Win 1895

[Skillet]

Anybody have one?  Likes/dislikes, things to look out for if checking one out to buy?

[birddogdad]

have 4 of them. for myself, father and 2 sons purchased. 1895 XLR's, put a 4x scope on dads because he cannot see thru open sights

[jdb]

One of my all time favorite rifles. My dad had one when I was a kid. My uncle had several and my grandad also had one.

[birddogdad]

guess I didn't give likes /dislikes. watch that you don't get a micro grooved barrel model. no good if you cast loads. Also older versions of 1895 were short back stocked. felt like a daisy bb gun and subsequent fitting made felt recoil more. XLR fixed that (for me). I don't shoot factory ammo but there are many options out there. I load my own ammo and use from deer to elk as a close in stalking rifle in certain conditions (ie rain). on a deer, any angle will work with minimal meat damage.

[Skillet]

Thanks for the input fellas. Found a nice one up here in AK for sale, been rebarreled to 338-06.

[theleo]

have 4 of them. for myself, father and 2 sons purchased. 1895 XLR's, put a 4x scope on dads because he cannot see thru open sights

He's not talking Marlins. the Whinchesters and later Brownings are an entirely different animal than the Marlin. Teddy had win 1895's to charge San Juan Hill and to take on Safari in Africa.

Things to be aware of: 30 US and 30 GOV are two entirely different chamberings.   

[boneaddict]

felt like a daisy bb

Kinda looks like one too if I remember right.


Hey, it's a win and it's a lever gun.  Can't go wrong. Right
Isn't it Russian?

[Skillet]

Theleo is right - Winchester 1895.  Top loading/ejecting.

It may look like a red ryder, but it should do more than just put your eye out.

[theleo]

felt like a daisy bb

Kinda looks like one too if I remember right.


Hey, it's a win and it's a lever gun.  Can't go wrong. Right
Isn't it Russian?

Don't forget, it's also a Browning design.

[HawkCreek]

I dont have an original Winchester but I do have one of the reproductions by Miroku. It's a VERY well made rifle with much better fit and finish than is common these days. I haven't gotten around to working up loads for it but with some cheap 180 grain RN and using my tailgate as a bench rest I was able to shoot a 1.25" group at 90 yards last time I was able to take it shooting.
I've been much to busy but I plan to put a repro receiver sight on it and work up loads. I'm hopeful I can get 1MOA out of it. It's heavier than it looks but it feels like a bank vault when it locks up. Smoother than a 94 I'd say it's neck and neck with a 71 or 92 for having a slick action.

[JimmyHoffa]

felt like a daisy bb

Kinda looks like one too if I remember right.


Hey, it's a win and it's a lever gun.  Can't go wrong. Right
Isn't it Russian?

Don't forget, it's also a Browning design.

  A browning design that Winchester actually built, so lots of good there.  The Russians did get a certain model, but they have full length stocks for bayonets.  I personally prefer the flatsides over the later versions (scalloped/two piece lever/release), but still nice to see an early lever that doesn't need flatnose bullets.

[HawkCreek]

felt like a daisy bb

Kinda looks like one too if I remember right.


Hey, it's a win and it's a lever gun.  Can't go wrong. Right
Isn't it Russian?

Don't forget, it's also a Browning design.

  A browning design that Winchester actually built, so lots of good there.  The Russians did get a certain model, but they have full length stocks for bayonets.  I personally prefer the flatsides over the later versions (scalloped/two piece lever/release), but still nice to see an early lever that doesn't need flatnose bullets.

Don't forget the deeper nose of the earlier style magazine.

[Skillet]

Could you elaborate on that mag difference hawkcreek?  What version came with what mag?  Is there a disadvantage to either mag version?

[HawkCreek]

Just a cosmetic difference. They changed the magazines roughly the same time they moved away from the flat side to the scalloped receiver (around serial #5000). Notice the flat side gun in the middle has a magazine that is deeper in the front while the other two have "shorter" magazines. They all hold the same number of rounds. The old adds are a misleading, the magazine will hold 5 rounds but you must chamber one of those rounds to close the bolt. The magazine is stuffed full with those 5 rounds and you can't shove them down to get the bolt over the top of them, so technically they hold 5 rounds but in reality it's 4+1 (splitting hairs maybe but it makes a difference to some).

[Skillet]

Copy that, thanks for the info.  I'll see what version it is next time I'm in town.