The rounds need to be cycled through the action, but not chambered with Winchesters. I run the lever to push the shell forward enough that it comes clear of the cartridge guides in the receiver, then back the bolt open and pull the shell out by the rim with my fingertips. It works very easily on top ejects and is still workable on angle ejects.
One aspect of the Winchester I prefer regarding clearing the chamber and leaving the magazine loaded, if you eject the chambered round, the carrier (lifter) with the next feeding round can be pushed back down with the little finger and the bolt closed. Some are a bit balky, but with a little manipulation of the lever in and out a little they will close OK. Ive also polished the front edge of the lever, this makes it easier. This may sound like a small point, but one Ive found myself using quite a lot. Most of my guns live loaded full time. If I chamber a small game/grouse/snake load, or fire a round, I can reload the chamber with a light load again, or just clear the chamber for storage and transport. I hunt grouse with light loads and leave the magazine loaded with full power load.
A reminder that guns that dont like to be topped off once loaded can be fixed to load correctly regardless of how many rounds are in the magazine. Some have just accepted them not loading correctly and assumed thats just they way they are. Its not operating correctly if you cant easily load more rounds and theres zero real need to not load one all the way in each time when they work right. Older 94s, like pre-war, or any that are smoothed up from use should be very easy to load the magazine. Polishing the back side of the loading gate will allow them to work right.
The unloading by people not overly familiar with the lever action is a good reason for a crossbolt or tang safety. Im not generally a fan of them, but they serve a valid purpose in that instance.
Pretty clean used angle eject 94s seem to hang in the $400 price range on GB if one looks around a bit. Just a bit of general info for people figuring the options. The Leupold bases and rings seem the better option for a low scope mount that doesnt interfere with the hammer or loading and unloading directly to or from the chamber. The scope clears the rear sight and sits in a goo place to see through the scope without hunting around to find the image, at kleast it does for me. Many other base/ring combinations seem to sit too tall for that.