Author Topic: My 1994 Winchester M94 AE Trapper  (Read 461 times)

Big Frank

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My 1994 Winchester M94 AE Trapper
« on: February 09, 2025, 11:32:30 PM »
This is my .44 Mag. Winchester M94 AE Trapper model made in 1994 with the case I bought for my Ruger 10/22 with a folding stock. I got a Winchester 94 Butt Stock Takedown Screw from Ranger Point Precision. This is a universal quick takedown butt stock screw that fits all models/calibers. It works with any coin to quickly unscrew and remove the butt stock, and it fits all Winchester 94 rifles. When I put the screw in I need a coin to turn it the last 2 turns. I can screw it the rest of the way in with my fingers. I have to use a coin again to turn it 2 turns or less before I can take it out by hand. With the stock removed, the rifle is about 24 3/4" long, 4" shorter than my 10/22 with a muzzle brake, with the stock folded. If the ATF wanted to get stupid about it, they could say this is a SBR. Technically speaking the gun could be fired without the stock installed. You could also shoot a revolver with your hand over the cylinder gap. Just because you can do it once doesn't make it practical. If I have to, I'll get the barrel threaded and have an extra .45 caliber A2 flash hider I have pinned and welded to make it over 26" long. I might thread it and put the flash hider on it anyway when I do my Mechtech CCU. They make these stock takedown screws for lots of other lever action rifles. A Model 94 Trails End Takedown Rifle costs 1639.99. The takedown screw is $1,600 less, only $40.

I also got a Rifle Dovetail Sight Filler Blank (black) from RPP and installed it tonight. It's curved like the barrel, instead of being rectangular like other slot fillers. It's hollow on the bottom and made of Metal Injection Molded stainless steel. It fit so loosely I decided to use a brass drift to bend the top of the dovetail down. I had to hammer on it so hard it cupped the end of my brass drift and I had to regrind it when I was done. Instead of using red Loctite like they suggest, I used green Loctite and held a lighter to the slot filler for about 2 minutes until it set. The slot filler fits MARLIN, S&W, HENRY, ROSSI, CITADEL, WINCHESTER, and MOSSBERG rifles. It overhangs the slot just slightly on both sides and I decided not to file the ends off to fit. It's close enough as is and looks a lot better than the slot filler I had from William's.

The peep sight is a WGRS, Williams Guide Receiver Sight, made 10 miles from my house in Davison, MI. I had them install the Pachmayr vented recoil pad at Williams Gun Sight Company, too. Years ago, it took the 9-round magazine tube off and cut the approximate OAL of 4 cartridges off the rear, then reinstalled it. I think 5+1 rounds is enough for most uses, and I like the looks of the half-magazine. 4 less rounds and that length of mag tube makes it lighter and quicker handling. I grabbed some 300 grain XTP JHP ammo and stuck them in the ammo carrier for the pics. that was closer than the 275 grain Gold Dot JSPs I was going to get out. I don't like the groove in the barrel where the front barrel band screw used to go between the barrel and magazine tube, but that's okay.

https://rangerpointstore.com/winchester94-butt-stock-takedown-screw/

https://rangerpointstore.com/rifle-barrel-3-8-dovetail-filler-blank-black/



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4QaKMQtFeY
""It may be laid down as a primary position, and the basis of our system, that every Citizen who enjoys the protection of a free Government, owes not only a proportion of his property, but even his personal services to the defence of it, and consequently that the Citizens of America (with a few legal and official exceptions) from 18 to 50 Years of Age should be borne on the Militia Rolls, provided with uniform Arms, and so far accustomed to the use of them, that the Total strength of the Country might be called forth at a Short Notice on any very interesting Emergency." - George Washington. Letter to Alexander Hamilton, Friday, May 02, 1783

THE RIGHT TO BUY WEAPONS IS THE RIGHT TO BE FREE - A. E. van Vogt, The Weapon Shops of Isher

Big Frank

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Re: My 1994 Winchester M94 AE Trapper
« Reply #1 on: February 14, 2025, 10:31:43 PM »
I couldn't find plastic plugs for the safety hole, so I tried a pair of 1/4" inch Nickel-Plated Steel Hole Plugs (4th pic). The one on the right side worked okay after I used another hammer to pound the 8 ounce ball peen hammer into the hole and caved it in. It was nice and smooth and concave. I had to bend the prongs out farther and I used a gloss black paint pen to paint it. The one on the left side wouldn't fit well no matter how I hit it with a hammer and punch. I tried flattening it out except for the part that curved up at the back, but it looked like crap no matter what I did. I used a larger chrome-plated version of these steel plugs when the sprayer on my kitchen sink started leaking. I clamped the hose off, took out the "collar" that the spray wand stood in, and popped a steel plug in the hole. They work great for things like that. The roll mark on the right side of the receiver says, "1894-1994" like (I think) all M94s made in '94 did.

I tried something like a Chicago screw or bookbinding stud. It was too large in diameter so I ground, filed, and sanded it until it fit. The screw was too short, so I got a longer one longer one and cut it to length. The shaft was way too thick (that's what my ex said :D) and the hammer wouldn't drop, so I cut it down shorter to move it back out of the hammer's path. But then there weren't enough threads for the screw to catch on. So I took the hollow, threaded part I cut off and put a short screw in one end and the long screw in the other. I installed it in the gun and the hammer still wouldn't drop with a #10 size screw blocking its path. I don't know how other people could get a 1/4" Chicago screw running through there to work when the safety needs a clearance notch half its diameter for the hammer to clear it. 

I decided the best thing to do was cut the end off the cross-bolt safety and re-install it. Last week, instead of using the padded jaws and clamping everything except the end of the safety in the vise, I tried clamping just the very end in the vise without the padded jaws. The jaws don't line up perfectly and the safety turned on an angle and flew across the basement when I tightened the vise. I still haven't found the safety so I ordered a new one. I cut the end off, ground, filed, sanded, and blued it. It's not perfectly flush with the safety off, but only sticks out 1/64" or something I can't measure. If I press it in with my finger, it moves a little bit and pops back in place. I can put the safety on if I use a punch of something to push it in. But I wanted to eliminate it. I circled it in yellow in the 3rd pic. The saddle ring used to be screwed in where the red circle is. I took it out and plugged the hole years ago. It's always been scarred up from the stud screwing up against the side.

I'm done working on this one unless I mount a red dot on it. I thought about buying a Red Dot Mount for Winchester Model 94 and 1892 Barrels from Turnbull Restoration on it, and mounting a Burris FastFire 4. But I can't remember the last time I shot it, so iron sights are good enough. It would be a good option to have in my tent in case Yogi or Boo-Boo stop in, but it gets really humid in there and it would have to be wet with oil to avoid rusting. My aluminum/chrome-plated and stainless steel pistols fare well enough most of the time.

https://www.turnbullrestoration.com/gun/dovetail-red-dot-mount-vortex-venom-burris-fastfire-winchester-94-1892-barrel/

https://www.burrisoptics.com/red-dots/fastfire-4
""It may be laid down as a primary position, and the basis of our system, that every Citizen who enjoys the protection of a free Government, owes not only a proportion of his property, but even his personal services to the defence of it, and consequently that the Citizens of America (with a few legal and official exceptions) from 18 to 50 Years of Age should be borne on the Militia Rolls, provided with uniform Arms, and so far accustomed to the use of them, that the Total strength of the Country might be called forth at a Short Notice on any very interesting Emergency." - George Washington. Letter to Alexander Hamilton, Friday, May 02, 1783

THE RIGHT TO BUY WEAPONS IS THE RIGHT TO BE FREE - A. E. van Vogt, The Weapon Shops of Isher

Big Frank

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Re: My 1994 Winchester M94 AE Trapper
« Reply #2 on: February 16, 2025, 11:18:24 PM »
Remember when guns didn't cost a small fortune? I looked to see f I had a receipt for this one and found the piece I cut off the end of the box. $299. The cheapest Model 94 lists for 4 times as much now. It's a 20" 30-30 WIN or  38-55 WIN Carbine for $1,199.99-$1,39.99. A 20" Short Rifle costs more. A 24" Sporter costs even more. The 20" Trails End Takedown model is even more than that, and the 24" Deluxe Sporting model is $2,279.99. It's a nice looking rifle but out of my league.

https://www.winchesterguns.com/products/rifles/model-94.html
""It may be laid down as a primary position, and the basis of our system, that every Citizen who enjoys the protection of a free Government, owes not only a proportion of his property, but even his personal services to the defence of it, and consequently that the Citizens of America (with a few legal and official exceptions) from 18 to 50 Years of Age should be borne on the Militia Rolls, provided with uniform Arms, and so far accustomed to the use of them, that the Total strength of the Country might be called forth at a Short Notice on any very interesting Emergency." - George Washington. Letter to Alexander Hamilton, Friday, May 02, 1783

THE RIGHT TO BUY WEAPONS IS THE RIGHT TO BE FREE - A. E. van Vogt, The Weapon Shops of Isher

Rastus

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Re: My 1994 Winchester M94 AE Trapper
« Reply #3 on: February 17, 2025, 09:27:46 AM »
Prices are ridiculous. 
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It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves.
-William Pitt, British Prime-Minister (1759-1806)
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Big Frank

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Re: My 1994 Winchester M94 AE Trapper
« Reply #4 on: February 17, 2025, 11:55:27 AM »
You got that right. Anything that's not made of plastic tends to cost well over a thousand dollars rather than just hundreds.
""It may be laid down as a primary position, and the basis of our system, that every Citizen who enjoys the protection of a free Government, owes not only a proportion of his property, but even his personal services to the defence of it, and consequently that the Citizens of America (with a few legal and official exceptions) from 18 to 50 Years of Age should be borne on the Militia Rolls, provided with uniform Arms, and so far accustomed to the use of them, that the Total strength of the Country might be called forth at a Short Notice on any very interesting Emergency." - George Washington. Letter to Alexander Hamilton, Friday, May 02, 1783

THE RIGHT TO BUY WEAPONS IS THE RIGHT TO BE FREE - A. E. van Vogt, The Weapon Shops of Isher

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Re: My 1994 Winchester M94 AE Trapper
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