307 Winchester XTR 94?

[AxeHandle]

Okay you lever guys... School me a bit. This 307 WInchester is virtually a rimmed 308 right? The this XTR Winchester is the big framed 94? The receiver is thicker at the back. The one I'm looking at is a beautiful gun. Full rifle length lever gun. Beautiful wood and blue. If it was a 375 it would already be mine. Almost pass for new. What is it worth?

[bud]

I've had experience with the 356 Win.....very nice levergun. Far as I could tell the 307 is a 308 rimmed and the action and bolt on these XTR's are beefier than any other Winchester I've handled. I doubt if they'd handle the pressure of a bolt 308 but then again they were engineered for pressures exceeding most leverguns. The 356 is an excellent cast bullet shooter, having Ballard rifling. I'd bet the 307 is just as good. Not sure what the going price on them would be....where I live all leverguns bring a hefty wad whether its a beater or not.

[toroflow]

I have one as you describe. The 307 uses the same dies as 308 to reload. As you mention the 307 is merely a rimmed version of the 308. Impressive velocities can be had, approaching 308 levels. The frames are the same, the larger rear section to accomodate 307, 356, 375, 444 & 450 Marlin. As to value, IMHO the pre-cross bolt lock versions are more desirable and worth more. Figure $600-800 in top condition.

[AxeHandle]

Thanks guys.... I'm really tempted to buy this thing.. If it wern't for the SIG 1911 that caught my eye yesterday it might be a done deal. Prior to retirement "Both" would have been the right answer. With the current gun budget I'd better pick one or the other.

[bud]

Me....I'd pick the Winchester. The XTR's are a rare breed. The SIG's are a dime a dozen 'n not worth beans for putting venison in the freezer.

[AxeHandle]

Looked at 307W data over at Hodgdon. Looks to be a full grown rifle cartridge. Makes almost 2500 with 180 flat point bullets for the tubular magazine.

[Deleted]

I've had both calibers, back in my levergun era. I preferred the .356 over the .307, but both are adequate for most things that need doin'. My 356 was phenomenally accurate, shooting 225 gr Speer FNs into 1-1/4 100 yard groups with open sights, an accomplishment I've never been able to duplicate with any other lever action. Paco Kelly designed a 375 wildcat for the Big Bore that was pretty much a .356, necked up. Other possibilities include some of the specialty TC Contender calibers designed by Mike Bellm, who is quite an original thinker. Sadly, I ended up selling off all the leverguns about ten years ago when my wife turned seriously ill. I needed serious money in short order, and it was the least painful way to get it.

[malamute]

I have one, and bought a spare 356 barrel. Numrich had the barrels for pretty reasonable not long ago, don't know if they still do. I'd say that if you dont really need the larger 356 to stay with the 307. With the Speer bullets it shoots pretty flat. I think the big bore 94 is more useful and desirable than a sig 1911.

A guy called william iorg has done quite a bit of load work with both the 307 and 356. He posts on shootersforum mostly. A search of his posts can turn up some interesting reading.

Someone mentioned "ballard" rifling. Winchesters all have "normal" rifling, which is pretty much what the Marlin "ballard" rifling is, as opposed to the Marlin microgroove rifling. The Winchesters seem to shoot cast pretty well in general, with less work than finding a good load for microgroove rifling.

[subsonic]

Axe, when you can't get both, get the one that's going to be harder to find and/or more expensive later.

I know you're new to this whole one at a time thing, so I'm trying to help you out.

Don't ask me what to do with trades though, OK?

[zac0419]

I have the 375, and will one day have the 356 and maybe the 307. The 307 is a really cool round right on the heals of the 308 and in an XTR. My problem with the 307 is that most of them are cross bolt safety (or whatever Win calls it) and the humpback stock that I don't really care for. I never cared for the extra safety and if the one you're looking at has it I'd pass, but that's just me. They can be found without the safety and the stock can be replaced easy enough, but it's never made it high enough on my list to get purchased.

I would price them at $500-800 depending on condition, and I wouldn't look if it has the extra safety, like I said, that's just me.

My 375, like Bud said, the XTR's are a rare breed


.