Gotta love those old Winchesters. I brought my 1895 .30-40 and the 1910 Winchester Self Loader .401 to the range.
You can tame the .30-40 with Red Dot and still ring the gong at 100 yds. Little recoil, fun to shoot. This was my Holy Grail rifle.
There's no taming the WSL .401. 250 gr lead bullet, 22+ grs IMR4227. Not bad recoil, but definitely not mild, and loud. The ejected brass has a mind of its own.
I actually bought the .401 dies about three years before I found the rifle.
Very nice. I'm glad to see you making it to the range. 30-40 Krag 1895 is one that is on my short list. Is that sling swivel original to the gun?
I've never messed with any of the self loaders, or their cartridges.
Originally Posted by Battis
This is the way................
Now I lay me down to sleep
A gun beside me is what I keep
If I awake, and you're inside
The coroner's van is your next ride
I'm not sure if the swivel was original to the gun. It was there when I got it.
I ended up with each of the WSL: .22, .32, .35, .351, .401.
The .22 shoots 22 Winchester Auto, the only rifle to use it. Never knew I was a collector until I had a collection.
The 1895 was going to be the last gun I ever bought once I had one. How'd that work out...
There is something about old Winchesters. I have an 1886, several 1885's an 1890 and several 1894's. They are all beautiful guns.......
The 82nd Airborne Taught Us To Make the Rules Not Follow Them Like Sheeple
I went hard in the paint on 1895's in 30 US, 35 WCF, 303 British, 30-03, 30-06, 405 WCF, 40-72 WCF, 38-72 WCF, 7.62x54, and perhaps a mistake (Cody records say "caliber not recorded) 6mm Lee Navy, and even (sacrilege) 270 WCF (sold it weeks after purchase). Love them all!!!
The WSL's caught my fancy as well and I have an embarrassing number in all 5 models (I include the Widow Maker in the WSL line).
I enjoy shooting all of them and truly enjoy reloading for them also!
The 401 is truly a Hammer if Thor! I have killed elk with it!
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I have the Winchester bug bad, but I also love old Marlins and old guns in general.
Bazoo, you have great taste. I also love old guns, especially those with a lever.
I don't hunt but if I did, the .401 would be a good choice. I call it The Big Ouch. I have an old Hammer of Thor ad on the wall.
I had a .351 WSL that had 5 notches cut into the stock. Either that previous owner was a hunter or a prison guard.
I like seeing the lists/numbers of firearms that people have - makes me feel a little more normal, and envious.
Cwtebay, that collection of 1895s is impressive.
NOICE!!
My Dad snagged a long barreled '95 Krag a few years back & I got to help him with the pre-shoot, tear down and clean up. That action is an absolute BEAST. Friendly tip: Accurate 31-199D.
Closest I got to your 1910 is an early '50's model 63 - same idea, only smaller. I get a lot of smile-factor out of Winchester dropping that kind of fit and finish into an iron-sighted plinking .22 with no provision for an optic. If you dive inside that thing, you're gonna like what you see.
WWJMBD?
In the Land of Oz, we cast with wheel weight and 2% Tin, Man.
I agree on the Winchester design ethos back then being some of the prettiest produced. I have an 1890, two 94s, a 70, and a 1905. Saw a 62 with deluxe wood on the wall at a Kansas gun shop 2 weeks ago. Such a beautiful design. I let it stay there when I saw the price tag…but I was tempted.
I saw quite a few .401 WSLs on GB but they seem pricey (and none have any bids).
It's a great gun but you have to make your own ammo, and I haven't found any replacement recoil springs. Wolff has them for the .35 and .351. Buffers are another problem - they're hard to find, and without them, you can damage the gun.
I use 414 Super Mag brass, and Accurate Mold #41-208L (206 gr bullets) or Western Bullets 250-gr. lead plain base.
IMR4227 and 12 grs Unique work well.
This cutaway rifle is at the Cody Museum in Cody, WY.
Batt is and CW, you have goals. Well done. I’m on the hunt for the WSLs as well.
There's a shop not far from me that has the following two rifles, and I'm staying away from that shop. The 1907 .351 is within reason, but the 1895 is out of my league.
Winchester 1907 .351 WIN 30xxx $899.95 1914 MFG, REDFIELD SCOPE, NO MAG
Winchester 1895 .38-72 37xxx $2999.95 1903 MFG
Battis, where is that 351 at??? Do they have a website with pics?
No pics on their site, but they're good people to deal with.
The 351 they're selling doesn't have a mag, but they are out there.
Scroll to the bottom of Rifles.
https://used.fsguns.com/
Triple K sells the mags for $56.
There's originals on ebay for $100+
Last edited by Battis; 05-04-2024 at 07:10 AM.
The WSLs are take-down guns.
Beautiful and neat old rifles. You guys may have cost me some money.
Take care,
Rick
The triple k ones are actually alight if you tweak the follower and spring a bit.
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