Range Report, 106 year-old Winchester carbine 44-40 (photos)

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KirkD
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Range Report, 106 year-old Winchester carbine 44-40 (photos)

Post by KirkD »

A month or so ago I received in the mail an original Winchester Model 1892 Saddle Ring Carbine 44-40 from northern British Columbia. The photos showed a carbine that had been up the creek and over the river .... a lot. It was probably a trapper's rifle, judging from all the history silently spoken in its appearance. It was made in 1913. I figured the bore would look like a corroded sewer pipe, nevertheless I liked the look of the old 44-40; it had never been refinished or messed with. Imagine my shock when it arrived and I cleaned the bore only to discover that it had sharp rifling the entire length of the barrel, with only very slight pitting just forward of the chamber. To help out my 65 year-old eyes, I mounted an original Marbles tang peep sight. Today I finally got to try it out at 100 yards. Photos of my vintage carbine and target are below.

Load: 20 grains of 5744 under a 207 grain Accurate 431200B cast bullet sized to .429". Velocity is about 1,310 fps.

Results at 100 yards: Resting my carbine on my shooting bag, I got a 5-shot group at 100 yards of 2 & 3/8" with Winchester brass. I shot a total of 3 groups, two 5-shot groups and one 3-shot group. Measuring the 13 bullet holes on the paper backing, I got a 13-shot group at 100 yards of 2 & 5/8". For you fellows with modern scoped rifles, this is nothing special at all. But for a 106 year-old 44-40 carbine shooting soft cast bullets, this is outstanding!

The old saddle ring carbine is definitely a keeper. I love it's history and it's accuracy.
Carbine-44-40.jpg
Carbine-100-Target.jpg
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Kirk: An old geezer who loves the smell of freshly turned earth, old cedar rail fences, wood smoke, a crackling fireplace on a snowy evening, pristine wilderness lakes, the scent of
cedars and a magnificent Whitetail buck framed in the semi-buckhorn sights of a 120-year old Winchester.
Blog: https://www.kirkdurston.com/
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Re: Range Report, 106 year-old Winchester carbine 44-40 (photos)

Post by Pitchy »

Very cool pard and i see a familiar coyote hanging on the wall.
Merry Christmas to you and your old friend.
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Re: Range Report, 106 year-old Winchester carbine 44-40 (photos)

Post by Grizz »

You Sir are a sharp shooter, and have a keen eye for quality. That 44-40, loaded with heavy bullets, would make a really fine one gun battery....
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Re: Range Report, 106 year-old Winchester carbine 44-40 (photos)

Post by KirkD »

Pitchy wrote: Mon Dec 23, 2019 4:38 pm Very cool pard and i see a familiar coyote hanging on the wall.
Merry Christmas to you and your old friend.
Yep, I really enjoy that Coyote pelt hanging on my wall ... very grateful to have it! :wink: And a Merry Christmas to you, and to Grizz, and the rest of the fellows who might enjoy my range report.
Kirk: An old geezer who loves the smell of freshly turned earth, old cedar rail fences, wood smoke, a crackling fireplace on a snowy evening, pristine wilderness lakes, the scent of
cedars and a magnificent Whitetail buck framed in the semi-buckhorn sights of a 120-year old Winchester.
Blog: https://www.kirkdurston.com/
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Re: Range Report, 106 year-old Winchester carbine 44-40 (photos)

Post by Pitchy »

Makes me happy your enjoying it, that`s a fine rife and great shooting pard.
Wish you were here again we`d take one of the predator calls i made and go up to the mill and see what we could call in with our win`s. :)

Here ya go.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXc8grD ... e=youtu.be
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Re: Range Report, 106 year-old Winchester carbine 44-40 (photos)

Post by KirkD »

Pitchy wrote: Mon Dec 23, 2019 5:03 pm Makes me happy your enjoying it, that`s a fine rife and great shooting pard.
Wish you were here again we`d take one of the predator calls i made and go up to the mill and see what we could call in with our win`s. :)
That would be right up my alley!! That would be a great call for Coyotes, Wolves, Lynx, and Bobcats.
Kirk: An old geezer who loves the smell of freshly turned earth, old cedar rail fences, wood smoke, a crackling fireplace on a snowy evening, pristine wilderness lakes, the scent of
cedars and a magnificent Whitetail buck framed in the semi-buckhorn sights of a 120-year old Winchester.
Blog: https://www.kirkdurston.com/
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Re: Range Report, 106 year-old Winchester carbine 44-40 (photos)

Post by Pitchy »

Well hop on the transporter and beam on over.
The call is made from a bicycle handle bar flared out, hard wood with a tin reed. :)
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Re: Range Report, 106 year-old Winchester carbine 44-40 (photos)

Post by gamekeeper »

Great report Kirk 8) I bet that old Winchester is as eager to get out in the wild woods as you are..... :mrgreen:
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Re: Range Report, 106 year-old Winchester carbine 44-40 (photos)

Post by Nath »

What a gem Kirk 8)

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Re: Range Report, 106 year-old Winchester carbine 44-40 (photos)

Post by 2ndovc »

Really cool and love that 100 yd group!

I have my grandfather's '92 rifle in .44WCF, the outside looks great but there are some serious divots in the bore. With cast bullets though it still shoots pretty well, way better than one would expect.

Have fun!!

jb 8)
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Re: Range Report, 106 year-old Winchester carbine 44-40 (photos)

Post by 3leggedturtle »

Great looking 92, its got character and whats that saying, wish it could talk! Todd/3leg
30/30 Winchester: Not accurate enough fer varmints, barely adequate for small deer; BUT In a 10" to 14" barrelled pistol; is good for moose/elk to 200 yards; ground squirrels to 300 metres

250 Savage... its what the 223 wishes it could be...!
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Re: Range Report, 106 year-old Winchester carbine 44-40 (photos)

Post by Bill in Oregon »

I had missed this. Great scott, Kirk, that is some fine shooting at 100 yards. My 66-year-old eyes aren't as good as yours. Glad that 92 found a good home with a man who can really appreciate it. 8)
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Re: Range Report, 106 year-old Winchester carbine 44-40 (photos)

Post by M. M. Wright »

Great report Kirk. I no longer have my 92 in 44-40 but still have 4 73s. The Winchester SRC from 1885 is my favorite and it shoots decent groups. Good enough to kill a whitetail.
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Re: Range Report, 106 year-old Winchester carbine 44-40 (photos)

Post by piller »

3 inches or less at 100 yards with an old levergun. That is plenty good for deer. I would have to get a lot closer for squirrel. When do you plan on killing a deer with it?
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Re: Range Report, 106 year-old Winchester carbine 44-40 (photos)

Post by KirkD »

piller wrote: Sun Jan 12, 2020 1:21 am 3 inches or less at 100 yards with an old levergun. That is plenty good for deer. I would have to get a lot closer for squirrel. When do you plan on killing a deer with it?
That's hard to answer ... I have too many old lever guns waiting for their chance to go hunting.
Kirk: An old geezer who loves the smell of freshly turned earth, old cedar rail fences, wood smoke, a crackling fireplace on a snowy evening, pristine wilderness lakes, the scent of
cedars and a magnificent Whitetail buck framed in the semi-buckhorn sights of a 120-year old Winchester.
Blog: https://www.kirkdurston.com/
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Re: Range Report, 106 year-old Winchester carbine 44-40 (photos)

Post by piller »

KirkD wrote: Sun Jan 12, 2020 8:38 am
piller wrote: Sun Jan 12, 2020 1:21 am 3 inches or less at 100 yards with an old levergun. That is plenty good for deer. I would have to get a lot closer for squirrel. When do you plan on killing a deer with it?
That's hard to answer ... I have too many old lever guns waiting for their chance to go hunting.
:lol: Send it to me and I will take it hog hunting. I just have to catch up with CRS and see when he wants to get a bunch together again for hog hunting. Better yet, why don't you come down here when we go and try things our way. We have a lot of fun.
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Re: Range Report, 106 year-old Winchester carbine 44-40 (photos)

Post by KirkD »

I would enjoy that. Maybe one of these days I can work it into my schedule.
Kirk: An old geezer who loves the smell of freshly turned earth, old cedar rail fences, wood smoke, a crackling fireplace on a snowy evening, pristine wilderness lakes, the scent of
cedars and a magnificent Whitetail buck framed in the semi-buckhorn sights of a 120-year old Winchester.
Blog: https://www.kirkdurston.com/
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Re: Range Report, 106 year-old Winchester carbine 44-40 (photos)

Post by Rube Burrows »

Great looking rifle. Good shooter too.
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Re: Range Report, 106 year-old Winchester carbine 44-40 (photos)

Post by Hombre »

Thanks for the report and the pictures. Very interesting as always.
The carbine look very good but I must also admit that the snow shoes.... Wow!! Want a pair... :D Well, I guess it will be hard to find these in Sweden so...

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Re: Range Report, 106 year-old Winchester carbine 44-40 (photos)

Post by daisygordoninc »

That 44-40 would bring a smile to any levergun enthusiast. You found a true prize.
I love that it shoots so accurately, I hope you get to shoot something with it.
There aren't a lot of those in that condition left.
Congratulations.
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Re: Range Report, 106 year-old Winchester carbine 44-40 (photos)

Post by Tycer »

Beautiful. Thanks again Kirk!
Happy New Year friend.
Kind regards,
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Re: Range Report, 106 year-old Winchester carbine 44-40 (photos)

Post by twobit »

KirkD wrote: Sun Jan 12, 2020 8:38 am
piller wrote: Sun Jan 12, 2020 1:21 am 3 inches or less at 100 yards with an old levergun. That is plenty good for deer. I would have to get a lot closer for squirrel. When do you plan on killing a deer with it?
That's hard to answer ... I have too many old lever guns waiting for their chance to go hunting.
Kirk,

You need to bring the rifle down here to Texas and use it on hogs. All year, any method, all you want. It's a great way to keep the dust from building up in the bores!!

Michael
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Re: Range Report, 106 year-old Winchester carbine 44-40 (photos)

Post by KirkD »

twobit wrote: Tue Jan 14, 2020 8:58 am Kirk,

You need to bring the rifle down here to Texas and use it on hogs. All year, any method, all you want. It's a great way to keep the dust from building up in the bores!!

Michael
Very tempting!
Kirk: An old geezer who loves the smell of freshly turned earth, old cedar rail fences, wood smoke, a crackling fireplace on a snowy evening, pristine wilderness lakes, the scent of
cedars and a magnificent Whitetail buck framed in the semi-buckhorn sights of a 120-year old Winchester.
Blog: https://www.kirkdurston.com/
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Re: Range Report, 106 year-old Winchester carbine 44-40 (photos)

Post by Ysabel Kid »

Wow, what a great find! Very happy that the bore turned out to be in such good shape! :D
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