1895 Winchester in 40-72

[Shrapnel]

I saw an 1895 sell on the 24HourCampfire a few weeks ago and it got me thinking of expanding my collection of Winchesters. I have not been much of a fan of 1895's, but a 26 inch tapered octagon barrel in 40-72 does have my interest.

I looked on the gun sites and found this beauty, the bore is as good as the outside. I am putting together some loads to give it a try this weekend...

[.45colt]

Sweet !!! .

[7.62 Precision]

What a nice rifle with the octagon barrel. I like that look.

Why weren't these rifles more popular?

[Sixgun]

Thats one caliber I never had the chance to play with. I think it would make a dandy elk rifle. its really nothing more than a .412 diameter 405 reduced to .406/.408 diameter and a faster twist for the heavier bullets.-----------------6

[BenT]

Nice!!

[ollogger]

that is very nice!

ollogger

[Shasta]

A very cool rifle

Love the "Climbin' Lyman" receiver sight. Wish my 38-72 was wearing one of those.

SHASTA

[vancelw]

Very nice. I find myself drawn to the 95s more and more. I'm down to 2 right now, but had 4 not too long ago.

Already thinking of converting another Browning....this time to 8mm-'06

Why? Because

[EdinCT]

Nice looking 95 and I love the Lyman sight! I would also think that would be a deer\elk killing machine.

[OldWin]

Very nice. I've never owned a 95. I've only seen a couple up here and I'm not sure why.

[Mike Armstrong]

My only experience with '95s is a .30-40 we had when I was a kid. NOT a kid's gun--the "frog spear" crescent buttplate made it kick more than it should have, and the pull of the stock was too long for me so the butt set on my upper arm, not my shoulder.... And the protruding box magazine made it awkward/uncomfortable to carry over your left arm when walking.

It WAS reliable and accurate, but I much preferred our other lever deer rifle, a Savage 99R in .300 Savage. It even had a recoil pad!

As I understand it, the '95 in .40-72 is VERY uncommon! Have fun!

(Does Ken Waters' "Pet Loads" say anything about this cartridge? He LOVED the old and odd and always rose to the challenge of reloading 'em.)

[Chuck 100 yd]

Me like!!!

[Grizz]

What a nice rifle with the octagon barrel. I like that look.

Why weren't these rifles more popular?

It's telling that they are still for sale today. If they were the be-all and end-all, there wouldn't be any on offer.

It does look very business like with the rear sight and octagonal barrel. I bet it has made a lot of meat.

[Dusty Texian]

A very nice 95 and cartridge . I am a .40 cal. fan. Would be very interested in knowing what the bore slugs out at and how the test loads do. Very Cool !,,,,,,DT

[ArcticGoose]

Shrapnel, I love that 1895! I have kept my eye out for an octagon barreled 1895 for a long time now. I have yet to see one for sale locally. One of those is high on the want list. I would love to hear how it shoots for you.

[Sixgun]

Shrapnel,
Let's just cut out the BS and get to business.

Can I have it when you get it? Tell Mike V. I can get him a new-in-in-the-cosmoline 1928 Thompson with an L drum in return for the favor. Or a like new M-2 carbine that I shot the other day....flawlessly.

An MP-40 just came in....very nice.....never did like their open bolt firing position....but it worked flawlessly with Rem-UMC

Come on...just don't post and go away----6

[pshort]

Hey Shrapnel,
Nice rig... While working up loads, just don't forget how you got your nickname......

Thanks for posting,

Paul

[Shrapnel]

After finding 7 empty brass in the bottom of a box of old brass, I loaded up some 380 grain bullets I had cast for the 40-90 BN Sharps I have. Using 5744 powder and the wrong dies (I grabbed the 405 dies off of Mike's bench instead of my 40-72 dies) I loaded up 7 rounds and did some testing while my son was slogging through the snow looking for his last elk.

The first shot was barely on paper, so I tapped the rear sight a bit to the right. The next shot was a not enough, so I tapped it a little more. The next 2 still needed to go right, but I had to reload the gun first. I shot 2 more shots that went too high. I looked at the rear sight and I must have raised it when I reloaded.

I then tapped it a little more and the last round went into the target. I need more brass, which should be fairly soon, but it looks like a real keeper. Those bullets completely penetrated the tree...

[Grizz]

good shooting. seven more rounds and the tree will fall over.

TIMBERRR

[rjohns94]

Very very nice.

[Sixgun]

Shrapnel,
You got yourself a keeper there!

Not sure if you know this or not but 5744 likes a strong crimp and while the regular dies do ok, I have always preferred a Lee factory crimp die on all of my old dash numbered cartridges.

In your case, find a piece of copper tubing that has a half inch ID. As the 40-72 has a case length of 2.6 and the 38-40 has a case length of 1.3.........the difference being 1.3........so .....cut the tubing to 1.3 and you can use your 38-40 Lee factory crimp die for your 40-72.

Yea, you can have one custom made by Lee but when you play with as many cartridges as I do, it's easier to just cut the tubing.

Slip the tubing over the loaded round run into your 38-40 lfcd. You will most likely only have to turn the die in 1 or 2 turns.------6

Original 40-72 and a 38-40 LFCD with the tubing