WINNER!!! in 401SL, I never would have thought...

[maxreloader]

Just back from the range and a 265gr cast boolit sized to .406 intended for 40-65 and 40-82 worked PERFECTLY in 2 of my Winchester Model 1910 401wsl's. 19gr of 4227 and it was a relatively mild load compared to when I load the Barnes 250gr j's. The best part is that I picked up almost 2K of these boolits for next to nothing already sized and lubed. Also there is zero leading which was a slight surprise to me. Everything functioned flawlessly. The 401's will be getting a LOT more use now!

[Orchard6]

Good deal! I need to get my 401 WSLR out and start loading for it! What brass are you using?

[GRUMPA]

For the brass, just click on the thread I have..

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/forumdisplay.php?117-Grumpa

[richhodg66]

For some reason, I have a casual fascination for these rifles. I have a 1907 and loaded ammo for it, not as hard as many make it out to be. I'd love to have a .401 one day, but they seem scarce.

What bullet weight was loaded in the factory .401?

[Orchard6]

I think 401 ammo was originally offered in 200 and 250 grain flavors from the factory.

[Orchard6]

For the brass, just click on the thread I have..

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/forumdisplay.php?117-Grumpa

Thanks Grumpa, I'll see if Santa is good to me this year and leaves a little $$$ in my stocking to buy some brass off of you!

[oldblinddog]

I'd love to have a .401 one day, but they seem scarce.


.401 in the middle:
153949
They are all in Indiana now, complying with the case length reg's. :kidding:

[maxreloader]

another great bonus... the cast 265's eject the brass from the rifle relatively intact... the 1910's tend to sling the brass 20'+ if there is no wall/net/catch. Most of the time with 250 j's and factory loaded ammo the brass gets pretty banged-up. I have a buddy that has used Grumpa's 401 brass and loves it. I have formed 401 from 414 Supermag, 7.62 x 35, and also 35 Remington that works perfectly in my 401's. Easiest/cheapest route is Grumpa brass for sure unless you like spending a lot of time forming it. I do, but I seem to be an exception. :shock:

[richhodg66]

I found one of the cheap brass cather mesh things they sell for AR type rifles worked on my 1907 when shooting from the bench. Saved me a lot of brass searching and only cost about eight bucks.

[mart]

I have one that needed a new forend when I bought it. I replaced it with an aftermarket stock and it cracked badly. Looking for another forend now. Seems cracked forends are common with 1910's. I still like the gun and it's fun to shoot.

[5.7 MAN]

What has to be done to make the brass from other cartridges?

neat rifles!

[LaPoint]

Max, I thought the .401SL was a thing of the past. I have my grandfathers that he purchased in the 1920s. I will be reloading for it and shooting it in the near future! Thanks for posting about the .401SL.

[GRUMPA]

What has to be done to make the brass from other cartridges?

Lathe work, and patience.....

[tarbe]

It is so cool that you are able to keep these old girls running!

[maxreloader]

mart, the buffers wear out on these... the 401 I have not found a source but they are available for the 351 from numrich. Grumpa is correct, you need to be handy on a lathe or plan on spending some serious time fuddling around otherwise. I turn mine on an old valve-grinder I picked up at an antique shop for $30. Figure out how to hold the carbide in the right spot and you are good to go! These Win wsl rifles are some of the most underappreciated imo... even the anemic 32wsl... I own all of them and enjoy shooting them whenever possible.

[Battis]

I have the .32, .35 and .351 WSL. I just located a .401 about 2 hrs away in Maine that I might take a ride to look at. The 401s seem to be the least common WSLs and maybe the most expensive.

[GRUMPA]

Yeah they don't just give those 401's away (AKA Thors Hammer). I would like to have 1 of those myself.

[blackbahart]

the old wsl rifles are an interesting rifles .I had some new recoil custom made for the 1910/401 as it threw the brass and once new springs were installed it quite mangleing the mouth and the cases only went aprox 10ish feet .I have a small herd of these rifles .I have them in the 4 center fire chamberings and the rimfire also .These are the untouched except for new buffers and springs as required
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p10/blackbahart/020_zpsa7b16bf6.jpg (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/blackbahart/media/020_zpsa7b16bf6.jpg.html)
had a few parts wsl rifles and ended up making up some different chamberings 1907 a 30 carbine ,another 07 into a 338-223 short ,a 1910 into 360 Dan Wesson and a 1910 into a 44auto mag to use up the parts
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p10/blackbahart/IMG_1845_zpszggji5qh.jpg (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/blackbahart/media/IMG_1845_zpszggji5qh.jpg.html)

[maxreloader]

WOW! I guess i'm not the only one that loves these rifles! Amazing stash of WLS's right there!!!

[Orchard6]

Wow is right! My uncle has about 7 or 8 of them but mostly in 351. The one I have in .401 was my great grandad's deer rifle. It's in all original condition with the bluing heavily worn just ahead of the magazine from years of carrying it in the woods. They are a neat rifle and very handy in heavy timber or scrub brush areas were shots are short and a quick follow up shot can easily be appreciated at times.

[blackbahart]

they are a bit of an obsession .I make the recoil buffers out of uhmw I sourced from the local hydralic shop as the fiber one seem to have disappeared from the parts shelves .In the 401 I had to get custom springs made up as there are no source for them and are 10 coils longer than the 1907 .I use a stouter load with the 4227 with a 210 gr projectile and the cases don't go far and no damage to them . The worn spring seems to allow scattering the spent all over the place and damaged mouths .

figured out how to assemble the wsls with relative ease .I have since aquired a few more ,another shotgun (model 1911),a japan made 63 and a07' 10 in really poor outside condition which will end up getting cerakoted in the near future
The easiest case to make 401 out of I found is the 762x39 lapua and not expensive ,so losing a few now and then is not tramatic
Cheers Peter

[maxreloader]

Anything Lapua is always expensive... but top quality has a cost!

[Swede 45]

Another .401 fan here from across the pond!
I make my brass out of 7.62x39 Lapua and uses a H&N plated TC bullet that feeds well and mushrooms nice..