I'm looking into a Win/Mod 94 Legacy in a 44mag. Just love the Overall Length at 42 1/8" and the Weight at 6 lbs. 12 oz. It must be a sweet shooter. Need kind of an "all purpose rifle" (for plinking & protection against cougar and black bear). Would the 44mag do the trick?

As millions of shooters have found.... the Winchester 94 is in fact quite an 'all-purpose' gun in various chamberings!

.44 Mag in a rifle is quite a thumper, especially with heavy cast bullets. Should serve you very well, especially at short range.

As millions of shooters have found.... the Winchester 94 is in fact quite an 'all-purpose' gun in various chamberings!

.44 Mag in a rifle is quite a thumper, especially with heavy cast bullets. Should serve you very well, especially at short range.

I was kinda thinking that it didn't have a ton of recoil @ 6lbs. 12oz. And I love the barrel Length on this baby @ 24".
http://img3.exs.cx/img3/3364/Model94Legacy44mag.jpg

It'll probably kick more than you'd suspect, to be honest. Getting a 240 or 300 grain bullet up to 1500-1800fps is going to cause some recoil!

It'll probably kick more than you'd suspect, to be honest. Getting a 240 or 300 grain bullet up to 1500-1800fps is going to cause some recoil!

I see your point Mike. But how about a 200gr or less bullet? Would I be compromising penetration power required, especially on a black bear?

I have had a Legacy in .45 colt for a little over a year now and really like it. strange things happen to pistol rounds when handloaded in rifles and I don't think you will be dissapointed with the .44 in a rifle. I have loaded light loads{200gr}at about 1000fps and 255gr up to about 2000fps.the biggest bullets I have loaded are 320gr. The heavy loads do get your attention but are not that bad. My legacy was very stiff out of the box,but with a few changes and use has smoothed up alot. there is a wealth of information at leverguns.com. under articles "tuning up the model 94" is a must read. good luck. Jim.

Forgot to say look under "articles by contributing writers" winchester recources.

I see your point Mike. But how about a 200gr or less bullet? Would I be compromising penetration power required, especially on a black bear?

If you need to poke a hole in Mr. Bear, you'll want more, not less, LOL. Unless it just causes a terrible flinch.... don't water down defense loads, my 2 cents worth.

If you need to poke a hole in Mr. Bear, you'll want more, not less, LOL. Unless it just causes a terrible flinch.... don't water down defense loads, my 2 cents worth.

Better safe than sorry. I can use light loads for plinking with heavy loads on my side.

Thanks MikeG

Hey, no problem Max glad to help. Jim.!!!!