New aquisitions ... Win 1895s in .401 Winchester

[pls1911]

I managed to get 3 1895 this past week, with 2 of them in .401.
I have ammo, molds dies and such, but would like to hear from anyone with .401 experience before I get started.
I cast and load lal kinds of calibers, but .401 is new to me and I thought perhaps I could glean some wisdom on this specific subject from others.

[cwtebay]

I am assuming that you have 2 - 1895 405 Winchesters? As the 401 Winchester Self Loading was only offered in the 1910 auto loader. I do load for both, however. The 401 WSL is fun to shoot, pretty boring to load for as the rifles I own and have owned are very picky - but across the board picky. I've been using the same load of 4227 in it for quite some time.
The 405 WCF is fun to load for, you can make it a plinker or absolutely punishing depending on loads used.

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[dverna]

Fine old rifles...but like cwtebay said, .405's. Big Medicine!

[missionary5155]

We also have a Winchester model 10 caliber .401. With 250 grainers it would be a dandy up close black bear rifle or any other critter under Griz status.
For Griz or other nasty big biting critter I would not hesitate to grab our caliber .405 model 1895 with a 300-345 grainer loaded and sort things out.

But as soon as I read the OP I also thought "when did Winchester make caliber .401 in the model 1895 ?"

[Cast_outlaw]

I found this add a while back I got an 1895 in 30-40 my great grandfather bought new in 1899 268021

[pls1911]

Good catch on my typo guys ... indeed .405 is correct. Sorry for the error. I’d be pleased to learn from your experiences.

[cwtebay]

The Hornady 300 grain spire points are basically made for miruko made 95's and perform very well on everything from deer to elk to black bear and moose in my family. The 41 caliber pistol bullets are a very fun thing to go out and have fun with. Woodlegh bullets perform amazing on heavier game like buffalo. Got talked into trying some solids made for the 400/450 NE for a buffalo - WOW difference in recoil - I still have a bunch of those left!!
I don't own a mould for it, but have used quite a few purchased from The Bull Shop with pleasing results.

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[Shawlerbrook]

An original Winchester 1895 is near the top of my want list.

[CRShelton]

As previously stated. the .405 WCF is very flexible big bore, shooting 210, 300, and 400 grain bullets quite well. The 400 grain Woodleigh Weldcore can be loaded to equal the performance of the 450/400 NE and therefore take all African big game. A .405 shooter of my acquaintance has loaded his 1895 .405 Woodleigh 400 grainers to 2157 fps and working up to 2200! Big Medicine!
https://www.jpgbox.com/jpg/51933_600x400.jpg (https://www.jpgbox.com/page/51933_600x400/)

I also shoot a Simson Suhl .405 WCF DR.

[If1Hitu]

Congratulations on the three rifles

[The_Eccentric]

We also have a Winchester model 10 caliber .401. With 250 grainers it would be a dandy up close black bear rifle or any other critter under Griz status.
For Griz or other nasty big biting critter I would not hesitate to grab our caliber .405 model 1895 with a 300-345 grainer loaded and sort things out.

But as soon as I read the OP I also thought "when did Winchester make caliber .401 in the model 1895 ?"

What velocity are you getting out of that 250gr .401SL load?

[cp1969]

Send an email to Starline and tell them to start making .405 Winchester brass.

[cwtebay]

And also 401 WSL brass!!!

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[W.R.Buchanan]

As previously stated. the .405 WCF is very flexible big bore, shooting 210, 300, and 400 grain bullets quite well. The 400 grain Woodleigh Weldcore can be loaded to equal the performance of the 450/400 NE and therefore take all African big game. A .405 shooter of my acquaintance has loaded his 1895 .405 Woodleigh 400 grainers to 2157 fps and working up to 2200! Big Medicine!
https://www.jpgbox.com/jpg/51933_600x400.jpg (https://www.jpgbox.com/page/51933_600x400/)

I also shoot a Simson Suhl .405 WCF DR.

Note: the rifle in the pic Does Not have a Crescent Butt Plate!

400 gr's at 2150 fps would be brutal! Reminds me of Brian Pearce's .45-70 loads for Buffalo.

Randy