StrawHat
Well-Known Member
While I am normally thought of as a revolver sort of fellow, I do appreciate long arms. Since this is a lever action forum, here is my entry into this field.
As you can tell this is a Winchester Model 1895. It started life chambered for the 30 Government cartridge but by the time it got to me the bore was beyond recognition. I tried scrubbing, soaking, and praying. Nothing worked. So, off to my gunsmith I go. He takes one look and says “I have just the thing for you!” Normally that means money and this was no different. He handed me som thing that resembled a wagon axle, a out 30” long and 1 1/2” in diameter. Looking at one end I see a hole through the bar. 40 caliber he says. We talk some more and it is decided he will install this barrel, turn it to dimension a bit larger than factory and finish it at 27”. Oh, and chamber it for the 405 WCF. A couple of months later I get a call it is ready for pick up. While I was waiting I found the Lyman rear sight I wanted. When the rifle came home I installed the rear sight and took it out to sight in with factory ammunition. My sighting in is a bit different from many. I use a standing rest for any cartridge that is beyond benchrest recoil. And I try to take a minimum of shots from rest. So load three, chamber one, perfect sight picture, squeeze, BOOM! Binoculars make it easy to read the target. Adjust rear sight windage, chamber one, resight, squeeze, BOOM! Read the target, adjust windage, you get the picture. Once windage is adjusted satisfactorily I adjust elevation. Usually from start to finish, 10 shots or less. Once the factory load is sighted in I record the sight markings and called it good.
Next is a reload. I like cast bullets and have had good success with 5744. When trying to duplicate blackpowder loads I use a 40% number, ie for the 50-70 cartridge, 40% of 70 is 28 so I would use 28 grains of 5744 to equal a 70 grain load of blackpowder. Since the 405 was based on the 40-72, I used 28 grains. For a bullet, the Lyman mold 412263 cast 30/1 and spark it all with a large rifle primer, usually CCI. Next time out to the range, sight this one in and record the markings. This is the load the rifle stays set on.
I did discover one problem. The magazine will not feed the bottom round when I load 4. From what i have found on line, there were different magazine boxes for different cartridges(?). The base of the 30 Government and the 405 look the same from what I can tell but apparently not. The gunsmith has taken down his shingle so no luck there. Looking for suggestions that do not require the use of a Dremel tool. But, 3 rounds of 405 ought to be good enough for most situations.
It is a fun rifle to shoot and hopefully I will take a deer with it.
Sorry for the long winded post.
Kevin
As you can tell this is a Winchester Model 1895. It started life chambered for the 30 Government cartridge but by the time it got to me the bore was beyond recognition. I tried scrubbing, soaking, and praying. Nothing worked. So, off to my gunsmith I go. He takes one look and says “I have just the thing for you!” Normally that means money and this was no different. He handed me som thing that resembled a wagon axle, a out 30” long and 1 1/2” in diameter. Looking at one end I see a hole through the bar. 40 caliber he says. We talk some more and it is decided he will install this barrel, turn it to dimension a bit larger than factory and finish it at 27”. Oh, and chamber it for the 405 WCF. A couple of months later I get a call it is ready for pick up. While I was waiting I found the Lyman rear sight I wanted. When the rifle came home I installed the rear sight and took it out to sight in with factory ammunition. My sighting in is a bit different from many. I use a standing rest for any cartridge that is beyond benchrest recoil. And I try to take a minimum of shots from rest. So load three, chamber one, perfect sight picture, squeeze, BOOM! Binoculars make it easy to read the target. Adjust rear sight windage, chamber one, resight, squeeze, BOOM! Read the target, adjust windage, you get the picture. Once windage is adjusted satisfactorily I adjust elevation. Usually from start to finish, 10 shots or less. Once the factory load is sighted in I record the sight markings and called it good.
Next is a reload. I like cast bullets and have had good success with 5744. When trying to duplicate blackpowder loads I use a 40% number, ie for the 50-70 cartridge, 40% of 70 is 28 so I would use 28 grains of 5744 to equal a 70 grain load of blackpowder. Since the 405 was based on the 40-72, I used 28 grains. For a bullet, the Lyman mold 412263 cast 30/1 and spark it all with a large rifle primer, usually CCI. Next time out to the range, sight this one in and record the markings. This is the load the rifle stays set on.
I did discover one problem. The magazine will not feed the bottom round when I load 4. From what i have found on line, there were different magazine boxes for different cartridges(?). The base of the 30 Government and the 405 look the same from what I can tell but apparently not. The gunsmith has taken down his shingle so no luck there. Looking for suggestions that do not require the use of a Dremel tool. But, 3 rounds of 405 ought to be good enough for most situations.
It is a fun rifle to shoot and hopefully I will take a deer with it.
Sorry for the long winded post.
Kevin
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