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Thread: I'm back! And I brought a friend, a Winchester 1885 Low Wall

  1. #1
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
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    I'm back! And I brought a friend, a Winchester 1885 Low Wall

    It's been a long time, between surgeries and awaiting disability retirement I haven't been able to really do as much with shooting and cast bullets or even casting for some time, but recently I found a gun to change all that. I spotted a very nice Winchester 1885 Low wall a while back and did a bit of horse trading and selling to come up with the money for it. It's in .32-20 and the serial number puts it at being made in 1889. The rifling is in amazing shape, and it's hard to imagine where this gun has been, when it was made the Massacre at Wounded Knee hadn't happened yet and Annie Oakley was still touring with Buffalo Bill Cody.
    I took it out yesterday with some factory Winchester 100 grain rounds, (I ordered dies yesterday and some cast bullets and brass) and despite the fact it shoots a little low, the rear sight is up as far as it can go, it's amazing how accurate this old gun is. I also plan on getting a tang sight for it but what I really want to do is take this thing out hunting for coyotes this year.





    Whatever cannot be remedied, must be endured.

  2. #2
    Boolit Master marlinman93's Avatar
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    That's a real beauty, and appears to be in great original condition! It always puzzles me also how a gun can survive that many years and still be so pristine! Congratulations on a great find!

  3. #3
    Boolit Master

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    That's a beaut! I think I don't like you very much.

    FYI: Starline makes brass for the .32-20 that's considerably stouter stuff than the thin wall factory load offerings. I bought a thousand of those to fire-form in my Martini Cadet with a hybridized chamber (.32-20 reamer in a larger .310 Cadet bore).

    I would suggest you similarly buy a lot of brass. When you add up the negligible costs of range scrap bullets and small powder charges with the low physical cost of no appreciable recoil, then throw in pretty serious accuracy, the addiction factor of such rifles is HIGH!
    WWJMBD?

    In the Land of Oz, we cast with wheel weight and 2% Tin, Man.

  4. #4
    Boolit Buddy
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    Not saying you're on the road to no recovery but that cartridge is addictive. And all its offspring. You'gonna like that single shooter a lot. Nice to see an ole gal strut her stuff and show us she still knows how. With a tang sight she turns into a real darling. Keep the loads right for age and tweak for accuracy. It is a full journey. Enjoy.
    Bob
    P.s. I have 4 different guns in that caliber including an S&W Target and I know you like that brand.

  5. #5
    Boolit Master
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    Nice score there David!! As 50 mentioned the 32-20 is an addictive little cartridge, I have 5 firearms so chambered, 3 single action revolvers, a Colt Army Special and an 1892 Winchester. The latest, as of last week, is a Buckeye Ruger with 32-20 and 32 H&R Mag. cylinders....and I doubt the "Magnum" cylinder ever sees any use by me. I can't imagine you won't have a blast with that nice rifle!!
    "In general, the art of government is to take as much money as possible from one class of citizens and give it to another class of citizens" Voltaire'

    The common virtue of capitalism is the sharing of equal opportunity. The common vice of socialism is the equal sharing of misery

    NRA Benefactor 2008

  6. #6
    Boolit Buddy
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    I'm sorry, but that doesn't look like a very good group at 25 yards to me. The rifle looks very nice, but it looks to me like you need to find a load the rifle likes.

  7. #7
    Boolit Buddy


    Mtnfolk75's Avatar
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    Nice looking rifle David, I saw the pics on Facebook earlier. Glad to hear you are getting better.

    Dusty
    Livin' my dream in a little cabin on a mountain .....
    USN Vet 1972-1980, Retired CA Peace Officer, NRA Lifer
    Plank Owner - USS Jesse L. Brown (DE-1089) 17Feb73 / USS Kinkaid (DD-965) 17Jul76
    RIP Mom & Brother, you will never be forgotten & forever loved

  8. #8
    Boolit Master

    TCLouis's Avatar
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    Wonderful old rifle

    AND

    A perfect caliber to be fun to shoot, close and far.

    Yes, the tang sight will make it even more fun!
    Last edited by TCLouis; 11-14-2017 at 10:52 PM.
    Amendments
    The Second there to protect the First!

  9. #9
    Boolit Master
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    I have a low wall in .32 rimfire. I plan to chamber it to .32-20 and convert the breach block. it has a number 2 heavy barrel.
    I do have a 92 in .32-20 that is fun to shoot and deadly on ground hogs. I shot it more when .22's became unobtainum.

  10. #10
    Boolit Master
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    Very nice! I would love to find one like that. Good for you hope you have lots of fun with it and get some coyotes.

  11. #11
    Boolit Master OlDeuce's Avatar
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    That's the way to find them!! Your Low-Wall Really looks Nice and untouched !! BTW Great shooting with the Owl Eyes and the clover!!!

    Ol Deuce
    Do the Best with What you have !

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check