Originally Posted by
Malamute
I have a recent Winchester/Miroku 73 carbine in 357, it seems to feed 38 spl loads other than wadcutters just fine. The Marlin 94 in 357 I had in the early 80s worked fine with 38 spl also. Theres varying reports of different 92s working or not with 38 spl loads, Im of the mind it should be able to be tuned a bit by working on the timing of the cartridge stop and when it interacts with the part on the bolt that holds it to the side when the action is closed. If some work fine and some dont, thats the only part that makes sense as to being able to change when the action lets a different length shell out of the tube.
I havent tried it, but 73s have the cartridge captive all through the feed cycle, they may operate upside down, same with 94s and 92s depending on how soon the cartridge guide rails let the rim loose in the feed cycle, I vaguely recall myself or someone trying a 94 in 30-30 upside down and it working.
Opinions vary of course, but the Winchester 94s Ive had have been more functionally reliable than Aks, 1903 Springfields, Marlins (several guns with glitches) and one Whitworth Mauser sporter i had that wasnt set up correctly from the factory for 375 H&H. The only functional issue with any 1886 Winchesters or browning copies was one original 86 that let older remington brass past the cartridge stop, they have a very heavy bevel on the rim. I tweeked the stop with a screwdriver and it was then fine. Dont dry fire Winchesters and they seem to go on, and on, and on.... A late 1950s NRA reloading manual mentioned in the comments about the 94 Winchesters something to the effect "virtually indestructible in service" which has been my experience with them through a couple dozen guns over time since the early 70s, though keep in mind the not dry firing them part if you want them to last.
The loading part of the equation is not insurmountable. Working examples of loaders exist and may become available soon.
Vetting one? I dont know. Examples in generally good condition with no obvious home made improvements on the action and work when shot, I can feel OK about using them. FWIW, the number of little glitches ive experienced with several marlins over time is part of why I dont use them any more. From the "marlin jam", to the spring for the lever plunger that holds the lever up, one jumped the forward barrel band past its screw point and the rim of a shell stuck in the resulting gap where the mag tune goes into the receiver, with no apparent reason, it all seemed properly fitted and tight when fixed...none of any of those things have happened with any Winchester type actions. I broke the firing pin on a 94 dry firing, or using a fired case that the primer was well dented in on. Once repaired, I never dry fired one again unless with a quality snap cap, and even then I wouldnt do it extensively. Much like Smith revolvers, looking one over, checking to see if everything appears to work correctly, they generally run. And Ive not seen a Winchester that wouldnt run at slow speed. Many mention running them briskly, Ive never had one that had to be run briskly so long as you dont short stroke it.