Stimulus Rifle

Edward R Southgate

Edward R Southgate

Component Hoarder Extraordiniare
Done a buy it now on this rifle yesterday . Been looking for one since I bought my 1910 Colt 4 3/4" 38/40 SA last spring . Saw this one yesterday with the Lyman 21 sight and had to have it . Was really looking for a octagon rifle but the sight cinched my decision on this one . The sight is worth half of what I paid for the whole deal . With the free check this cost me a whopping $35.00 out of pocket . Anybody shooting a 38/40 92 ? Got a favorite bullet that would be good for hunting ? Click the link to see the pictures . I did save one picture .




92 Winchester 38-40.jpg
 
O

obssd1958

Well-Known Member
Try the Lyman/Ideal 403169. I used to have a Colt Lightning, medium frame rifle, chambered in 38WCF. It was manufactured in 1891, and had been rode hard and probably put away wet! At least that would explain all of the pitting in the metal that they couldn't hide before they re-blued it.
The bore was in a like condition and would really tear up a patch when I tried to clean it. With all of that in mind, it was the most fun rifle to shoot, that I have ever owned. Between the light recoil from my cast reloads, and working the pump as fast as I could run it, it was accurate enough to ring a 50 yard gong 9 out of 10 times.
My mould dropped castings at @ .406, which I then lubed using a .408 die, and loaded without sizing them down. The chamber was a little large...
I don't have any cast up right now, but could probably cast some for you to try.
 
Glaciers

Glaciers

Alaska Land of the Midnight Sun
Edward that's nice! Rarely see a Lyman 21 on a 92. Had a 92 takedown standard rifle in 38-40, but had half a bushel of Winchester fodder, so never went down the cast bullet lane.

Edit, Tuesday I'm picking up a "stimulus" rifle as well. As it's a early 1940's 94 carbine in 32 SPL, nice and tight, good bore, it's probably the brownest Winchester I've run across. Intreasting looking being that brown. Well I'm either going to take to JES to turn it into a 38-55 or if I keep it as is, it will free up another 94 in 30-30 for Jess to work his magic on. One way or another, a 94 Winchester in 38-55 is in the works.

Enjoy that 92. 92's are fun, with a side helping of more fun.
 
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J

JustJim

Well-Known Member
I had a Marlin 1894 in 38 WCF for several years, Ideal's 403169 was the only bullet I shot during that time. I always appreciated the ballistics being close to that of my familiar 41 mag, so I didn't have to think about it much. If I were going to have a bottlenecked cartridge in a Winchester 92 today, this would be my choice of cartridge.

As I recall, I used that rifle to take several whitetails, a mule deer, and several hogs. I don't think any of the shots were over 50 yards, and no followup shots were necessary.
 
L Ross

L Ross

Well-Known Member
Ooooh, Mr. Southgate, that pegs the Tingle-o-meter! Then you went and said you were matching a 1910 SAA in .38 w.c.f. and I got the vapors. For I had a 1910 manufactured Model 92 octagon rifle and I wanted the 1910 SAA. I mentioned that on the CBA Forum and a true gentleman offered me his. A 1910 Colt SAA sent to Hibbard, Spencer, and Bartlett Hardware in Chicago. Anything worth doing is worth doing to excess so I also got two New Services and kept the good shooter, but it is a 1930 vintage. Then because I didn't want to over use and abuse the Colt I picked up a Uberti Cimarron Cattleman to tote around Thorn Hollow here and scare things.

I get so goofy over these things I am contemplating taking a perfectly good Rossi .44 w.c.f. and trying to convert it to .38 w.c.f. So far I just cannot justify that nonsense.

I shoot the 180 grain bullet from my Magma Caster in all of those guns sized to .402". Starline brass, (may God bless them), and one of three loads so far. 5.5 grains of Trail Boss for plinking steel in the yard, 8.2 grains of Unique, and my Model 92 hunting load, 17.0 grains of Hercules 2400. Last Summer whilst a bunch of us were whangin' away at 210 yard buffalo with bolt guns I dragged out the 92 loaded with the Unique ammo. Jacking the elevator up all the way and holding one buffalo high they started tipping over! Everyone wanted to try that and the box of 50 disappeared in short order. I now have a modern Marbles tang sight on it and such long range plinking ought to get easier.

I hope you enjoy yours as much as I do mine.
 
Matt

Matt

Active Member
You are going to love your 92 in 38/40. Mine is a first year production round 26” barreled rifle with a Marbles tang sight. When I removed the sight to clean the rifle thoroughly there was a folded piece of Manila folder under the left side of the base for windage adjustment! I’d love to talk to whoever shimmed the sight. Shim was replaced after cleaning.
As far as bullets my favorite is the Lee 180 gr TC TL for .40/10mm. Crimp in the top lube groove. I don’t size just tumble lube in 45-45-10 first and follow with a coat of Ben’s TL. Accurate in my 92 and Colt New Service in .38/40.

But the beauty of the .38/40 is all the traditional designs work + you get all of the .40/10mm molds. Below is the RCBS 180 SWC, Winchester 180 RNFP, and the above mentioned Lee. The Lee is a six cavity and with no sizing it gets used a lot.A77A1A7B-744B-4FEE-A8BE-0B0BDC155608.jpeg
 
fiver

fiver

Well-Known Member
I also use the Magma 180 rnfp mold. [which means commercial bullets are available]
it done double duty when the SIL showed up with his Taurus 40 short.
 
Edward R Southgate

Edward R Southgate

Component Hoarder Extraordiniare
John G said:
Edward that's nice! Rarely see a Lyman 21 on a 92. Had a 92 takedown standard rifle in 38-40, but had half a bushel of Winchester fodder, so never went down the cast bullet lane.

Edit, Tuesday I'm picking up a "stimulus" rifle as well. As it's a early 1940's 94 carbine in 32 SPL, nice and tight, good bore, it's probably the brownest Winchester I've run across. Intreasting looking being that brown. Well I'm either going to take to JES to turn it into a 38-55 or if I keep it as is, it will free up another 94 in 30-30 for Jess to work his magic on. One way or another, a 94 Winchester in 38-55 is in the works.

Enjoy that 92. 92's are fun, with a side helping of more fun.
Click to expand...
The sight cinched the deal for me . Do Not rebore the .32 Spl . I have several 94's and my 1912 .32 spl SRC is by far my favorite , use one of the 30-30's . I am gonna send JES a 1965 94 to do my 38-55 on . Love me some 38--55 , my current one is one of the Miroku Winchester 1885 Traditional Hunters .
 
Edward R Southgate

Edward R Southgate

Component Hoarder Extraordiniare
L Ross said:
Ooooh, Mr. Southgate, that pegs the Tingle-o-meter! Then you went and said you were matching a 1910 SAA in .38 w.c.f. and I got the vapors. For I had a 1910 manufactured Model 92 octagon rifle and I wanted the 1910 SAA. I mentioned that on the CBA Forum and a true gentleman offered me his. A 1910 Colt SAA sent to Hibbard, Spencer, and Bartlett Hardware in Chicago. Anything worth doing is worth doing to excess so I also got two New Services and kept the good shooter, but it is a 1930 vintage. Then because I didn't want to over use and abuse the Colt I picked up a Uberti Cimarron Cattleman to tote around Thorn Hollow here and scare things.

I get so goofy over these things I am contemplating taking a perfectly good Rossi .44 w.c.f. and trying to convert it to .38 w.c.f. So far I just cannot justify that nonsense.

I shoot the 180 grain bullet from my Magma Caster in all of those guns sized to .402". Starline brass, (may God bless them), and one of three loads so far. 5.5 grains of Trail Boss for plinking steel in the yard, 8.2 grains of Unique, and my Model 92 hunting load, 17.0 grains of Hercules 2400. Last Summer whilst a bunch of us were whangin' away at 210 yard buffalo with bolt guns I dragged out the 92 loaded with the Unique ammo. Jacking the elevator up all the way and holding one buffalo high they started tipping over! Everyone wanted to try that and the box of 50 disappeared in short order. I now have a modern Marbles tang sight on it and such long range plinking ought to get easier.

I hope you enjoy yours as much as I do mine.
Click to expand...

Got all of those powders and then a few so I'll try all three and then play with a few others . Need to start collecting molds but I guess I'm gonna need to do that slowly as I am taking a semi retirement as of the end of the month . Gonna be looking for a part time fun job , something I've never had before .

I need to letter my colt but just haven't got around to it . Here's some pictures of the Colt . Got a nice set of Mastodon shoes for it just need to get them fitted . They are clean white like Elephant unlike most Mastodon .

Thanks to you all for the stories and load info , keep it coming !

EddiePA230001 (1024x768).jpgPA230010 (1024x768) (1).jpgPA230007 (1024x768).jpgPA230009 (1024x768).jpgPA230012 (1024x768) (1).jpg
 
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Edward R Southgate

Edward R Southgate

Component Hoarder Extraordiniare
Matt,
Thanks for the info . I want one of the Winchester molds and have been watching ebay so it's just a matter of time before I get one . How does the RCBS bullet work as far as function ? I like the big flat nose but I know some of that type bullets are balky about feeding in some lever action rifles .

Great looking guns .

Eddie
 
fiver

fiver

Well-Known Member
the 92's will of course feed a RNFP no problem.
but they will feed a swc type bullet if the oal is correct, and the stepped down shoulder will help.
 
Matt

Matt

Active Member
Edward R Southgate said:
Matt,
Thanks for the info . I want one of the Winchester molds and have been watching ebay so it's just a matter of time before I get one . How does the RCBS bullet work as far as function ? I like the big flat nose but I know some of that type bullets are balky about feeding in some lever action rifles .

Great looking guns .

Eddie
Click to expand...
Eddie,

92 .38/40s I’ve had all feed well with SWC s I’ve tried, including the RCBS by crimping in the crimp groove; all the truncated cone designs work great. A good time to find a Lee factory crimp die. Or using a 40/10mm seating die as a improvised taper crimp die. The Lyman 40188 is a good copy of the Winchester mold and seem to be more available. Careful crimping and sizing makes the brass last a long time. I envy your new adventure. Getting your rifle and revolver to shoot the same ammo is a lot of fun. I’ll inventory my .40 caliber molds and
Edward R Southgate said:
Matt,
Thanks for the info . I want one of the Winchester molds and have been watching ebay so it's just a matter of time before I get one . How does the RCBS bullet work as far as function ? I like the big flat nose but I know some of that type bullets are balky about feeding in some lever action rifles .

Great looking guns .

Eddie
Click to expand...
Eddie,

No trouble with the RCBS SWC when crimped in the crimp groove. 92 .38/40s seem to be less sensitive to bullet shape than .44/40s, probably the tapered/ bottle neck case. Bullets without crimp groove need to be short enough to clear the mag tube during the ride on the lifter. A great time to get a Lee factory crimp die. Makes the brass last forever with judicious use. The various versions of the Ideal/Lyman 40188 are or seem to be the same bullet as the Winchester factory molds. I’ll go through my .40 molds and give you some impressions.
Matt
 
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