Best wife ever! New Win 1892

[Brad]

She knew as soon as she saw me stop and stare at this beauty. I asked what she thought and she said it didn't matter, she knew it was coming home.
Winchester 1892 125th Anniversary model in 357 magnum. They had two, the other one had slightly nicer wood but the butt stock had a little wiggle and made a cracking sound when wiggled. I don't want pretty wood on a gun I can't shoot! This one has some nice wood.
I ran a dummyround with the MP 359640 and it will feed as long as I don't get stupid on OAL. Action is smooth, trigger is a little heavier than I like but is crisp. This should be a shooter.

Thanks Paul, she was raised right!

 

[Stonecrusher]

Nice rifle! Love the octagon. Sounds like you gat a blessing with the wife as well!

 

[Brad]

I think is an octogan to round barrel and it looks wonderful!
I like the 24" barrel and overall weight. Should hang well for offhand shooting, way better than the little 19.5" barrel on the Marlin.

 

[freebullet]

That is gorgeous Mr. Marwin...

 

[Ian]

He doesn't care as long as it has a loading gate

Nice iron there, Brad, much better than most of them I've seen in the last 20 years. Is it from Japan?

 

[waco]

Sweet score! I can't wait to see how she shoots! The rifle is pretty nice too.......

 

[Brad]

Yes Ian, it is from Japan. And yes, it has a fine little loading gate on the side just like God intended. If Marlin made a rifle like this I would buy it!
My MP 359640 will feed so that will be tried first. Maybe try a nice load with Unique because Imhave a bunch on hand not getting used.

 

[Winelover]

Maybe try a nice load with Unique because I have a bunch on hand not getting used.

Very nice rifle Brad, you must be a doing something right.......40# Magma and now a fine looking rifle.

That Unique works well in 44 Special, 38 Special and 9 mm.

 

[gman]

Winchesters made by Miroku are some very nice rifles. The fit and finish on my 1886 deluxe is first rate. Nice rifle Brad.

 

[Brad]

100 rounds loaded for an initial run. I couldn't find data for Unique that I liked so I went with 2400 and the 358156. Loaded to an OAL of just over 1.6" it feeds fine and chambers fine.
I went with 13 gr even though Lyman has max at 14 gr with a shorter OAL.

I just want to get a feel for the rifle and see how it shoots. If it shoots like it looks Brad will be very happy.
I will shooting at 25 yards indoor today as the outdoor range is likely a muddy mess. Until the ground thaws we get mud. I hate mud.

 

[Wasalmonslayer]

Congratulations on that fine looking lever gun!!
Staying tuned for a shooting report.

 

[Winelover]

I have found that Lyman's Cast Bullet Handbook has some pretty anemic/safe loads compare to the RCBS Cast Bullet Manual. Lyman doesn't even list Unique with that bullet in 357 Mag. RCBS shows 6.5 - 7.0 grains with their 158 SWC GC (1010 - 1089 fps). Skeeter's Loads for Unique and the 358156 are as follows:

Light = 5.3 grains of Unique for 900 fps

Medium = 7.0 grains of Unique for 1250 fps

Heavy = 8.0 grains of Unique for 1400 fps.

The 13 grains of 2400, you loaded, falls a half grain short of making Skeeter's Medium Load of 13.5 grains for 1200 fps. Skeeter's Heavy Load lists 15.0 grains for 1450 fps. RCBS's Manual lists a maximum of 15.4 grains of 2400 (with a magnum primer) and their 150 SWC PB for 1342 fps.

 

[Brad]

I was shocked to look in a couple Lyman manuals and see no data for 158+ gr bullets with Unique.
I need to dig out the older Lyman manuals and see what they show. I find that some of the manuals from the 70s and 80s have much better data for shotgun type powders.

 

[Winelover]

I don't load much Unique for the magnum handguns. Reserve it for the Special/medium loadings.......2400 for the magnums. Although, I do occasionally, load Unique for my 357 LCR.

 

[fiver]

6 grs is pretty nice.
I shoot 7grs of herco under the rcbs.
when that's gone it will be 7grs of BE-86.
who am I kidding, by the time the herco is gone the rifle will be someone else's problem or worn out.

 

[Ian]

You must have one of those 16-lb cardboard kegs, too.

 

[fiver]

2 of the metal 8 lber's and a 4 lb jug because I forgot about 1 of the metal cans.
probably 15-16 lbs there.

 

[Brad]

Forgot how much Winchesters dislike being cycled slowly. I have to cycle fast as it throws brass forward of the line and it is lost.
For a thrown together load it shot well. Sights are just about perfect as it came from the factory.

 

[gman]

The loading gate throws it off balance.

 

[Brad]

The loading gate throws it off balance.

Loading gate envy doesn't become you