1895 Winchester

[NickSS]

I recently bought a 1895 new Winchester in 30-06. I know that most people like it in 405 win but I could not find one but did find this one. I mounted a Lyman 21 type reciever sight on it to keep it more traditional and this rifle has become my cast lead bullet shooter of choice 30-06. Recently I took it to the range with a batch of different loads and tried them out at 100 yards. Prior to this trip I had put about 100 rounds of M2 ball through it just to get the bore polished. The loads tried were:

Lyman 311041 sized to .310 over 13 gr of Unique. This gave me a nice 2 inch 10 shot group.

Lee 180 gr 2R sized 310 over 10 gr of Unique. I was pleased with this load as it went into a nice 1.5 inch 10 shot group with 6 shots through the same hole.

Lyman 200 gr sized to 310 over 39 gr of IMR 4064. This load gave a nice 2 inch 10 shot group and I must say that 8 of the rounds went into a 1.5 inch group with two opening the group up to 2 inches.

This was my first try with cast bullets and I only loaded 30 rounds so further plinking is in order. I did not get any leading and a couple of pases with a lube soaked patch and one pull through with a bore snake and the rifle was clean.

[Euan]

Good on you NickSS,
You are doing well with your 1st try with cast boolits. I can see that you have a very capable deer rifle with that 200 gr load. My 95 is an old 303 brit carbine that I rebarreled 30+ years ago to 375 on the 303brit case. Is one of my favourate CB huntin rifles.
Good luck. Got to love those 95s.
Cheers Euan

[StrawHat]

The 1895 is a fun rifle to use in the field. I had a 30-40 carbine and used to load the Lee 200 (maybe heavier, it has been a lot of years) grain RN in it. I kept velocities about 100 fps slower than original ballistics and was pleased with how it shot. As I recall I modified the mold to remove the GC and it worked well.

My current 1895 was built in 1900 as a 30 Gov't and reworked to handle the 405, again I am shooting the Lyman boolit a bit slower than factory and am pleased with the results.

[doubs43]

Nick, that's excellent results with three different boolits. With a little refinement of your loads, you may have a MOA cast boolit rifle on your hands! The 30-06 is a great cast boolit cartridge with lots of molds and designs available. It's also one of the most developed cartridges with cast boolits ever and you can find tons of information that will help you decide on a final load. Brass is cheaper than 405 too!

I'm still trying to find a decent cast boolit load for my '95 in 405. So far, the most promising is the RCBS 350 grain 416 GC boolit sized to .413". I haven't had time lately to do anything with it but I'll be back on it ASAP.

[pietro]

[I recently bought a 1895 new Winchester in 30-06. I know that most people like it in 405 win but I could not find one but did find this one.]

The .30-06 is NEVER a mistake, Nick ! [smilie=w:

.

[muleequestrian]

I put a scout scope on my Winny 95 SRC in .30-06. I use 200 grain cast in it too. I had to make a mount to go on the barrel though, as none are available anywhere.

[Freischütz]

The 30/06 is a good choice. If you decide you need more gun you can rebarrel to 35 Whelen or 411 Hawk.

[NickSS]

I really do not need more gun than a 30-06 as I have killed just about everything I have ever shot with one including large bears.

[Char-Gar]

I am a giant fan of the Winchester 95. I have a Browning Japchester and a 1899 vintage Winchester, both in 30-40. They are both excellent cast bullet shooters.

I for one don't prefer the .405 and think you have a great rifle. Try 16 grains of 2400 with your bullet and see what happens. I think you will be happy.