Winchester 94AE in .357- can it shoot .38 as well?

[PC Load Letter]

Looking to pick up a Winchester 94AE in .357 and I'd like to know if you can also shoot .38 special out of the rifle as well?

[Old Judge Creek]

With the Winchester, feeding 38 specials is a bit iffy. The 94 AE is a long action, built to handle 30-30 length cartridges NOT pistol lentgh cartridges. OTOH: Marlins are built on short lenght actions and handle both quite well. If you reload you should be careful about overall cartridge length though. AND Marlin even makes a carbine chambered for the 38 special exclusively - the Cowboy Competition Model.

Not to start a war, but why a Winchester? Check out the Cowboy shooters, you couldn't give them Winchesters because the current production stuff simply does not hold up. Don't take my word for it, check it out for yourself.

Michael Belvieu, the magazine writer - (cowboy name: Bottom Dealing Mike), just completed a survey of several hundred cowboy shooters. About 60% used Marlins, 35% used Ubertis, and the last 5% used everything else. I'm not sure of the about the exact percentages but I am sure that of all responses only two people said they use Winchester.

I strongly urge you to take a serious look at Marlin. Talk to some gunsmiths and talk to some cowboy shooters. The Marlin reliability and quality is there; Winchester's is long gone (and I used to be a serious Winchester man).

[CrazyMiniMan]

I would have to side with Old Judge Creek about Winchester vs. Marlin. While I have only just recently purchased a Marlin, I have used both extensively, and you couldnt pay me to take a Winchester. They arent even really Winchesters any more, they are made by someone else using the honorable Winchester name. Thier quality has taken a nose dive, I wouldnt go with em. Stick with Marlin, smooth, reliable, long lasting, accurate. Sounds like a winner to me!
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