Winchester 1895 Followed Me Home Today

[Bruce]

After a short ride in the woods this morning, I determined that the deer had moved most of the night due to the full moon. So, what else was there to do but go to a gun show a short ride away.

At first I was very surprised at some of the prices I was seeing. Regular Winchester 1890's and 1906's priced in the mid two thousand range. EBR's and such starting at two thousand plus. Revolvers seemed to be priced about right but semi auto pistols were about double the normal price. Replica rifles were about three to four times what we can buy them from our normal sources. As an example a Spencer replica was priced $4,999. The only things priced in the normal range (for the most part) were the normal type shotguns and new/used lever rifles. There was almost no ammunition except for a few old boxes.

I did manage to find and trade for an almost new Winchester 1895 in .270 Win caliber. I don't think it has been fired since leaving the factory, but it does (did) have some rusting and light pitting on the outside forward portion of the barrel. I think it was caused by poor storage. I have never had a Winchester 1895 or a rifle in 270, so I am on a new new path of adventure.

Here she is:





Now, can someone point me in the right direction for complete disassembly instructions? Any ideas on how to date the newer 1895's?

I do like the way it points and carries naturally. I guess I had never paid any attention to those I have picked up before. I also really like the sight combination. That little bead sets just right in the rear buckhorn. The pattern in the buckhorn is just right for me. My only concern is the metal buttplate, but we will see how that works out.

[Hobie]

COMPLETE disassembly?

I like my Browning 1895. Courtesy of Steve Ricciardelli here is a manual for the new Winchester 1895.

The .270s were such poor sellers (they aren't traditional, a .270 levergun and difficult to scope) that most apparently were returned to Japan to be made into .405 Winchesters... Did you get the box?

[Bruce]

Hobie,

No box came with it and that almost caused the deal to fall through. Thanks for the link to the manual. Yep, 270 happens to be the only one I have run into in person, so that is what I had the chance for. Not many of these rifles show up around here. I sure do wish it had been a 405 or 30-40 or even a 30-06, but I will make do. I see that a lot of people have experimented with new chamberings with the newer 1895's, so if I don't like this one it may become a candidate for a new barrel or a new chambering. I have already began thinking about what I could do that would work with the existing internals and bolt.

Yea, I like to take the new ones all the way apart. Actually, I like to take the old ones apart also. I have this thing about clean firearms. I have already taken the stock set off and was completely suprised that for the first time in along time, this stock set was entirely sealed and finished. Most newer gun stocks have no finish on the inside.

I hope to get some ammo and shoot it tomorrow.

[Pathfinder09]

I think you will love it, I love mine.. I was out with mine today.

[Pete44ru]

A quick trip over to Jes Ocumpaugh's reboring shop could make thet puppy inta a .35 Whelan right quick !

.

[Ysabel Kid]

Congratulations!

[crs]

Congrats on buying a fine rifle that you will quickly learn to shoot instinctively.
Also thanks for the pics.

[Blaine]

Mine is in 405 and the metal buttplate wasn't too bad recoil-wise, but it was slippery as he!! on the shoulder......I'm going to have a pad cut to fit the buttplate and then put it on.

[Jaguarundi]

Congrats !My 1895 SRC 1906-2006 Special Edition 100th Anniversary of the .30-06 is the last rifle that will leave my hands!I hope you have many years of enjoyment.

[Duff L Bagg]

Bruce congrats on your new 95, I picked one up in 405 win and sent the stock to Dave Kerr in Winter Haven to have the stock cut and a recoil pad fitted to it. When I get home I will post pictures of the rifle, the new recoil pad and the elephant leather sling.

I found a guy at the, October, gun show in Orlando that had exotic leather goods for sale. He even had a rifle case made from an elephants trunk, that was really nice and priced accordingly.

[Bruce]

Thanks guys. I don't know about the 35, but now a 375 or 38-55 that could shoot pointed bullets might be a thought.

Duff,

If that 405 gets lonely while you are on the road, just send it up here and I will comfort it. That caliber ought to be just right for these north Florida deer.

After a little hunting this morning I will go by the gun shop and try to get some ammo to check it out. I got to thinking last night that the shop had sold out of 270 last week, so I hope he got some in.

I forgot to mention one thing about the gun show (Lake City). There was a new guy there that had two racks full of original 1873's, 1876's and 1886's. I talked with him but did not even pick one up or ask for prices. Apparently this show is now allowing firearms to be displayed for sale w/o price stickers attached as I saw quite a few like that.

[BenT]

Go to http://www.z-hat.com/ . Look around the site, they do a lot of 1895 rebarreling .

[Borregos]

OOOOOOOOO, that's nice

[RIHMFIRE]

Good score...
nice look'n shooter

[Bruce]

I got to shoot the rifle this morning and I am impressed. The distance was only about 75 yards and after making the proper adjustments, I could keep a three shoot group almost touching. This was off of a bench with Federal 130 Gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips. At nearly two dollars apiece, I will seriously have to reload if I want to shoot this one very much.

I may consider a rebarrel in the future, but right now I am going to go to a range with 100, 150 and 200 yard targets and get the sights finalized and hunt with this one a little.

[Nath]

Please don't be thinking of changing that barrel just yet. 270 is a dandy.
You can load to 150grain just like the 30 06.
It's as flat as a pancake too. Shoot varmints and game without changing a thing, I think it's a first class round so enjoy

Nath.

Oh and well found

[Bruce]

Nath,

I am going to give it a chance. The idea of reboring or a new barrel is just a side thought if I don't like it. I have shot a lot of deer with a 30-06 and if the 270 performs anywhere like it, there will be no change. I suspect it will. The accuracy is there for sure.

[Blaine]

Handload Nosler Partitions, 140 or 150, and you won't notice any differenct between those and a '06 with the same bullets.

[Pathfinder09]

Two thoughts come to mind.

1) If'n it ain't broke don't fix it!

2) Some things are perfect just the way they are.

Just my $.02.

[Rimfire McNutjob]

Winchester 1895 Followed Me Home Today

Count yourself lucky ... could have been a cat that followed you home today. I'd say you're way ahead of the game with this one.

[Don McDowell]

Mine is in 405 and the metal buttplate wasn't too bad recoil-wise, but it was slippery as he!! on the shoulder......I'm going to have a pad cut to fit the buttplate and then put it on.

A limbsaver 10112 pad is a very close fit on the 95's, just needs a bit of sanding on the top on one side of the heel, and on the opposite side on the comb.
The extra length of pull came in handy for keeping my fingernails out of my lip when the gun goes off also

[redbaron]

I purchased one of the 1895's (270 cal.) in 2000. It has been the most accurate, with iron sights, rifle I have owned. Even though some think the 270 caliber is not traditional, combining the Winchester 1895 with the 270 caliber, is the best of both worlds. Shoot and enjoy.

[salvo]

Congrats on the 1895!
I thought the .270 would be great in a 1895, flatter shooting works good with iron sights too, may not be traditional, but we are talking about reproduction 1895's, but then again .270 is my favorite bolt gun caliber.
When I saved enough to buy, no .270's to be found. I bought a Browning in 30-06 and am very happy with it.
I'll bet that some day those few .270's that made it will be worth a pretty penny.

[dbateman]

thats nice and in 270