RELATIVE STRENGTH OF 45 COLT LEVER ACTION RIFLES

[45MAN]

I SEE WHERE S&W IS CHAMBERING ITS 1854 LEVER ACTION IN 45 COLT. I AM ASSUMING THAT THE MODERN MODEL 92 AND ITS MODERN CLONES ARE PROBABLY THE STRONGEST 45 COLT LEVER ACTIONS BUT AMONG THE HENRY, THE MARLIN 1894, THE WINCHESTER MODEL 94 AND THE S&W MODEL 1854 WHICH IS THE STRONGEST? 

[grandpa]

I believe that your assumption about the '92's is correct. I have experience with the Winchester '94 and the Marlin 1894 but not with the Henry or S&W. Until someone convinces me otherwise, I believe that the latter two rifles are no stronger than the '94 or the 1894. The '92's are my favorites for heavy loads in 45 Colt.

[jeffh]

If I'm not mistaken, it's only the Rossi M92 clone, which is chambered in 454.

I'm thinking that may speak to the design, modern materials aside.

[gnappi]

I never thought twice about the strength of my 94AE, it handled everything I ever shot through it. Unless someone were entertaining the thought of rechambering said rifle as a launching platform for something a lot more powerful?

[singleaction]

Old article with no mention of the Henry or S&W (which seems mechanically identical to the Henry), but all versions of the 92, win & Marlin 94. Paco says the Win and Marlin 94 are only good to 40K psi. Good read.

leverguns.com/articles/paco/45coltlevergun.htm

[bigbrowndog]

The Win 94 big bore is reputed to be stronger than the Marlin 336. Pack Kelly I think did a write up comparing Win 444 and Marlin 444, claiming the Win would safely take much higher pressure rounds than were safe in the Marlin. My opinion based on past readings is that the modern 92’s Rossi, Winchester and Chiappa and its big brother the 1886/71 are the stoutest. The Win Big Bore “may” be equal, but unknown. Then the Marlin 336 and 1894, then standard Win 94, the S&W/Henry is an unknown to me.

Trapr

[lar4570]

I don't remember where, but I read about a test Winchester did with the 94 in 454. They put a few thousand rounds of factory 454 ammo through it with no measurable effect on the action. I guess they were about to call it a success and put them into production, but somewhere around 5000 rounds, it blew apart.

[gregs]

Paco wrote a bunch of Articles and they are available over on Leverguns.com.

If I recall correctly, the 92 and 86 actions are good to 50k, the 94 to 35k and the Marlin a little more. I read this about ten years ago so you might want to review yourself.

Paco played with the 454 in a major brand rifle.

Here is a list of rabbit holes for you to explore.

leverguns.com/articles/Default.htm

[cas]

I had a 94AE , I guess it was a Trapper or something? The 16" one. And the ONLY thing it would shoot worth a darn was 300gr Ruger Only loads (and tippy top ones at that. Maybe even above that? (to long ago)). Just because it didn't blow up doesn't mean it was a great idea. lol But the thing was BB gun light with no recoil pad, it was not particularly fun, so it's not like I shot thousands of them.

[jensonev]

I'm pretty familiar with Paco's writings and a gentleman whose pseudonym was Buck Elliot(deceased). Buck built his own levergun in 454 Casull sometime between 05-07 which was fashioned heavily after the 86(can probably credit him for inspiring Big Horn Armory), but prior to that he did 454 tests in the 80's in various leverguns. The 94AE's reciever stretched on the right side and headspace grew, the Marlin 94 would no longer lockup after fewer than 20 rounds, they had a late model(1930s) Winchester 92 if memory serves that survived the longest, but the locking lugs attempted to turn themselves outward while being peened badly by the bolt. They didn't have a 1978-82 Browning 92 at the time to try.
The model 92 and 86 Winchesters in their various incarnations are easily the strongest conventional leverguns. There may be only one naysayer and he had a financial interest in gunsmithing done on Marlins. Second place is probably the Win 94(not AE).
So to your original thought, the Henry, Marlin, and S&W are all the same basic design geometrically. I wouldn't want to really drill down the difference, costly.