Winchester 1895 TD, 303 Brit, Lyman 21, blade/post front, shooting factory Winchester 180 gr Power Points
Winchester 55 TD, 30 wcf, Lyman 21, modified Sheard front, shooting factory Winchester 150 gr Power Points
The 1895 will consistently shoot 1-3/4" four-shot groups, and the best group ever was a four shot group at 1.2". This is the first time I have saved and photographed the targets, and these groups are a little larger than normal, but you can still see the potential of the rifle. It is quite acceptable for deer out to 200 yds. I get about 6-inch 200 yd groups, with my best being 4-1/2". I've always used the same Winchester factory 180s.
I had always thought the '95 was my most accurate levergun until this range session, when I finally got serious about the 55 I've owned for several years. I've doddled and plinked with it quite a bit but never gave it much time at the bench. It is a very sweet little rifle - light and perfectly balanced. Last spring I modified the Sheard bead sight that came on it by filing it square on the sides and top, and now it is a post. The 1895 and 55 have nearly identical sighting setups now.
Anyway, I tried some Leverevolution out of the 55 and got about a 4-inch gourp at 100 yds - no good. I then switched to the Walmart cheapo Winny 150 gr Power Points ($12 / box) and produced the two groups below. WOW! I am impressed with this rifle now.
These two takedowns outshoot all of my solid frame leverguns, of which I have 10. So whoever thinks takedowns can't be as accurate as solid frame rifles, think again!!
All groups were 4 shots fired from a bench over sandbags, at 100 yds.
55 - The group on the right is 1-1/4". The one on the left is 2 inches, but without the flyer the remaining three shots measure 3/8"!
1895 - the group on the right is a hair over 2 inches. The one on the left is 2-7/8", with three shots in 1-3/8"
Here are full pics of each of these darlings....
