Yes...  The 9x57 should work fine through a M70 action.  According to factory M54 blueprints (where both cartridges were cataloged), the internal parts (magazine box/follower/spring, extractor, ejector) of the 9 M/M were the same as used for 30-06.

In the world of fakery, therein lies the problem... A 9 M/M is nothing but a 30-06 with a "new" barrel.  Ditto the 300 SAVAGE, which is a 220 SWIFT with a "new" barrel...  Anybody wonder why take-off M70 220 Swift barrels are so easy to find?  It's not b/c they were "shot out"...

As for the 303 British... I don't know how well it would work either... Seems you'd need at least one slanted partition in the magazine box to keep the rimmed case from jamming, like they used with the semi-rimmed 220 Swift.  But I don't know about 303 British cartridge OAL in a partitioned M70 magazine box.  OTOH, Winchester made a gazillion British P14 Enfields in 303 during WWI, so I sure they COULD have figured it out (if they ever wanted to...)

FWIW... Here's a "genuine" 303 BRIT barrel stamp (from the #6 test barrel that was in my earlier post.  The current Forum setup doesn't seem to let you enlarge thumbnails anymore, otherwise I would not repeat this...

Cheers,

Lou

GTHWM94C said
Hi Bert,
Thanks for the tips on what to look out for when looking for old Winchester 94s.
I am currently on the hunt for a pre-war model 94, preferably in the 20s or 30s given the significance of those decades in our history (and the fact that these models were manufactured better than their postwar counterparts). It’ll be awesome to have such an icon that is also a tangible piece of history. 
I have found so many examples online from numerous dealers and everyone seems to have their own opinion as to condition, blueing percentage, bore/rifling, etc. It’s also challenging to truly tell the health of the bore and rifling given descriptions alone, and its difficulty to know what is trustworthy, especially to my untrained eye. 
The bottom line is I am after a model 94 that I can enjoy as a shooter and appreciate for its historical value. I also want to be certain what I’m getting is correct for the era especially given some of these hefty price tags! 
Do you have any recommendations about sources to trust online? Is it best to wait for a gun show and get my hands on one before deciding? If so, are prices of pre war or pre 64 winchesters at shows generally more competitive or still high? 
I’m glad I’ve leapt down this incredibly deep rabbit hole! Thanks for your advice! 
-Grant 
  

It is always a better option to inspect and handle the gun in hand versus buying a gun from an internet seller.  

Bert

My comment that these rifles would make good deer rifles is a tentative comment.  I think probably the 9mm would feed and function ok, but I have my doubts about the .303.

I think everyone knows that I am skeptical of all pre-64 M70s in "uncataloged chamberings", especially oddballs, e.g. 218 Bee or 219 Zipper, for which viable options, e.g. 22 Hornet or 220 Swift, existed in the product line at the time.  IMHO factory documentation would be essential, especially when something is described as s "possible prototype".

As for Lot 101R in the Redding Auction, a M70 Standard rifle in 303 British, I had no record of the rifle before it was sold in the Morphy (Denver PA) auction in Dec 2025.  Morphy's described it as fabricated...  In four months it traveled all the way to Gettysburg PA and got re-consigned...  As for the references cited, Rule lists 303 British in a table of reported non-standard M70 chamberings and claims at least one documented factory original example exists.  Whitaker's reference is also in the form of a table, and he mentions "test barrels" and one rifle by serial number.

If you want to see a "genuine" Pre-64 M70 303 British, go back to my old thread form 3 years ago...  This one is "the real deal"...

https://winchestercollector.org/forum/whats-new/genuine-pre-war-model-70-in-303-british/

As for Lot 100R, a Standard rifle in 9 M/M Mauser, the story is even more bizarre...  I have s/n 38379 recorded from Gun Broker as a 270 WCF Carbine (I didn't record the date).  Perhaps it was a 270 WCF with non-original (shortened) barrel, hence fodder for a rebarrel job.  Perhaps I recorded it wrong...  In any event the rifle, now in 9 M/M was also in the December 2025 Morphy auction, where it was described as fabricated, and has also made the move to Redding's.

Maybe someone naively bought the Morphy guns in good faith then developed concerns and is trying to recoup his money, or maybe someone got the guns at Morphy's for cheap b/c they were described as forgeries and is now trying to flip them for profit hoping someone believes them to be genuine...

Just my take..

Lou

Thanks for the tips on what to look out for when looking for old Winchester 94s.

I am currently on the hunt for a pre-war model 94, preferably in the 20s or 30s given the significance of those decades in our history (and the fact that these models were manufactured better than their postwar counterparts). It’ll be awesome to have such an icon that is also a tangible piece of history. 

I have found so many examples online from numerous dealers and everyone seems to have their own opinion as to condition, blueing percentage, bore/rifling, etc. It’s also challenging to truly tell the health of the bore and rifling given descriptions alone, and its difficulty to know what is trustworthy, especially to my untrained eye. 

The bottom line is I am after a model 94 that I can enjoy as a shooter and appreciate for its historical value. I also want to be certain what I’m getting is correct for the era especially given some of these hefty price tags! 

Do you have any recommendations about sources to trust online? Is it best to wait for a gun show and get my hands on one before deciding? If so, are prices of pre war or pre 64 winchesters at shows generally more competitive or still high? 

I’m glad I’ve leapt down this incredibly deep rabbit hole! Thanks for your advice! 

-Grant 

Chris D said
It looks nice.
Bert, would it have had a 44A SRC sight or 3 leaf on it originally? I see it has a rifle sight on it now. 
  

Ordinarily it would have a No. 44A ladder sight, or a 34C 3-leaf express, but it could also have the Flat-top sporting sight that is on it today. 

Bert, would it have had a 44A SRC sight or 3 leaf on it originally? I see it has a rifle sight on it now. 

A fair number of the early production "Eastern" Carbines were ordered with a Rifle butt.  The Eastern Carbine in question is (1) of (72) that I have documented in my survey. 

Bert

https://reddingauction.com/item/187r-winchester-mod-1894-carbine-25-35-wcf-cal-lever-action-rifle/

I don't think he locks it in with his Roger Rule reference.

And there is a 9x57:

https://reddingauction.com/item/100r-rare-winchester-mod-70-standard-pre-war-in-the-scarce-9mm-mauser-cal-bolt-action-rifle/

Assuming they cycled fine, I could see either of them working well for deep north woods deer hunting.  Although at the moment, I can't get a Savage 99 .250-3000 off my mind for deer.

https://reddingauction.com/item/12r-winchester-mod-70-xtr-featherweight-super-grade-winchester-arms-collectors-association-collectors-issue-special-edition-257-robe/

And on the topic of Savages (at least it's in a Winchester chambering) here's a barrel band carbine you don't see every day:

https://reddingauction.com/item/38r-savage-mod-99-h-carbine-no-ring-30-30-win-cal-lever-action-rifle/

And on the topic of .250-3000's here a very desirable .250 in a solid frame:

https://reddingauction.com/item/39r-savage-mod-99-eg-solid-frame-250-3000-sav-cal-lever-action-rifle/

Nice looking .22 Hornet:

https://reddingauction.com/item/61r-ruger-mod-no-1-international-mannlicher-22-hornet-cal-single-shot-falling-block-rifle/

On the newer side for me, but this .38-55 appeals to me.  I do admire Ruger for all of their special chamberings:

https://reddingauction.com/item/1r-ruger-mod-no-1-s-38-55-win-cal-single-shot-rifle/

Fixed it - got the right link to the Hornet

Bob