I know this isn't a S&W, but I am hoping someone on here might know something to help me. I just bought a used Winchester Model 94 Trails End, 45 Colt, 20" barrel, walnut stock. I haven't shot it yet, but if I cycle some rounds through the action like normal, everything works flawlessly, so far. However, if I go to unload it for instance, and leave the hammer cocked, there is less resistance and if you unload it too quickly often it will release two cartirdges into the receiver from the tube and one will get jammed under the carrier. Which requires removing the link pin and pivoting down the link to get the cardtridge out. If I cycle the action with the hammer decocked it has never done this so far, and if I cycle the action slowly it has never done it so far. But it doesn't seem right, and I am worried it could do it while shooting. Is this common? Should I not worry about if it never does it while firing? Thanks in advance.

I know this isn't a S&W, but I am hoping someone on here might know something to help me. I just bought a used Winchester Model 94 Trails End, 45 Colt, 20" barrel, walnut stock. I haven't shot it yet, but if I cycle some rounds through the action like normal, everything works flawlessly, so far. However, if I go to unload it for instance, and leave the hammer cocked, there is less resistance and if you unload it too quickly often it will release two cartirdges into the receiver from the tube and one will get jammed under the carrier. Which requires removing the link pin and pivoting down the link to get the cardtridge out. If I cycle the action with the hammer decocked it has never done this so far, and if I cycle the action slowly it has never done it so far. But it doesn't seem right, and I am worried it could do it while shooting. Is this common? Should I not worry about if it never does it while firing? Thanks in advance.

The Winchester M1894 action was designed for longer rimmed cartridges such as .30-30, 38-55, and .32 Winchester Special. It is adapted to shorter pistol cartridges such as .44 Magnum and .45 Colt. The .45 Colt has a small rim which makes the problem more likely.

The malfunction you describe is common to the .30-30 model, and is caused by one of two points of wear:

1. a worn cartridge stop nub on the end of the floorplate that prevents the next-up cartridge in the magazine tube from feeding onto the cartridge lifter.
2. loose magazine tube caused by loose or worn tube retaining screw on the muzzle end of the magazine tube. A loose tube allows the ready cartridge wiggle room to override the stop.

Either of these wear points allow excessive cartridge movement (most likely during cycling) that allows a ready cartridge to jump onto the cartridge lifter, jamming up the action. It should have nothing to do with the hammer being cocked.

The fix is relatively simple: replace the floorplate cartridge stop (it's one piece with the floorplate), and keep your magazine tube retention screw tight with thread sealant.

Yes, you are correct to be concerned with reliability in feeding. If it hangs up when you are cycling it now, imagine what happens if you are in a hurry or facing dangerous game?

Hi John, thank you very much for the help. I appreciate it. I was just looking at the thing again tonight. And I was investigating what stops it, and then I had jam again when I was cycling it slowly. When I was referring to the hammer being cocked, the only thing it changed was it slowly my lever down just enough it happened much less frequently. And I realized that little nub on the end of the bottom piece (link or floorplate)wasn't catching it when it was supposed to. Also, this gun has hardly every been fired, it looks like new inside, I think it was someone's safe queen. When I received it it came with the original box. And I got it much dirtier inside (brass particles) from cycling these few rounds threw it than when it came. But what I noticed is the hole that that floorplate pivots in, is almost coming out the top of the floorplate, making the floorplate sit much lower than the receiver on the bottom, which would make that nub too low as well, could it be a faulty floor plate from the beginning, with too high of pivot hole?

Also, the rear pin that goes through the floor plate and the lever, can that just be punched out with a brass punch? I don't see a screw or anything holding it in like the front pin.

Thanks again, I really appreciate it.

It might very well be a dimensional inconsistency from the factory. I remember two like-new Winchester '94 I found in a pawn shop at very reasonalble prices. Both suffered from the cartridges jumping the stop during cycling. Both were repaired by simply replacing the floorplate piece.

Thanks again John, I will be ordering a new floor plate tomorrow from Winchester.

Just wanted to give an update. I replaced the floorplate (Winchester calls it a "link"), and it functions like it is supposed to now. While I had it apart I put a Wolff 15 lb hammer spring in it, and polished the hammer and sear. I like it! Thanks again for the help, another gun repaired because of this forum.

Floorplate or link
 

Plz post the link for the fix. I hav 94AE and tried dyi fix after gunsmith didn't kno the issue. Clearly I failed to fix it. After a recent web search I discovered I'm not alone in dealing w this headache. In fact I got gud at fixing the jam using a wood stick.

I also experienced the problem with a 44 mag '94. And got pretty good at feeding the cartridge that slipped under the "link" (actually a cartridge carrier) back into the magazine w/o taking anything apart. but soon the carrier broke and my replacement didn't have the problem any longer. Just poor quality control.

Choot it!!!!!!

I have a .44 Mag M94 Trapper SRC, have not experienced such a problem with it.