Hunting with a vintge Winchester

[TXGunNut]

In celebration of Winchester's 150th anniversary (among other reasons) I'm seriously considering taking an older Winchester hunting this fall. Been hunting with CB's almost exclusively for years so that part of the equation is no problem, actually a given. I'd like to field a 100 yr (or so) old specimen, I figure it's been bringing home game for generations, it should work for me if I do my part.
Anyone else hunting with vintage rifles?

[tdoyka]

i have a win m94 made in the early '70's, so it doesn't count. but my 1898 springfield armory"(bubbasized) in 30-40 krag does. i use a 165gr ranch dog over a 25.5gr charge of h4198 and it will take a deer down out to 150 yards.

its not a winchester, but the krag should suffice.

[MT Chambers]

I hunt quite often with a '95 Winchester in .303 British ( I know, I know, it's not a SS), using cast bullets of course!

[TXGunNut]

"ss"?

[rking22]

Several years ago, I hunted everything using only pre WW2 firearms (well except a flint gun, but there in spirit). Win M69 squirrel rifle, Rem M141 for deer and a 1914 vintage M12 16ga for the feathered eatables :) I like your suggestion, So if I substitute my BigBore94 for the deers I could make it a Winchester year in celebration! Probably won't be exclusive because I have a M31 Remington that needs to get out some and a 41 special that needs initiation. But shall be Winchesters first this year, good idea TXGunNut!!!

[labradigger1]

Rolling blocks no. 1&2, m1 garand, Winchester 52, 1873 Springfield to name a few.
Modern plastic guns have no appeal to me.

[Drm50]

I have always used a vintage rifle on last day of season, or to fill doe tags. Don't count rifles like
Rem 8, 81, 14, 141 or Sav 99s, those are my main deer guns anyway. Use guns like Rem RB or
Trapdoor. Most memorable was little spike, shot with Win 92 in 25/20. Hunting buddies did not
want me to use it, not enough gun according to them. Head shot with 65 cast, dropped it as well
as anything you could have shot it with. 25/20 not the best deer gun, but my great uncles killed
many deer with same rifle, but they were "stump hunters" after meat in depression southern
WVa. They made their ammo with a Combo tool, mold & loader.

[Wolfer]

My Krag was made in 1898. It pushes the 311041 to about 1800 very easly and accurately. It kills deer very well.

[jrmartin1964]

Every hunting rifle I own is "vintage". The newest is a Winchester Model '07 .351 from 1953.

[Digital Dan]

Hmmm, Stevens 44, Marlin 94 made near a century ago. A flintlock and an 1890 Winchester.

[6pt-sika]

I've used several Pre 64 Model 70's to hunt but not an old Winchester lever . Have however used a handful of Pre 1916 Marlins of which two or three were Pre 1900 . Killed deer with most of them as well . I do happen to have a circa 1905 Winchester 1894TD in 30 WCF but it's a jacketed only rifle since the bore is a bit to rough for cast .

[ammohead]

I have a 1898 issue Winchester 94 in 30 WCF. The bore is dark but it will still shoot cast quite well. I haven't hunted with it....yet.

[unclemikeinct]

I have always used a vintage rifle on last day of season, or to fill doe tags. Don't count rifles like
Rem 8, 81, 14, 141 or Sav 99s, those are my main deer guns anyway. Use guns like Rem RB or
Trapdoor. Most memorable was little spike, shot with Win 92 in 25/20. Hunting buddies did not
want me to use it, not enough gun according to them. Head shot with 65 cast, dropped it as well
as anything you could have shot it with. 25/20 not the best deer gun, but my great uncles killed
many deer with same rifle, but they were "stump hunters" after meat in depression southern
WVa. They made their ammo with a Combo tool, mold & loader.......Wow That is Cool!!! I should dust off an oldie & try that myself this year...Thanks for sharing Mike in Ct

[rodwha]

Sure would love to see some pics.

Other than WW II arms I never had much interest in older firearms until I became interested in traditional muzzleloaders.

[9.3X62AL]

Already have the tag drawn & in hand, will be hunting my great-grandfather's Win 1873 in 44/40 WCF this year for the coyote-sized muleys and blacktails in our local mountains. The load will include a BruceB Softpoint SAECO #446, running about 1250 FPS. The carbine was built in 1897. I have hunted with it occasionally in these same mountains since I got it re-started on about its 100th birthday, but this year it will predominate in the field as primary tool. Of all the game rifles I own, only my varminters have taken more critters than this example has. For certain, it has far more deer to its credit than any rifle I own or ever owned.

[Paul D. Heppner]

Not a rifle, but I do bird hunt with a 1911 Ansley H. Fox side by side. It's a 30" "A" grade choked .012 on the right and .017 on the left. Not only does it do flawless work on feathered critters but it does quite well on clay targets. When I hunt with it I feed it 1950's vintage paper shells. Those spent papers have the best aroma known to man!

[richhodg66]

Olest have used successfully is a 1940s vintage Marlin in .32 Special. I've used a couple of others that were early 1950s (another Marlin and a Savage 99).

I did sit out a few times with a 1923 Savage Model 1920 and have also done it with a 1907 Winchester in .351, but Bambi did not cooperate.

[9.3X62AL]

When I hunt with it I feed it 1950's vintage paper shells. Those spent papers have the best aroma known to man!

Just READING this evoked memories of days afield as a boy with my Dad!

Steaks on the grill, or fresh cinnamon rolls are a pretty close 2nd place, but I totally get your drift. (Where da heck you git paper hulls, fiber wad columns, or card wads these days? That's like finding silkworm gut for fly fishing leaders)

[WebMonkey]

1937 mosin has taken deer.

[nekshot]

I have been into vintage for the last 20 years. I occasionally take a newish one but I love the early deer rifles. My oldest is a 99 savage 303 made in 1907. It has a old scope(no adjustment) and mounts are adjustable. It is vary accurate.

[izzyjoe]

I have taken my 8mm 1888 commission out on a few occasions, and I get some strange looks when I meet other hunters in the woods, most times they ask what tha hell you got there boy!

[Paul D. Heppner]

9.3, I pick up the old papers at gun shows on a fairly regular basis. I prefer the Winchester with a folded crimp. They always go bang. I've not had such good luck with the Remington ammo using a card and rolled crimp. They quite often don't go bang. Ballistic Products has everything you need to make your own paper fodder including hulls.

[rking22]

Another fan of the smell of paper shells on a frosty morning! Really takes me back to the simple times of youth. I think Federal just stopped making their paper international loads. I never could afford them but sure picked up the hulls when cleaning up the field! I load them for vintage shoots and to mess with the kids shooting the latest greatest gotta haves at sporting clays shoots. Love that smell and have introduced the younger generation to the pleasures of simpler times, least I try too.....

[CWME]

I haven't been deer hunting since my kids were born. I was thinking the other day I should get back into the woods for the deer hunt at least once this year. My Win 92 in 44-40 probably has a tale or two about hunting deer if it could talk. I also have a Marlin in 32-40 that would be fun to take along. I was at my Wife's Grandmothers house the other day and found some vintage Remington 32-40 shells for that rifle. She gave me the Marlin a few years back. One full box and the second was missing 12 so I have ammo covered.

[shoot-n-lead]

Not vintage in age, but vintage in design...i.e.levergun.

[Rufus Krile]

9.3, I pick up the old papers at gun shows on a fairly regular basis. I prefer the Winchester with a folded crimp. They always go bang. I've not had such good luck with the Remington ammo using a card and rolled crimp. They quite often don't go bang. Ballistic Products has everything you need to make your own paper fodder including hulls.
An old friend put me on to some Remington .410 paper hull shells back in 1980. The shells date from the '50's and I got a case each of 2 1/2" and 3"... all roll crimp. Never had a failure out of any of them and when they go off and I get that smell, I'm 6 yrs old again hunting doves with my father. I ration them closely.

[Ballistics in Scotland]

(Where da heck you git paper hulls, fiber wad columns, or card wads these days? That's like finding silkworm gut for fly fishing leaders)

Well not entirely. You can make wads out of fibre and card, but you can't make silkworm gut out of anything but silkworms.

For those interested in putting the Browning lever Winchesters to work, I can recommend "The Winchester Lever Legacy" by Clyde Williamson. It is a massive great doorstep of a book, out of print and quite expensive on www.bookfinder.com (http://www.bookfinder.com), but behind its folksy façade it hides about as exhaustive a reloading and testing program as you will find in any gun book.

[Smoke4320]

If A 1896 6.5 Swiss (actually stamped 1916) qualifies after downing a 9 point ...yes :)

[nilz]

I have a prewar Wincester m70 with a Lyman peepsight that i take hunting a few times every year.
Its chambered for 220Swift so i only use J-words in it..

[opos]

Having worked in a gun shop in the 50's while going to college I'm one of the old guys that grew up "converting" milsurps into deer rifles (call me bubba if you like). I'm too old to hunt any more but my rifle "stable" is a couple of 1917 Enfields (one in 30-06 and one in 25-06), a 98 Mauser in 8mm sporter, a 7x57 model 98 Mauser and my "toy"...a Winchester model 62A pump 22 with a hammer (had it out wiping it down last night). I shoot them all..I load for them all (but the 22) and wouldn't trade my time with them for anything else...never owned a black weapon..everything is low tech and it all shoots much better than I'm capable.

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173325

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[nekshot]

bet you got a bottle of Hoppes near by for aroma if nothing else. I forgot but my dad gave me his model 12 Winchester in 16 gauage he bought new in the 30's and he harvested 21 deer with it. My son has it now and is always looking for a place to hunt with it.

[sharps4590]

Yes sir. I haven't hunted with a modern or modern designed rifle in.....at least 20 years and perhaps loinger. Granted my Sharps are both Shiloh's but all either have seen is black powder and cast bullets and I bought them new. The "most vintage" rifle I have and hunt with is an E. Goldmann, German double rifle in 11.15 X 60R from the late 1870's most likely. Certainly no later than the early 1880's. Next would be an E.M. Reilly double rifle in 500 BPE from the 1880's. A Jost & Diehl combination gun in 10.5 X 47R known to be from the 1880's and there's a few other pre-WWI and between the war Mauser sporters, a 1904, Mannlicher/Schoenauer proofed in 1929, a few drillings, all but one pre-WWI, one of which is known to be at least pre-1890. All except one drilling and the M/S are cast bullet shooters although I also have jacketed loads worked for the newer stuff. Several have fired nothing but BP since I've owned them. Yes sir, I like to hunt with vintage firearms.

[Iowa Fox]

Just something kind of special about pulling the big hammer on an old Winchester back just before you take the shot.

[6pt-sika]

Not a rifle, but I do bird hunt with a 1911 Ansley H. Fox side by side. It's a 30" "A" grade choked .012 on the right and .017 on the left. Not only does it do flawless work on feathered critters but it does quite well on clay targets. When I hunt with it I feed it 1950's vintage paper shells. Those spent papers have the best aroma known to man! Nothing against vintage shells but I load plastic hulls for all my Parker's Foxs and Smiths as well as a few older British guns . My all time fav is my grandfathers old circa 1881 hammerless W&C Scott 10 gauge and my Parker EH circa 1889 10 gauge is in a close second . 173357. That's the Scott by the way killed it with hand loaded Bismuth last season .

[6pt-sika]

I'm also kinda partial to a little circa 1928 Parker VHE 20 gauge . Only owned this one about two years but I've known the gun since I was little . 173409

[rondog]

If I had a vintage Winchester, dang right I'd hunt with it!

[Texas by God]

I have a tradition in pheasant hunting in that I always kill my first cock with a paper shell and then pass the hull around like a wine cork for all to sniff! I have a SXS NR Davis&Sons 12 ga from the 1910's that gets down from over the mantle for that first bird. I've used a 98 Krag to harvest one of my most memorable whitetail bucks and I always use my 1954 Win 94 30-30 in the thick stuff. Good thread, this one. Best, Thomas.

[JMtoolman]

I have hunted with vintage guns for most of my life. The earliest was a muzzle loading rifle from 1824, a Riley double from about 1840, and another double ML from Scotland made in 1869. A number of black powder rifles, a Peabody, Winchester, Remingtons, Martini's, and on into the early 1900's military arms. Had a lot of fun and it adds another element to getting your meat! The toolman.

[aap2]

I have hunted with my 1873 Springfield trapdoor 45-70 with good results for many years. Feeling the need for a more modern repeater I recently switched to a 1878 Swiss Vetterli in 41 Swiss. Both are accurate and powerful and fun to hunt with.

[Thumbcocker]

I always get a little miffed when someone says a gun is just a tool. No way no how guns are special.

[smokeywolf]

Haven't hunted for quite a few years now. Job, family, health and living in a anti-gun/anti-hunting state have all been impediments to time in the woods with an old (in every sense of the word) friend.

[Frank V]

Wow I'm glad I found this thread. The fellows talking about hunting with paper hulls in shotguns bring back great memories.
When I first started chasing Pheasants we didn't have plastic hulls. I've hunted with Federal paper hulls a lot, they work great. I've found if you reload paper hulls with card wads, & Unique powder we get the old smell we used to love after they are shot. Pretty darn effective on Pheasants too over dogs.
Thanks fella's for bringing up nice old memories.:coffeecom
I'm staying tuned to this thread.

[rondog]

Wow I'm glad I found this thread. The fellows talking about hunting with paper hulls in shotguns bring back great memories.
When I first started chasing Pheasants we didn't have plastic hulls. I've hunted with Federal paper hulls a lot, they work great. I've found if you reload paper hulls with card wads, & Unique powder we get the old smell we used to love after they are shot. Pretty darn effective on Pheasants too over dogs.
Thanks fella's for bringing up nice old memories.:coffeecom
I'm staying tuned to this thread.

Wow, yeah, I remember the smell of paper hulls! I'd forgotten all about that.

I started reloading when I was a kid, my dad bought a used MEC shotshell setup and I did most of it. Don't recall Dad ever using it, other than showing me how to do it. Used to prefer the paper hulls, they'd crimp closed better than the new plastic ones, and were just more "right".

[TCLouis]

Some 5 years ago a person I knew invited me to go rabbit hunting.

We met our "host" and got ready to hunt.

The host was shocked when I started to load my trusty 311 with Federal paper shells.
Federals were purchased as NEW to be loaded from Gibson's in ABQ prior to 1966 and among the last 20 gauge I have loaded which were loaded in 74. Should get them out and see if they will fire normally.
He is young so was shocked as I doubt he had seen a paper shotgun shell.
I just wish there were enough things around here to hunt with a shotgun.

[Kestrel4k]

I brought back a non-functioning Remington pre-11 autoloading shotgun (1906 manufacture) that was in our family back in the late-40's into the 1950's - well my LGS did most of the work but I coordinated it lol.
Haven't went hunting with it but I know I really need to.

Pictures & background story at my RimfireCentral thread here if anybody is interested:
An old Remington and a little family history (http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=514065)

[Frank V]

I brought back a non-functioning Remington pre-11 autoloading shotgun (1906 manufacture) that was in our family back in the late-40's into the 1950's - well my LGS did most of the work but I coordinated it lol.
Haven't went hunting with it but I know I really need to.

Pictures & background story at my RimfireCentral thread here if anybody is interested:
An old Remington and a little family history (http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=514065)


Thanks for that link, I love looking at old photos of my Father & my Uncle hunting when they were young.
Both have passed now, but memories linger.

[hpbear101]

173773This is my hunting plan for this year, I posted this in lever guns earlier. My dad gave me this 1886 Winchester (@1891) 45-70 years ago. Dad is 84 years old and I want to kill an elk with it while he is still around to enjoy it with me. I plan on using black powder with the Lyman 457193 bullet. I put the tang sight on this year for target shooting and load development. I will hunt with the barrel sights as I am confident in the sight settings. So far the hunting god's are smiling on me as I drew a cow tag along with my bull tag so my odds just went up :)

[smokeywolf]

hpbear101, I'm very anxious to see pics of an elk taken with your model '86.

[Frank V]

173773This is my hunting plan for this year, I posted this in lever guns earlier. My dad gave me this 1886 Winchester (@1891) 45-70 years ago. Dad is 84 years old and I want to kill an elk with it while he is still around to enjoy it with me. I plan on using black powder with the Lyman 457193 bullet. I put the tang sight on this year for target shooting and load development. I will hunt with the barrel sights as I am confident in the sight settings. So far the hunting god's are smiling on me as I drew a cow tag along with my bull tag so my odds just went up :)

Beautiful rifle, thanks for sharing.
FWP has a number of 300 zones that you can take a cow Elk with your A tag now.

[hpbear101]

I primarily hunt 334 in Trail Creek. I'm kind of anxious to see some pic's too Smokeywolf :)

[BrentD]

This is my 3-generations-in-the-family Winchester '97. It goes hunting every spring...
http://www.public.iastate.edu/~jessie/PPB/Turkey/2015%20Turkey%20%231%20small.jpg

And this is at least 3-generation Winchester 1890 that still gets out now and again (not the greatest picture, granted)...
http://www.public.iastate.edu/~jessie/PPB/Rabbit%20Hunt/Rabbit%20s%202001.jpg

[smokeywolf]

Brent, have you the "leg of mutton" case for your old '97?

[KCSO]

That's about all I have! My 1910 Model 8 Remington has taken a few deer, but mostly I use a restored muzzleloader.

[Drm50]

Here is my favorites Win 95, Mar 94, Mar 97, Win 53. These are the ones that I use the most for
hunting.

[BrentD]

I have a mutton case, but I don't really use it for anything at all actually .

Nice rifles Drm50.

[quack1]

Keeping to the OP's question, I hunt with a few vintage Winchesters. Two pre-64 mod 70's 30-06 and 243, a 69A 22rf, mod 53 32-20, mod 43 218 Bee and a mod 12 12ga. Most of my other guns I hunt with are vintage, but aren't Winchesters. Now that I think about it, I only own 4 guns that were made after the mid 60's.

[smokeywolf]

Sounds like a nice batch of Winchesters quack1.

[Frank V]

Thanks for sharing everyone. Some nice guns still in use.

[Maineboy]

My first deer, and my son's first deer, were killed with an 1894 Winchester in 30 WCF. Mine was shot in 1965 when I was 15 years old, his in 1985 when he was 15. The gun was my father's, he died when I was 7 years old, so this was really special. I was hunting with my step-father, the man I've spent many hours in the woods with. I now hunt with his Savage 99 most of the time and hope to get a deer with it before he passes. The gun, deer, and I are in this photo. The rifle was made in 1895. 173943

[Frank V]

Maineboy, that's a nice deer, & rifle.
Thanks for sharing.

[Wardo1974]

I pretty much only hunt with vintage Winchesters. I very much dislike most modern rifles, and especially black plastic ones.

My main deer rifle is a 1917 Model 94 in .38-55 with a 26" octagon barrel and original Lyman #1 tang peep sight. I use a pure lead (powdercoated - zero leading, and this is my only concession to modern times) 255 grain boolit atop 31 grains of IMR 3031, for about 1700 fps, a load I read about in Ken Waters' Pet Loads. It will kill any deer with ease if I do my part.

My backup rifle is a 1913 '94 in .30-30, SRC.

When I'm not deer hunting that week, I take a 1910 Winchester 1897 with me when I go out looking for grouse.

This week, I acquired a model 1886 made in 1891 in .45-70, and I am eager to take a deer with it as well.

Where I hunt (eastern Ontario, Canada), the deer are driven by dogs, so you have to be ready on your stand for a running target. So I prefer to have a quick shooting rifle in my hands with lots of shots in case I miss!

Bear hunting is a little different. You set out a bait can and wait in your blind, quietly hoping a bear will arrive. For this hunting, I use an all-original 1952 M70 in .30-06 with a 50's-era Weaver 2.5 power fixed scope.

When I'm at the stand, I spend almost as much time admiring the rifle across my knees as I do looking for game to shoot at.

They definitely aren't simply "tools"!

[Frank V]

There is a lot to be said for a "pretty" rifle. When you are sitting watching a trail where nothing is doing you can admire that rifle.

[TXGunNut]

That's about all I have! My 1910 Model 8 Remington has taken a few deer, but mostly I use a restored muzzleloader.


I've seen a few 8's and 81's recently, all I can do to put them down when I pick them up. Someday one in 35 Rem will follow me home.
My sister dropped by your home town today, had to stop in at the bakery for lunch. Yep, I'm jealous.

[TXGunNut]

Picked up my 1894 38-55 rifle at the gunsmith's today. Had an erratic 7# trigger, now it's about 3# and crisp. Not bad for a levergun! It left the factory as a 32-40 in 1904, R&R'd in 1907 (probably to have the 38-55 tube installed). Sometime along the way it was badly neglected and the metal had to be refinished. Wasn't an especially good job but the bore is good and action tight. Think it's the rifle I'm taking hunting this fall. Pretty sure I don't have any ammo so if I'm going to shoot it tomorrow I'd better get busy!

[Frank V]

TGunNut did you get busy? Today is yesterdays tomorrow?;)
The .38-55 is a pretty good cartridge. Fun, accurate, & doesn't kick your teeth out.
Enjoy.

[TXGunNut]

TGunNut did you get busy? Today is yesterdays tomorrow?;)
The .38-55 is a pretty good cartridge. Fun, accurate, & doesn't kick your teeth out.
Enjoy.


As a matter of fact, I did! :bigsmyl2:
I loaded up 20 rds for the 38-55 but had lube issues. The sizer die had SPG in it, as soon as I got it all pushed out the lubricator ran out of BAC and was mixing it with 50/50. Put in a fresh tube of BAC to finish up. Boolits looked odd but rifle didn't seem to mind, shot just fine. Used a load skeettx told me about; 30 grs IMR3031 under a Lyman 380681. Got the tang sight regulated and it shoots as well as I shoot a peep sight.
Very pleasant to shoot, PAST pad stayed in the bag.
Only problem is I seem to be out of boolits. Torn between 50/50 and straight WW's.

[Frank V]

TX, let your gun decide whichever it shoots the best. If both are equal, I'd go with what I had the most of or was the cheapest?
Thanks.

[TXGunNut]

That's what I always do, Frank. Trial stuff was WW's but I may get better performance on our little white tails with 50/50 but with hogs I'll want a little harder boolit. Rifle sure likes those straight WW's and I don't have a lot of Pb. My faster rifles need a HT'd boolit but that won't be the case here, lol.

[smokeywolf]

I've no doubt you'll find the right combination for your '94. I'm just anxious to see some pics of the rifle and the hog or deer that will be going into the freezer.

[TXGunNut]

I may have already found it, smokeywolf. Oddest thing, my 94 Big Bore in 375 Winchester was almost the same way. First load worked, sights only needed a slight correction. Dunno about the pics but I'll try. As you know my pics are terrible and the hogs are generally ugly but you've been warned, lol.

[Frank V]

I may have already found it, smokeywolf. Oddest thing, my 94 Big Bore in 375 Winchester was almost the same way. First load worked, sights only needed a slight correction. Dunno about the pics but I'll try. As you know my pics are terrible and the hogs are generally ugly but you've been warned, lol.


:smile:
Are they ugly in the frying pan????[smilie=s:

[TXGunNut]

:smile:
Are they ugly in the frying pan????[smilie=s:

Nope, right handsome when some hot cast iron enters the picture, lol. I know I shouldn't complain but I've been eating venison for over a year.
Heeeeere piggypiggy!

[Frank V]

He piggy should give a nice break from Venison. We've been eating Elk since last Dec. Boy I love it, it's nice & mild with NO gamey taste. Going to really try to get another this year.

[TXGunNut]

From what I've heard it's hard to beat elk for table fare. No elk to speak of around here for last 100 yrs or so but it's just as well, I can barely eat one scrawny S TX deer and it's quite a challenge to eat & give away the meat from two. 2014 was almost perfect, tho. Killed a young doe and a fat little sow. Almost the perfect proportions for my customary processing and sausage making operations.

[BrentD]

I really like elk, but I think antelope and moose are better. Moose taste best if shot with an old Ballard, but a Winchester works in a pinch on antelope... )

[TXGunNut]

I prefer a nice, young, fat pig over venison but have never tried antelope, elk or moose. I've gotten a few bad reports on antelope but never from someone who does their own processing and knows how to do it.

[quail4jake]

Good thought about Winchester's 150th. A few years ago I was hunting with my son, we were both in a deer stand on a drive and he was teasing me " Dad, you can't kill a deer, ya shoot an old .32!" He was armed with his scoped .243 and I was carrying my 1926 Win. '94 SRC in .32 spl. which I've owned since I was his age and killed many deer. Shortly after, the drivers sent us a real nice buck, Sam fired and missed and said shoot em dad! The buck opened the throttle and I fired dropping the deer on a roll. After we got down to retrieve our kill Sam said "how did you shoot twice that fast?" I didn't know I'd fired twice but there were 2 empties under our stand and the deer was hit twice in the neck and killed instantly. I think I answered "well, that's why I shoot an ol' .32". This year I think I'll carry an ol' .32...again.

[TXGunNut]

Nice story, quail4jake. Made me smile, thanks for sharing. My 32 SRC is just a few years older than yours. Was thinking about it for this season earlier today.

[nekshot]

Thanks quail for that memory, it reminds me of the 70's and my dad in pa making deer drives with his friends and he was the only one with a shotgun anymore. He bought and ordered a win mod 12-16 gauge and it has a nice metal waffle top metal with a v in it sweated on the barrel and it will shoot 5 inch groubs at 100 yards all day if you do your part. He took 21 deer with it the longest alittle over 200 yards with slugs and witnesses to vouch for it. But he really understood its trajectory. That really is not ethical as he had to use a second shot up close but he got the deer after it broke out of the drive and was running away on a railroad track.

[nekshot]

I forgot to say the gun was bought in the early thirties and my son has it now and wants to use it for deer sometime!

[Frank V]

Those old Winchesters will still do the job.
We have an area here where rifles aren't allowed except muzzle loaders, shotguns are legal, traditional revolvers, bow & arrow.
It's pretty brushy & probably a good shotgun with sights would work well.

[TXGunNut]

Cleared off the workbench and put some moulds on the hot plate to make boolits for the 38-55, 38WCF and 32 Special. My oldest 32WS is a bit short of the 100 yr mark but it's a nice old rifle. All the boolits have big meplats and plain bases. Ordered a couple of Lyman sights last night, one is for the 38WCF. This project is coming together!

[Freischütz]

I killed several moose with a 1915 production Win M95.

[smokeywolf]

I killed several moose with a 1915 production Win M95.

Caliber?

[Frank V]

The 95 is an interesting rifle.

[TXGunNut]

The 95 is an interesting rifle.

Yes, must agree. I have an early (flat side) and a later (1915) rifle in 30US. I enjoy shooting the later gun but the sights are too tiny for me to use for hunting....at least until I get some new glasses. Will talk to my eye doc next week about making me a set of glasses for shooting my old leverguns.

[fingers284]

I started my hunting career using the most modern whizz bang cartridge's available with scopes that you could hit running shots on into next week if you tried hard enough, LOL...then I discovered "auction sales and old guns" about 15 yrs ago...haven't hunted with a modern gun since.

I have shot a few deer with the old ones, including the more memorable ones, a couple of good Alberta WT (one just under 170") with an '84 Trapdoor, a 32" wide Mule at 245 yrds with a RB ( Early # 1 action with new 45-70 barrel, 24" vintage style brass tube-scope), a decent 4x4 mule with a first year production Marlin 1895 in 38-56.

This year will be a 4 ser # 94 Win in 38-55...I hope anyways.

[Frank V]

I started my hunting career using the most modern whizz bang cartridge's available with scopes that you could hit running shots on into next week if you tried hard enough, LOL...then I discovered "auction sales and old guns" about 15 yrs ago...haven't hunted with a modern gun since.

I have shot a few deer with the old ones, including the more memorable ones, a couple of good Alberta WT (one just under 170") with an '84 Trapdoor, a 32" wide Mule at 245 yrds with a RB ( Early # 1 action with new 45-70 barrel, 24" vintage style brass tube-scope), a decent 4x4 mule with a first year production Marlin 1895 in 38-56.


This year will be a 4 ser # 94 Win in 38-55...I hope anyways.


The .38-55 has always been a pretty good ctg. it will take most game without much trouble.
The .45-70 is a great cartridge too, I used to load it very hot in a #1, but now I'm toning my loads down. It'll still pass through most anything you shoot.

[sharps4590]

This has been a very enjoyable and interesting thread. The stories are wonderful as are the "old guns", pictured and mentioned. I have smiled a great deal while reading it so thanks to all who posted and to the OP for starting it. I hope some will enjoy a few pictures. First is my Jost & Diehl in 16 X 10.5 X 47R. It has yet to be properly blooded.

http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq41/sharps4070/P1010023%202_zpsfb2sbqhl.jpg (http://s432.photobucket.com/user/sharps4070/media/P1010023%202_zpsfb2sbqhl.jpg.html)

Next is 3 of my drillings, from the top; A Thieme & Schlegelmilch in 16 X 9.3 X 75R Nimrod from about 1905. Middle is a Franz Jaeger "Herold" in 16 X 9 X 57R and I forget the proof date. Bottom is an Imman. Meffert in 16 X 7 X 57R from 1936, which is a little new for me.

http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq41/sharps4070/P1010007%206_zpst9i8xn9c.jpg (http://s432.photobucket.com/user/sharps4070/media/P1010007%206_zpst9i8xn9c.jpg.html)

Next, on top is my Johann Otschar in Ferlach stalking rifle in the old 9 X 57R, straight tapered, BP cartridge. Bottom is an unmarked, non-Nitro proofed drilling in 16 X "Who Knows What?" I make the case from 30-40 Krag, trimmed and fireformed to a bottleneck, 9mm cartridge. We're fairly confident it was a war trophy and re-chambered on this side of the Atlantic but, beyond that nothing is known....other than it's pretty darned accurate!!

http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq41/sharps4070/P1010002%207_zps1hphwhy4.jpg (http://s432.photobucket.com/user/sharps4070/media/P1010002%207_zps1hphwhy4.jpg.html)

Lastly what is probably my favorite bolt rifle. A 1929 proofed, 1903 Mannlicher/Schoenauer in the classic 6.5 X 54 MS. There's a few Mausers from before WWI and between the wars in various obsolete and largely unavailable cartridges but the above is enough.

http://i432.photobucket.com/albums/qq41/sharps4070/37fd0a5b-ea4d-4848-b63f-5161ce353807_zpsyghsl4a4.jpg (http://s432.photobucket.com/user/sharps4070/media/37fd0a5b-ea4d-4848-b63f-5161ce353807_zpsyghsl4a4.jpg.html)

[TXGunNut]

Took my 1921 vintage 32 WS 1894 SRC to the range today, mainly to double-check some loads before loading a few for a buddy. I'd forgotten how well the old girl shoots! Just for giggles I also had an old 1873 in 38 WCF with a sewer pipe bore along. I'd pretty much given up on it but wanted to try some loads (8 grs Unique) that work well in a recently acquired 1892. I was shocked, last load wouldn't stay on the target @ 50 yds and today it printed a 2" group with only one flyer.
It's like my old Winchesters are all excited about the prospect of going hunting again and this old girl piped up and said "Me too!"
This project has gone from "whether" to "which" over the past few weeks. I cast a pretty good pile of 38-55, 38-40 and 32 Spl boolits yesterday. This is going to be fun!

[nekshot]

sharps 45-90 those are awesome. Now that's the vintage of the vintage!!

[Frank V]

sharps4590, I agree, those are beautiful.
A very nice collection, thanks for sharing.

[sharps4590]

Thank you gentlemen, I appreciate your comments. All have given me untold hours of pleasure....and more than a few hours of hair pulling while working up brass and loads. I see I left off the dates of the Jost & Diehl, it's from probably the 1880's. The Outschar stalking rifle might be as early as the 1870's or perhaps early 1880's and the unknown drilling, given its lack of proof marks at least before the 1893 proof law.

[fingers284]

Took my 1921 vintage 32 WS 1894 SRC to the range today, mainly to double-check some loads before loading a few for a buddy. I'd forgotten how well the old girl shoots! Just for giggles I also had an old 1873 in 38 WCF with a sewer pipe bore along. I'd pretty much given up on it but wanted to try some loads (8 grs Unique) that work well in a recently acquired 1892. I was shocked, last load wouldn't stay on the target @ 50 yds and today it printed a 2" group with only one flyer.
It's like my old Winchesters are all excited about the prospect of going hunting again and this old girl piped up and said "Me too!"
This project has gone from "whether" to "which" over the past few weeks. I cast a pretty good pile of 38-55, 38-40 and 32 Spl boolits yesterday. This is going to be fun!

OHHH-Ya I forgot about an 1889 Marlin in .38 WCF in the vault that needs to be taken out and make itself useful sometime this fall...Thank you for reminding me!!

[Frank V]

fingers284, most of us would probably enjoy a range report on that nice old Marlin & .38WCF! I prefer to call it a .38WCF rather than .38-40, just seems well more period I guess.
Thanks

[TXGunNut]

OHHH-Ya I forgot about an 1889 Marlin in .38 WCF in the vault that needs to be taken out and make itself useful sometime this fall...Thank you for reminding me!!

You're welcome! My shooting buddy has an 1893 (?) Marlin in 38-55 and he finally got around to shooting my pet load Sunday. Old rifle woke up and shot a nice group! IIRC correctly it's about the same age as your 38 WCF.

[TXGunNut]

I've only been collecting old Winchesters for the past few years. The humbling part of this activity is looking at the well-used specimens (all I can afford!) and realizing that a handful of these old rifles have seen several lifetimes of hunting experiences. Some have quite likely been passed thru two or more generations. I'll never know where they've been or the game they've taken but I have no doubt they could tell some wonderful stories. I can tell that they were prized possessions and saw a lot of time in the field and saddle scabbards.
Seems only right that while I'm their custodian at least a few should go hunting with me. I think it's an honor that we to get to take these pieces of history with us when we go hunting.

[fingers284]

fingers284, most of us would probably enjoy a range report on that nice old Marlin & .38WCF! I prefer to call it a .38WCF rather than .38-40, just seems well more period I guess.
Thanks

I surely hope to have that for you before freeze-up and deep snow sets in...I had a box of new factory loads with J bullets but didn't want to use those in the 1889 barrel(some disagree but I wont use J in a barrel older than 1900 or so) so have pulled them and dumped the powder...now am trying to decide if I want to go "Holly Black" or light cowboy loads with cast boolits...

[Frank V]

I surely hope to have that for you before freeze-up and deep snow sets in...I had a box of new factory loads with J bullets but didn't want to use those in the 1889 barrel(some disagree but I wont use J in a barrel older than 1900 or so) so have pulled them and dumped the powder...now am trying to decide if I want to go "Holly Black" or light cowboy loads with cast boolits...


I think you are correct about using lead in the older bbls. they were designed in a time when lead was the only thing going.
A jacketed bullet can wear them rather quickly.

[Freischütz]

35 WCF. Mostly used Hornady 250 gr round nose.

[Frank V]

The .35WCF great ctg haven't heard of that one in some time. Last one I saw was years ago.

[TXGunNut]

LGS has an 1895 takedown in 35WCF. Interesting cartridge but rifle a bit out of my reach.

[Frank V]

LGS has an 1895 takedown in 35WCF. Interesting cartridge but rifle a bit out of my reach.


That would be a classic rifle & a takedown to boot wow.

[smokeywolf]

I would love to take a model '95 (especially a takedown) in 35 WCF out to the range and hunting. Age and shrinking gel in my eye would force me to load it light, but I would still get a big kick (pun intended) out of shooting it.

[Frank V]

I would love to take a model '95 (especially a takedown) in 35 WCF out to the range and hunting. Age and shrinking gel in my eye would force me to load it light, but I would still get a big kick (pun intended) out of shooting it.

I might be mistaken, but I think the bore size will let you use the abundent .38/.357 bullets out there for light loads?

[Anschutz]

Guys, these stories are awesome. The oldest gun I've ever killed anything with is my Dads 1981 MFR Ruger M77 .270. It was cool shooting my biggest deer with his rifle with ammo we loaded together. Oldest gun I've hunted with definitely fits this thread. It was my Great Grandfather's 1894 Winchester in 32-40, it changed hands in the family a few times but my Uncle didn't ever use it and gave it to my father because he knew he would. And he was right. One fall, my dad's cousin and his wife (They're older so we call them Aunt and Uncle) were in town and we crept out into the woods. I had my NEF .243, my aunt had my Dad's .270 and my dad was carrying the old Winnie along a ridgeline that is now a neighborhood. I heard that thing bark and got all giddy knowing we'd be eating some fresh meat. One of the few times I carried that rifle, I got back and noticed the elevator sight was missing. I freaked out because no way was a fresh blued one going to get past my dad's eyes and I may or may not have had permission to carry it into the woods. I don't know how, and I didn't take it off but somehow it had fallen off and fell into my shirt pocket. My fanny certainly thanked me for that.

[1988-4551]

Hi there everyone,

If the weather cooperates I take out a Marlin 1891 circa 1893 production 38-40 with 165 grain, you guessed it cast bullets.

[ammohead]

Welcome aboard 1988-4551. You have landed amoungst the finest bunch of boolit casters you will ever meet. Glad to see you like vintage firearms. Lots of like minded people here. Are you going after deer or some other denizen of the wild?

[1988-4551]

Thank you and yes sir white tails. I'm not very likely to see coyotes in my usual stomping grounds but usually carry the license so them and squirrels may be at risk if I'm willing to scare off any deer. It's awful quiet though, recoils about as much as a 22 lr

[hockeynick39]

A few pictures of some of my Winchesters. Will get some more pictures of them as the years move on. My goal is to actually hunt and hopefully take different animals with the different rifles.

Winchester 1895 TD Deluxe in .405 Winchester (1910):
http://i1027.photobucket.com/albums/y338/hockeynick39/mypictures970.jpg

Accurate 41-325B ready to load for testing:
http://i1027.photobucket.com/albums/y338/hockeynick39/Bullets003_zpsb81376dd.jpg

Winchester 1886 in .45-70 Gov't (1892), with some loaded rounds:
http://i1027.photobucket.com/albums/y338/hockeynick39/Winchester%201886%20089_zpszbszfye6.jpg

Accurate 46-400M:
http://i1027.photobucket.com/albums/y338/hockeynick39/Winchester%201886%20084_zpsquzo493c.jpg

Accurate 31-170S, work in progress for Winchester 1894, 2/3 magazine in .30-30 Winchester (1954):
http://i1027.photobucket.com/albums/y338/hockeynick39/31-170S_zps8uts3upv.png

Winchester mold .321 caliber boolits for Winchester 1894 in .32 Winchester Special (1964):
http://i1027.photobucket.com/albums/y338/hockeynick39/605_zps3b2fae02.jpg

http://i1027.photobucket.com/albums/y338/hockeynick39/606_zpsd3645243.jpg

[10 ga]

I inherited my grandfathers Winchester 1911 widowmaker auto shotgun. Works like a browning humpback but you have to pump the barrel to work the action. I take it hunting every few years, it still shoots really good and kills most whatever I shoot at. Grandad and his brothers all bought the 1911 when they first came out. They were diehard waterfowl hunters as my family was all in the VA portion of the Eastern Shore near Cape Charles and Oyster.

The oldest gun I have ever taken game with is a "war of northern aggression" veteran ancestors Harpers Ferry 1842 .69 cal smooth musket. It has been loaded with shot and killed birds, rabbits and squirrels. It has been in the "display" cabinet for some 40+ years and hasn't been hunted since 1974-75.


Neat stories and lots of memories came out reading this thread.

10

[smokeywolf]

Be real careful with that Winchester 1911 (widow-maker) shotgun. Never set the butt on the toe of your boot and lean your face over the muzzle while grasping the knurled section of the barrel to chamber the first round. That's how they became known as the widow-maker. They're also notorious for splitting the buttstock near the upper or lower tang.

[Ballistics in Scotland]

I like Hockeynick's button magazine, which I have on a 94 but have rarely seen on an 86. I have always thought there is a better chance of accuracy without that moveable weight hanging on the front of the barrel.

[Goatwhiskers]

10ga, another word of advice on the widowmaker, something I learned back when I was in the business. When that gun was designed what we call low powered or "low brass" ammo was some powerful stuff and the gun was not designed for modern high power ammo. No it won't self destruct if such is used, but the excess recoil can cause the gun to double fire which is exciting. Worst case you break parts which nowadays are made of unobtainium even if you can find someone that can work on it. GW

[M-Tecs]

I inherited my grandfathers Winchester 1911 widowmaker auto shotgun. Works like a browning humpback but you have to pump the barrel to work the action.


They are an interesting shotgun
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1zadbdIbCw

[Frank V]

That is an interesting shotgun. Thanks for sharing I can see why one shouldn't load it with your body/face over the muzzle.

[TXGunNut]

38-55 shot just fine today with the bigger aperture, probably would have shot even better if I'd remembered to switch to my new shooting glasses.:roll: Just occurred to me that this cartridge is pretty much a smaller-diameter 45-70, the velocity is even very close to my 45-70 hunting load.

[Frank V]

TXGunNut, that .38-55, is a fine cartridge & has taken a lot of game. It's finely accurate & has been used in rifle matches for years & has won a lot of them.
Enjoy it's a fine cartridge, that screams for cast bullets.

[TXGunNut]

...It's finely accurate & has been used in rifle matches for years & has won a lot of them....-Frank V


I didn't know that, thanks. I've begun to suspect that it's one of those rounds that can be very accurate but it never occurred to me that it was used in competition much. This project has been on the back burner for over a year, not sure why but very glad that I finally got around to it.

[Frank V]

That .38-55 is a very accurate ctg. Once a friend of mine worked up a load for his Marlin .38-55 with black powder, he mounted a scope on it (it's a later one drilled & tapped for a scope) he got a load that shot under an inch. He then pulled the scope off & shot it with iron sights, this was a Marlin lever action. It is an accurate ctg.
Enjoy it.

[TXGunNut]

My shooting buddy has a Marlin 93 (?) in 38-55, very nice rifle. It likes my loads but he's also dabbled with BP in this rifle. I passed on the rifle before he bought it, glad it wound up in a good home. I haven't used BP in this 38-55, may try it after hunting season. I'll have to see if he'll bring it out this weekend, would be nice to see it again.

[Frank V]

My shooting buddy has a Marlin 93 (?) in 38-55, very nice rifle. It likes my loads but he's also dabbled with BP in this rifle. I passed on the rifle before he bought it, glad it wound up in a good home. I haven't used BP in this 38-55, may try it after hunting season. I'll have to see if he'll bring it out this weekend, would be nice to see it again.

Black powder can be a lot of fun & very accurate. If you try it be sure to use a black powder lube something like SPG especially made for black powder. They are softer & keep BP fouling soft.

[TXGunNut]

Yes, big fan of SPG. I even use it for smokeless loads now and then.

[Frank V]

I use SPG for cast handgun bullets & it works very well.

[TXGunNut]

Shot my old rifles again today, first time to 100 yds for us and it was quite interesting. 1892 (38WCF) really likes that load, pretty sure it can keep most rounds inside of 2" with only a little more effort on my part. 1894 (38-55) did pretty well but needs a bit of tweaking, not sure what. Couple of other guys with 100 yr old rifles there today as well, one little Rem #4 and his buddy had some type of Remington 45-70 with a bolt action and tubular magazine. Can't recall the actual model but it was something I can't recall seeing before. Awesome day for it, even shot a few rounds of skeet to warm up my trigger finger. ;-)

[Frank V]

Sounds like a good day at the range.

[BK1]

Have a 141 35rem,94 win-1918,krag-30-40,95win 30-06,1917win made enfield 06.Use them all but hunt most with the 35rem n 30-40 receiver sights on all but am scoping the m 141 as it's drilled n tapped,will carry it this year in the high pole thickets for elk.Have only doinked deer with it so far but my 35whln at about the same vel.whacks them pretty good but weights 3 lbs more.Hope to see what happens soon!

[rking22]

Another Rem141 fan, mine's in 30 Rem, made in 1936. It's not a Winchester, but it's accounted for 4 Tennessee whitetails with as many shots. My oldest Winchester deer rifle is same vintage as me, 1959, if I remember correctly. I'll hunt with a little newer Winchester Bigbore, made in 1978, my kids consider that vintage, go figure :)
I need to find me another 94 chambered in, well, 38-55 would be most welcome!

[TXGunNut]

I have a couple 1895's in 30-40 Krag, that's a project for another year maybe. Been keeping an eye out for a Krag as well, really like that cartridge. Hard to beat the penetration of a long, slow boolit.

[TXGunNut]

Looks like I need to get back to work on this project, two weeks from today I'll be hunting and I only have hunting loads worked out for my secondary rifle, the 38WCF. The 3031 loads for the 38-55 were a bit disappointing @ 100 yards, thought it was the loose nut behind the trigger but a second range trip confirmed my earlier findings. I don't know why but the 3031 load that did best @ 50 didn't get it done @ 100. :???: Found a few slivers of lead in the bore, may have been trying to go faster than the PB boolit wanted to go. Lyman cast bullet manual and MLV are pretty strong on 5744 powder and I just happen to have a pound of it on the shelf. Loaded up a few "try" loads, headed to the range with them shortly and will do a follow-up trip tomorrow. Was thinking about 4895 for this cartridge but went with 5744 instead. I think 4895 is happier in a bottleneck case.

[skeettx]

My 38-55 load is 30 grains of 3031 with a 275 grain, .382 diameter LBT cast bullet with gas check
LBT Mould number 382 275 LFN
Javalina Alox lube, Hornady gas check. Wheelweights for alloy
Mike

[TXGunNut]

My 38-55 load is 30 grains of 3031 with a 275 grain, .382 diameter LBT cast bullet with gas check
LBT Mould number 382 275 LFN
Javalina Alox lube, Hornady gas check. Wheelweights for alloy
Mike

As you may know I've been using a variation of your 30 gr load under a 250 gr Lyman 380681. I'm thinking it's a very good load, just not for this boolit and rifle. I'm also thinking I need a bigger expander plug but I only have time to change a few variables at this point. I have a GC mould for this rifle that I haven't gotten around to casting with yet, think it's a bit heavier as well. I'm thinking 3031 will give me better results with that boolit, will try it after hunting season. So many projects, so little time!

[smokeywolf]

Looking forward to reading of your results with 5744 in the 38-55. Also, 4895 and RL 7 get favorable mention in "Ken Waters' Pet Loads".

[winchester95]

That sounds good ,maybe i'll take my 95 in 35 wcf

[TXGunNut]

Looking forward to reading of your results with 5744 in the 38-55. Also, 4895 and RL 7 get favorable mention in "Ken Waters' Pet Loads".

Was thinking pretty hard about 4895 but went with the AA5744 instead. Don't know why Rx7 didn't occur to me. Have a fair bit of it lying around. :confused:
5744 worked quite well, didn't get the 19gr load on paper quickly enough but 20gr produced a nice enough group. 20gr load had a bit of vertical stringing so I think I need to try it again and reduce the charge by at least half a grain. The 21 and 22 gr loads weren't good. I only have one pound of AA5744 :( but it will get me thru the season. I always thought 5744 was too expensive but in this cartridge it takes about 25% less powder so cost isn't a factor after all. I think 4895 will come closer to a full case so will try it when I have more time.
For tomorrow I'll load 19, 19.5 and 20grs. Pretty sure one of these will get me pretty close to a 2" group. That's about as well as I can do with peeps and my presbyopic eyes. New shooting glasses ("distance" only Rx) were a big help today as well, much better than I thought they would be for peeps. I mainly got them for shotgun and open sight pistols & rifles but they sharpen up the front sight with peeps as well.
I used to have access to the Waters book, maybe I'll stumble across one someday. Thanks for the info!

[ammohead]

I probably don't need to tell you this but weigh every charge with that 5744. It can stack in the powder measure and the next load will come out heavy. Have seen this more than once.

[TXGunNut]

I didn't know that but I use an RCBS ChargeMaster so almost every rifle powder charge is weighed. It dispenses a very accurate charge of powder in about the time it takes to seat a boolit. 5744 looks to be a pretty short grain but I've always weighed extruded powders.

[rondog]

Local Cabelas has a Winnie 94 in .38-55 with a 26" octagonal barrel. I'm intrigued. Might drag in a couple of milsurps to see if they'll trade.

[TXGunNut]

Local Cabelas has a Winnie 94 in .38-55 with a 26" octagonal barrel. I'm intrigued. Might drag in a couple of milsurps to see if they'll trade.

Worth a try, did you make a note of the serial number?

[TXGunNut]

Range trip a bit frustrating today. Bore a bit fouled by lube and powder residue so neither of my favorite loads did especially well. I think a couple of "cull" boolits slipped by as well. I know this rifle is a shooter, just need to get my stuff together. Pressing some new brass into service for the next trip, initial 20 pieces may be getting work-hardened and need to fire-form the brass I'll be using for hunting loads.

[Rufus Krile]

I really like 5744 but you've discovered its shortfall... it's kinda nasty. I tried hotter primers but that didn't do it. A hotter load seems to help, but not solve, the problem. Breakfree Powderblast works pretty well on it... but so does carburetor/brake cleaner. My 1885 Winchester 45/70 loves 28.0gr behind a 500gr RNFPGC @ 25/1. About 1400fps.

[TXGunNut]

True, I don't mind a bit of powder fouling. Tried my two best AA5744 loads today and some IMR4198 that I found on my shelf. Seems it's one of the better powders for this cartridge and will likely have a sweet spot a bit faster than the 5744. Pondered trying Rx7 but I think it will come into it's own a bit faster than my PB boolits will allow. None of the three loads I loaded this morning did especially well but it's possible I may have to settle for a 3" group for now. Sized the brass and put it in the cleaner. Went looking for powder, scored some H4198 and hurried home to load the brass I'd fireformed this morning. Clouds rolled in and it's a bit to overcast for an evening shoot. I like the 24 grs of IMR4198 I found in the Lyman #4 book. Comes pretty close to filling the case and shoots a bit better than the best AA5744 load.

[smokeywolf]

Although not to be confused with your 38-55, your 24 grns of 4198 has also a been pretty good load under the original 292 grn boolit in a model '76 45-60.

4198, 5744 and 4759 have often been used successfully to produce smokeless loads that closely mimic black powder pressure profiles.

[TXGunNut]

Well, I'm going with 19.5 AA5744 but I ran out of time (and boolits) and it's time to go hunting. I think the IMR4198 load I liked is a little warm because I'm getting a little leading. Not enough to be an issue for a hunting rifle but it's a symptom I'll need to research a bit. Still had a bit of vertical stringing today but some of that was due to tricky lighting conditions. My 1892 was my backup gun, could very well be my primary gun.

[Frank V]

TXGunNut, I really like H4198 in the .45-70 it gives 1400fps with a 405gr bullet & very small (single digit) extrem spreads. It's fun to shoot too.

[Rufus Krile]

Your 19.5gr looks light to me but if it is working... I can't argue with that. That's less than AA's suggested starting loads for the Trapdoor in any of the bullet wt ranges. Ever use any Trail Boss? I love the stuff for plinking loads on up to about 1150fps with the 405gr bullets. Burns clean and muzzle blast is surprisingly low. It'll push a 350gr NOE up to 1300fps out of the '85's 30" bbl and recoil is almost nonexistent.

[TXGunNut]

Sorry about the confusion, Rufus. I'll be hunting with an 1894 in 38-55 and/or an 1892 in 38WCF this weekend. 45-70 Guide Gun backup gun will likely stay home for the first time in awhile. Going to be wet in S TX this weekend and backup gun will be my all-weather Ruger 77 Hawkeye in 35 Whelen.
I was toying with taking a Uberti/Cimmaron 1873 in 45 Colt (stoked with BP loads, no less!) for a handgun instead of my old standby RBH but I think considering the weather I'll be packing my Ruger SR1911 Commander clone for close encounters as well as social equipment to and from. 1892 is too nice a gun for hunting in the rain so it looks like the 1894 is primary. Just finished loading some hunting rounds for the 1894 before supper, I'll fire a fouling shot into a tree stump out back to season the bore.
Yep, getting excited!

[Ural Driver]

I've hunted with a Winchester 1895 in 30-40 Krag since I was a kid. This particular one was built in 1897......I think it meets the age requirements for this thread.

[TCLouis]

Well the trusty 1886 (circa 1897) checked out again with nothing to change. It may go, but new weather forecast is not good for the trusty oldster to be out and about.

If I take it, it will be one of 4 to go afield this weekend, 3 cast and one vintage milsurp with coated in case I hunt one stand that offers NO close shots.

[fingers284]

an update to my post # 87 & 94

Well I didn't get to use either my early 94 in 38-55 or my 89 Marlin in 38 wcf. but I did get to use an 1886 in 45-90. it just happened to be handiest when a big mature dry doe showed up in the back yard a few days ago so we went with that. The ammo was a 400 gr commercial hard cast, wax lubed at around 1500 fps. The shot was only about 90 yrds and was a "slam dunk" with holes in both sides of the rib cage, didn't touch a shoulder, meat damage was less than a couple pounds.


Except for a couple 5 lb roasts and a couple pack of steaks I "jerked " the whole deer...damn is that good stuff!!!

[TXGunNut]

Got into camp Friday after the others had headed for the stands so I grabbed the 38-55 and a few rounds and went for a little walk. Spotted a nice big-bodied buck several hundred yards from camp. Stalked to within 50 yds and then :roll: realized I'd neglected to bring my binoculars. I was unable to tell if he was a trophy, potential trophy or a cull in the overcast light so I watched him go. I still-hunted back towards camp and watched a doe cross the road, then walk along the road away from me. I moved a little closer and soon a young buck came running along with his nose a few inches off the ground, hot on that doe's trail. He missed where she'd turned and he had to double back to resume his pursuit. I love watching deer during the rut. I was wearing my travelling clothes (no camo or blind) and was able the observe three deer inside of 50 yds and they never knew I was there. The old 94 with a 26" octagonal barrel balanced well in my hand and was a joy to carry.
Saturday started out dry, was watching three senderos from a blind and often had activity in all three! I wasn't able to pick out a lone doe, all either had a fawn nearby or was in a group with one or more fawns. Saw three nice bucks but none appeared to be cull bucks so I just sat back and enjoyed the show for a few hours until it was almost time to head in for breakfast. I was outside the stand when a buck entered the sendero about 50 yards away so I slipped back into the stand for a better look. I saw a mature but smallish spike and made a management decision with my 112 year old Winchester and a 380681 boolit.
The youngster at my shoulder is my cousin's son, he and his dad spent the morning pig-hunting. Little guy is going to be a hunter!

182100

[skeettx]

FANTASTIC
Thank you for sharing
Mike

[smokeywolf]

Very nice! I'm green with envy. Love to see meat harvested by an old Winchester. OH, and an old Texan.:mrgreen:

[rking22]

Nicely done! Great to see the kids involved and learning about nature.

[Frank V]

TXGunNut, great hunt. I love it when I'm able to let a deer walk because I really didn't want to take him.

[TXGunNut]

TXGunNut, great hunt. I love it when I'm able to let a deer walk because I really didn't want to take him.

Thanks, on this lease management decisions like mine have resulted in a very nice group of deer with at least a few very nice trophy bucks each season. I'm a little optimistic with most young bucks and will let them walk but I'll almost always take a spike when I see one if I need meat for the freezer. Freezer will be full when I process this guy, my season was over in a hurry!

[35 shooter]

Congrats on a good hunt and good outcome with your old rifle.
Must have benn a good feeling.

[Treetop]

I always enjoy your South Texas hunting stories, TxGunNut! Treetop

[Frank V]

Thanks, on this lease management decisions like mine have resulted in a very nice group of deer with at least a few very nice trophy bucks each season. I'm a little optimistic with most young bucks and will let them walk but I'll almost always take a spike when I see one if I need meat for the freezer. Freezer will be full when I process this guy, my season was over in a hurry!

I'm ont a biologist, but have read that a genetically sound deer on good feed should be at least a forked horn the first year & spikes are generally poorer genetically. That they cull them on game farms should say something.

[TXGunNut]

I'm ont a biologist, but have read that a genetically sound deer on good feed should be at least a forked horn the first year & spikes are generally poorer genetically. That they cull them on game farms should say something.

Many managers believe "once a spike, always a spike". I killed a very similar spike last year. A good first year deer on this lease is generally a six-point.

[Frank V]

Many managers believe "once a spike, always a spike". I killed a very similar spike last year. A good first year deer on this lease is generally a six-point.

I have heard that too & I kind of believe it. If I had a ranch I'd cull spikes & I really think it'd improve the deer herd.

[TXGunNut]

I've hunted this lease for several years and have seen proof that culling inferior bucks improves the quality of the trophy animals taken. At this time they also need to kill more does to get the ratio back in balance but it probably won't happen this weekend. The rut is in it's peak now and all the hunters there this weekend are looking for a trophy. Most of them would rather not kill does and generally won't kill a management buck until later in the season if at all...but that's OK with me. I'm happy to do that for them! My cousin and his son are very proud of their "management" bucks, both are at the taxidermist now.

[Frank V]

You know outside the nice rack a doe usually tastes better than a buck anyway.
Probabaly way more so than a nice big old buck with his neck swollen to twice it's normal size.[smilie=1:
I know I have no qualms shooting a nice cow Elk if I get called for a depredation hunt.

[TXGunNut]

My brother shot a nice heavy 10 point buck this evening, very nice. He said it dropped in it's tracks using my (J-word) load. I'm very happy for him, I had a nice tenderloin from the little buck I shot after putting over 30 pounds of tender young venison in the freezer. I think we're both very happy.
Two management bucks were taken this morning, one an older buck and a young buck with narrow antlers.
I agree, does and young bucks eat better than trophy bucks. Not real big on taxidermy bills either. ;-)

[Frank V]

TXGunNut, That's great.
I got a small forked Horn Mule deer this year.
Didn't use a cast bullet, nor a old Winchester lever action, but it was a lever action. I used a Marlin 95 .45-70, that kind of qualifies?
Good shooting.

[TXGunNut]

Frank, I know it's hard to jump off the CB cliff but it's been very rewarding to me. We hunt in two very different environments but it can be done where you hunt. It may take a different load development regimen, hunting strategy or just some old-fashioned stalking. It amazes me that so many CB enthusiasts won't hunt with CB's. I've only been hunting with CB's for 3-4 years but for the last few years every critter that I've put in my freezer was put there with a cast boolit.
No it's not easy. Many folks here cast a better boolit than I do. OTOH my CB's put meat in my freezer every year. I'm still trying to get the hang of this but my loads are slowly getting better, someday my shooting skills will catch up with my loads and equipment.
One thing I've learned; these old rifles have been there, done that. Quite likely some were with CB's. All we have to do is figure out how they did it.
BTW, as you may know my first CB kill was with a Marlin GG in 45-70.

[Frank V]

Frank, I know it's hard to jump off the CB cliff but it's been very rewarding to me. We hunt in two very different environments but it can be done where you hunt. It may take a different load development regimen, hunting strategy or just some old-fashioned stalking. It amazes me that so many CB enthusiasts won't hunt with CB's. I've only been hunting with CB's for 3-4 years but for the last few years every critter that I've put in my freezer was put there with a cast boolit.
No it's not easy. Many folks here cast a better boolit than I do. OTOH my CB's put meat in my freezer every year. I'm still trying to get the hang of this but my loads are slowly getting better, someday my shooting skills will catch up with my loads and equipment.
One thing I've learned; these old rifles have been there, done that. Quite likely some were with CB's. All we have to do is figure out how they did it.
BTW, as you may know my first CB kill was with a Marlin GG in 45-70.

I've been shooting cast bullets in handguns for about 50 years. I have takes several deer & a black bear with lead bullet loads in handguns. I can't count the number of small game & varmints I've taken with CBs in handguns. I've shot some in the .45-70. About 20 years ago a friend & I split a order for 1000 Remington .458 405gr JSP bullets. For a number of years I used them for practice with the .458 Win mag. Later I started shooting the .45-70 more & they worked well for me in the .45-70. In the meantime I bought all the Rem 405gr JSPs that were available & I could afford. I've probably got an almost lifetime supply so I haven't really needed to go to cast bullets in the .45-70. One day I likely will I know they work well from use in handguns & from what I've read from reputable people, that and the history of the early BP ctg. rifles.
I know CBs will work where I'm at & I really enjoy carrying the good old Marlin in the dark timber where we do have Grizzlys as well as the Elk I chase. One day I'll venture back into CBs for the .45-70 but in the meantime I'm happy with the old Rem. 405gr JSP.
Thanks, good shooting.

[Squeeze]

I have an original 1886 in 45/70 that I use hunting...about once a decade.

[Frank V]

Wow Squeeze that's great I kind of like the original '86s. Heck I'd use it more often they are just plain classy.

[TXGunNut]

Just between us, Frank, that Remington 405 is one excellent bullet. Their 350 gr offering is pretty awesome for Texas critters. I don't hunt the dark timber but I've been close enough to grizzly and moose to smell them and I'll respect your choice of projectiles for close encounters. Those are some BIG critters. No experience with elk, either. Unless the ones in Estes Park, CO count. I may or may not have had ammo loaded with cast boolits with me at the time. It's possible I didn't have a gun at all. ;-)

[smokeywolf]

Anyone here harvested a deer with a model 71 Winchester? If so, jacketed or boolit, and which mould?

[Frank V]

Anyone here harvested a deer with a model 71 Winchester? If so, jacketed or boolit, and which mould?

No but I had one for several years in my younger days. I foolishly traded it for I don't remember what. I did hunt Elk with it, but never got near one.

[Eddie Southgate]

Well not entirely. You can make wads out of fibre and card, but you can't make silkworm gut out of anything but silkworms.

For those interested in putting the Browning lever Winchesters to work, I can recommend "The Winchester Lever Legacy" by Clyde Williamson. It is a massive great doorstep of a book, out of print and quite expensive on www.bookfinder.com (http://www.bookfinder.com), but behind its folksy façade it hides about as exhaustive a reloading and testing program as you will find in any gun book.

I still use silk fly lines and natural gut leaders as well.

Eddie

[BrentD]

Okay, call me a sucker, but where do you find silk flylines and natural gut leaders in the 1st century?

[Eddie Southgate]

Okay, call me a sucker, but where do you find silk flylines and natural gut leaders in the 1st century?


I'm old and have been buying them up for years. You see them on ebay pretty regular . Some will be good and soften when you wet them and some have gone bad and do not soften . I have close to 100 that are good and probably that many that are not. That is the leaders. The lines are still made and can be bought new . I have 15 new lines and somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 vintage lines . Some of the vintage lines are still in good usable condition when I get them and some I have to strip of the old oil/varnish finish and reapply a new finish to be able to use them . I collect and fish vintage Fly fishing gear of all types . I ain't just a pretty face you know !

Eddie


P.S. I hunt with a 1913 16ga Mod 1912 , 1940's vintage Mod 63 and a Mod 24 12ga 26" mod/Imp . Also hunt Burglars with a 1917 12ga Mod 1912 . I used to hunt squirrel with Winchester 1903 .22auto serial #2500 but sold it when I ran out of the last ammo I was able to buy (Vintage Remington ). I found 100 boxes and negotiated from $10.00 each to $6.00 each buying the whole 100. When they were gone I sold it to a guy who collected and did not have one without a safety . I also sold him one made in 1920 that was threaded for a can and had a screw on sleeve to hide the threads .

[35 Whelen]

I'm way late to this party, but what the hell....

I love the old Winchesters and have two; one made in 1886 and another in '88, both in 38-40. I chose the elder of the two for hunting.

Last season back behind the house this feller sauntered out at dusk and I whacked him with a bullet cast from an RCBS 40-180 mould. The bullet actually weighs a little over 190 grs. Seated over as much Swiss 3f as I can fit in the case, velocity is a peppy 1425 fps and accuracy is easily MOD (minute of deer) out to 200 yds.

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h6/308Scout/3%20point_zps9n2ntijz.jpg (http://s60.photobucket.com/user/308Scout/media/3%20point_zps9n2ntijz.jpg.html)

Fast forward to April of this year when I called up this ol' Tom north of the house. Same rifle, same load, same results.

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h6/308Scout/Hunting/Gobbler_zpschqunhns.jpg (http://s60.photobucket.com/user/308Scout/media/Hunting/Gobbler_zpschqunhns.jpg.html)

35W

[BHill]

That is some really nice iron you are using there. Color me jealous. Good shooting as well.

[Kestrel4k]

Beautiful rifle & game 35W; thx for bumping the thread & pics. :-)

[Texas by God]

I have hunted quail and would defend myself with my twice shortened 1909 1897 Winchester. And I'm working on a bubba'd 1916 BSA SMLE to line it out for hunting. Oldies but goodies.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

[TCLouis]

1886 in 38-40.
Now that is a gun is way over built for the cartridge.

[9.3X62AL]

The rifle shown is a Model 1873 Winchester.......perhaps it was MADE in 1886.

[sharps4590]

Well done Whelen!!!

Louis, that's an 1873, not an 1886. Whelen's oldest '73 was made in 1886.

First wild boar I took was with an 1886 Winchester made in 1895 and chambered in 40-82. I had a cobbled together '86 in 45-70 I took a couple deer with. That rifle was a mish-mash of parts with a Hugel barrel.

If Eddie is still around, I too fish with only bamboo rods and silk line. I have some gut leaders but they are quite heavy for my fishing so I'm stuck with nylon. I haven't found a vintage silk line to restore but there is still 3 makers of good silk lines I'm aware of and a 4th coming on. Phoenix, Thebault and Terenzio are probably the 3 best. I understand the Chinese Zhu lines have gotten a lot better but I've not tried one. I do have a Thebault and a couple Terenzio lines. Nothing sings or lasts like silk and no rod protects your tippet like bamboo!!!

[slam45]

I'll use my flat side M1895 in 30/40 with 215g rnfp cast which crono 1925 out of a 24" barrel... the rifle was a wall hanger that i dragged around for close to twenty years after it was given to me by an old Oregon gold prospector... it went through a flood was rusty and not functioning... my friend Ken Brooks of PISCO, a master gunsmith and all round good guy fixed it, we put new wood on , a climbing Lyman rear peep sight with a Skinner post front... shoots good though the barrel is rough, great woods walking rifle... i shoot cast loads in several rough bores with good results, so at this point while a perfect bore is wonderful, a rough one will shoot if you find what it likes...

[missionary5155]

Good morning
How did I miss this fine thread ????
Down here our 1892 44 WCF goes out on regular "desert walks". This one was made in 1907. Oldest 1892 44WCF we used down here is a 1893 vintage. Both get the job done just like the 44 always has. We use a Saeco 443 (220fn) that makes a big difference popping through cactus to eliminate wild dogs. That is the biggest critter available down here.
Up in ILLinois have used all sorts of single shots (Marlin Ballard 38-50), lever rifles (1876 45-60, Spencer, 1881 Marlin 45-70, 1873 32-20) popping or missing yotes, ground hogs and raccoons. Then there is a pile of BP muzzle loaders the oldest that has gone hunting is a 1819 Hall caliber .54 made in 1826. 55 grains of 3F with a .54 RB makes OL' Vesuvias bark as it should. Numerous old military muskets (flint and cap) been used for deer and popping called crows.
Except for the occasional long yote shot these old rifles could have easily taken care of all my hunting needs for the last 60 years I have been out and about searching for meat.
Mike in Peru