot high and left.. However, they hit the target but high and left by 5 -6 in or so

Third - tried some 265 hornady reloads that shot about the same as the 300 gr hornady did. All other ammo either missed the target or hit high and left


After looking over my new rifle something looked odd with the front sight. It looked like it had been hit on the right side. This later was confirmed by a gunsmith. He said that someone was beating on the front sight with a brass pin and hammer! "NIB" he asked?

It does appear that this firearme was shot and when the issue showed itself.. they just traded it in. The gunsmith said that it looks like the "line to bore" is messed up. He doesn't know for sure about that problem because I told him to wait.

1. Take it back to cabelas (if i can)
2. Have it fixed
3. Use as boat anchor
4?? scope

We just can't afford to drop any more money this year. :o Work has been real slow
 
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I dont see in your post that you tried to adjust the sights. If not, why not ? It sounds like a simple sight adjustment could be all you need.
 
The front sight is already 'pushed' as far as it will go. And the rear sight is almost that way ( without taking another hammer and brass fitting out )

I've never had any rifle shoot this bad. After I placed the rifle back in the truck my redhawk 4" shot 2-3" groups at 25 yds
 
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Which direction had the front sight been driven? A slightly taller front sight properly adjusted for windage might take care of the problem. Mounting a scope would take the iron sights completely out of the equation.
 
I believe I'd spend a little time pursuing this matter with Cabelas. You didn't get what you paid for and fixing it right could be quite costly. If I understand the issue a scope probably won't help much, and I'd really hate to scope a Trapper.
Second step would be Winchester but you'd be out shipping costs, at least. Trappers are fine little rifles, I hope you can get this one working for you.
 
TX,

My friend owns one of these trappers and it shoots very good. As a matter of fact, that's why I wanted one as my brush gun. And it goes well with my other 44 handguns
 
Would also be interested in which way the front sight was driven. I dont know your level of experience, so forgive me if you already know the folllowing. To adjust point of impact using the front sight, move it in the OPPOSITE direction that you want to move the point of impact. For example if the gun is shooting to the left, drift the front sight to the left. This will move the POI right. If the gun is shooting high, a taller front sight will bring the impact down.

If you are working with the rear sight, move it in the SAME direction you want the point of impact to move. If you need the bullet to impact to the right, move the rear sight to the right.

So, for your rifle to be out of adjustment, your front sight would be drifted all the way to the left, and your rear sight would be drifted al the way to the right. If this is the case, and your rifle is shoting to the left, then something must be screwed up.

Again, maybe you already know all this, but from your posts, it is not clear which way the sights are drifted.

EDIT: I see in a following post that the front sight has been driven left. There may indeed be a problem. I actually own a Trapper in .44 magnum as well. Mine is a great little rifle, hope you get yours figured out. Maybe a receiver sight would have enough adjustment to compensate
 
Issue with Win 94 Trapper

A long time ago, I bought one of those Savage rifle shotgun combos for turkey hunting. It was brand new. When I took it to the range, I couldn't get it to shoot anywhere near the target. After close inspection, I noticed the barrel wasn't on straight! I took it back to the store where I bought it new and the owner confirmed the problem was with the barrel. He said he could send it back and in a month or two,or three, it would come back repaired. That was not acceptable to me. I decided to sell it back to him at a loss. He gave me a used rifle payment. I never went back to his shop. I felt I had been really screwed. It was only a few weeks before hunting season and I didn't want to be without a gun. I later found a used rifle and shotgun at reasonable prices in another store. That was 40 years ago! I still hunt with them today! You are between a rock and a hard place! Hope Cabelas takes it back and gives you a refund or credit.
 
NIB

If I understood correctly, you bought this rifle from Cabelas who represented it as NEW.

I would take it back to Cabelas and demand my money back! That is ridiculous for a "reputable"company to sell you something that had obvious "bubba smithing" as new!
 
I had eagerly anticipated Cabela's opening their store in Billings! Was I ever disappointed!

I was hoping that they would carry somethings from their catalog, Fed 215's, and Mrp and few other items. There was nothing I was interested in on their shelf. You have to go to a counter and ask a salesman to to see a rifle or handgun. Their selection leaves much to be desired, no Cooper or Weatherby rifles on display. I find Scheel's store absolutely superior to Cabela's.

I had been an online customer of Cabela's and made many orders through them, but during the Fed 215 primer shortage, I intended to order primer through their online catalog, but there were none in stock, and the $20 surcharge drove me to shop at Scheel's and am much more content with their store. Ergo. I don't waste time or money at abela's anymore
 
A .22 that I once had did exactly that, and it had a bent barrel.
Yours could also just have an irregularity in the muzzle crown.
Those can be fixed with the proper tool.
 
American Made:

To ascertain wether your sights are faulty follow this procedure. Make sure that both the front sight and the rear sight are centered. Then put a a large cardboard or white paper at twenty-five five yards. Print a coffee cup size target in the middle. Now from a bench shoot one or two rounds and then note where they hit. If they're off horazontally move move the sight that is easiest. Most likely, it will be the front sight. Move the front sight opposite the way that you need the bullet to strike. Move the rear sight the same way that you need the bullet to strike. If your rifle is way off it may need to be returned to the factory for repair.

Semper Fi.

Gunnery sergeant
Clifford L. Hughes
USMC Retired
 
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