Texas Rangers and Winchester 1895's

[awaveritt]

I read with some interest in Harris and Sadler's book on the Rangers (c; 2004) which covers the period of 1900-1920 that the standard issue carbine for the Rangers was the Winchester 1895 chambered in 30 US (30-40 Krag).

I did a little digging and have become fascinated by this gun (having overlooked it before). Anyone here have experience with this piece, and, is the 30 US a good cartridge for cast boolits? What does a decent specimen (shooter grade) set you back these days?

Excerpt from Texas Rangers and the Mexican Revolution by Sadler and Harris. 2004

Rangers either furnished their own weapons or at their request the assistant quartermaster general, Colonel R.H. Beckham, would order the weapon for them and deduct its cost from their salary. . . . . . . The favorite rifle was the Model 1895 box magazine Winchester carbine firing 30-40 Krag-Jorgensen cartridges. This lever-action was prized because it was rugged and dependable>

[Marlin Hunter]

I did a little digging and have become fascinated by this gun (having overlooked it before). Anyone here have experience with this piece, and, is the 30 US a good cartridge for cast boolits? What does a decent specimen (shooter grade) set you back these days?




I had one chambered for another caliber. I never shot it. It was for collecting. I like the fact that it uses a magazine, so you can use pointed bullets. I am guessing that cast will shoot as good in the 1895 as any other gun. They probably used cast in some factory 30 Krag loads. I don't know what an original 1895 goes for. They have re-issued 1895's that go for about $1000 (+-$200) used, but I can't remember seeing them in 30-40 Krag. Only 405 and 30-06. I think the re-issued ones are from the 60's-70's and the 90's.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=155964230

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=155138090

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=156177690

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=155694217

there may be more. do a search for "1985 Winchester"

[Marlin Hunter]

This might be the Carbine they were taking about.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=155674049

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=155875320

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=156001875 **New**

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=156007849

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=156130260 **NEW**

[jhrosier]

FWIW, the current/recent production 1895s by Browning and Winchester are very nice guns.
I have one of each and slightly favor the Browning.
The prices run from right around $1000 to about twice that.
My Browning 1895, in 30-06, shoots a cast boolit as well as any bolt gun might.
The 30-40 might do even better with a cast bullet, with a longer neck and slightly less case capacity.
I haven't tried the 1895 Winchester, in .405 Win. caliber, with cast boolits yet.

Jack

[runfiverun]

my 95 in 30-40 does pretty good with cast.
my load development consisted of using the one i use in my 308.
the rcbs 165 silhouette boolit and a filler.
i hate levering the thing [compared to the 94,92's or even a marlin] so it don't get out too much.

[Bad Water Bill]

My grandfather was a ranger around that time. His weapon of choice (not issued) was a 94 in 38-55. It is now RELAXING in my gun room but will still be called to muster even after almost 97 years.

There are many versions of what the rangers used. Many books have been written as to what was ISSUED but from what I was told by a REAL Texas ranger who was there You provided your own tools of the trade. Sorry for steeling the thread but as you can tell I am proud of that man and his rifle.

PS When he died at age 93 he was still carrying NINE boolits.:Fire::Fire:

Rant over

[4570guy]

My GG-Grandfather was a Ranger in the 1870s as a member of the Frontier Battalion (Captain Hamp Cox's company). His father (my GGG-Grandfather) was the company surgeon. I have a copy of his discharge papers showing his pay slip and deduction for "one Winchester Carbine". I'm guessing this was a Model 1866 or 1873. I wonder whatever happened to that rifle...

This man raised my grandfather on my mother's side. My grandpa told us several stories handed down, but I never thought to ask if he knew about the rifle.

[elk hunter]

What does a decent specimen (shooter grade) set you back these days?

I haven't been following prices on 95's, but my son-in-law picked up a nice one last fall in Arizona for about $1900.00. The same shop recently had another one in 30-06 that sold quickly for the same price. There is one more in the same shop, it belonged to an Arizona Ranger rather than a Texas Ranger, but it is not for sale. From this I deduced that the originals are selling quite well at substantial prices at least in Arizona.

As for shooting cast bullets, I don't have a 95 in that caliber, but do have some Krags and they like cast bullets.

[awaveritt]

Just a sidelight. the book I referenced in the original post has a section listing Texas Rangers who served during the twenty years the book covers - 1900 to 1920. This is a great reference for anyone wanting to research their relatives who served during that time. To my surprise, I discovered two of my relatives served around 1910 and several of their exploits are chronicled in the book.

The book also supports the point made here that many (if not most) rangers brought their own weapons and mentions one ranger during this era who carried a Luger pistol. Photos in the book show mostly colt SAA's, of course, and there are numerous photos of M94's and '95 carbines. I'm really enjoying the book.

I guess I've sort of highjacked my own thread, but would enjoy any first hand ranger stories you guys have.

[Dan Cash]

I have a 95 rifle in .30 U.S. that dates to 1900. Its bore was ruined so I had it relined by Taylor. It is now, a very accurate rifle and my go to gun for anything short of Brown Bear though it will do that too if needed. I have not yet tried it with cast bullets but expect it will perform well. When I settle on a bullet, I will let you all know how it does. I have $1300 in this gun including Mr. Taylor's reline work which, by the way, is super.

[Bad Water Bill]

You are a good book salesman. I just ordered the book. I do not know just when my grandfather joined the rangers so this could fill in many missing pages. I only have one story of his time in the rangers and their justice was served NOW and it was PERMANENT. :Fire::Fire:

[Char-Gar]

My GGrandfather ranged with Rip Ford against the Comanche is 1958-59.

The 30 US is a fine round and I have three Krag rifles in that caliber. I have a Brownchester 95 in 30-40 and a 1898 Winny 95 also in that round. They are all fine rifles. I bought the Winchester ten years ago for $700.00. It is in very good shape with a very good bore.

[muleequestrian]

I have a new made 95 Winny saddle ring carbine. Mine's in .30-06 though, but I feed it a diet of 200 grain CB from a LEE mold and it seems to do just fine. It hits what I aim it at. I paid about $ 1400 for it brand new a couple years ago.

[451whitworth]

i have used the Lyman 311284 in my Browning 1895 30-40 Krag with great results. 45 gr. of RL-19 for 2200 fps.

[wills]

My GGrandfather ranged with Rip Ford against the Comanche is 1958-59.

Perhaps you meant 1858-1859.

http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/FF/ffo11.html

[405]

awaveritt,

I think they were used by quite a few types on both sides of the law and border!
The best caliber in the 95 Carb, IMO, is the 30-40. The current repros in 30-40 would be the way to go if budget were of concern. Originals in top condition, with sharp bores and NOT MESSED WITH are very much a premium item. They were used and abused :)
This one, DOM 1899, has .311 grooves so needs .311-.312 GC cast of about 190 gr. for best accuracy and minimal leading.

[awaveritt]

Bad Water Bill wrote:


You are a good book salesman. I just ordered the book. I do not know just when my grandfather joined the rangers so this could fill in many missing pages.

the book only covers the early 1900's. For anyone interested in researching specific rangers who served at any point in time, here is a neat website which would give you good place to start.

http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/arc/service/indexa.html

That, and of course, the Texas Ranger Museum in Waco, Tx.

http://www.texasranger.org/

[Wayne Smith]

I have a Mikuro 1895 Win in .405. It shoots fine with Bullshop made 350gr lead at just over 2000fps. Don't shoot it much because it kicks on both ends with the original style stock.