Winchester 1895 Rifles in 30-06 - What should I know?

Rockrivr1

Rockrivr1

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Seriously looking at a Winchester 1895 Lever Action rifle in 30-06. I've seen these around for a long time but for some reason they have grown on me and seriously thinking about buying one. Before I do is there anything I should be aware of or be concerned about when looking it over?

Thanks
 
They're fantastic rifles. I have one of the early .405's that started life as a .270. They didn't sell well and a bunch of them got shipped back to Japan and refitted as .405's. Mine is serial number 12. It's one of the most accurate rifles I own. Were it me, I'd get a later one drilled and tapped for an 1886 pattern receiver sight. I still need to have my .405 done. Other than that, shoot it.
 
I think they’re the absolute coolest rifle ever made. But I don’t have one yet. I’d look for a Browning or newer issue Winchester also. FYI you can’t use stripper clips, like you can on the Russian infantry version that takes 54R. And you have to load it by starting the case into the magazine vertically, then sliding it back and lowering the nose. Pretty weird and certainly not fast. But the looks, the history, and the amazing JMB mechanical puzzle are all intensely satisfying to me.
 
1KPerDay said:
FYI you can’t use stripper clips, like you can on the Russian infantry version that takes 54R. And you have to load it by starting the case into the magazine vertically, then sliding it back and lowering the nose.
Click to expand...
I do not understand why that is the case. The Krag magazine lips were too stiff, so the rim goes into a cutout, and then slides under. That's understandable. But why 30-06 too? It does not even have a rim to begin with! So if you can put it into the cutout for the case head, and then jam it to the rear between the lips, then you can push it down too.
 
zaitcev said:
I do not understand why that is the case. The Krag magazine lips were too stiff, so the rim goes into a cutout, and then slides under. That's understandable. But why 30-06 too? It does not even have a rim to begin with! So if you can put it into the cutout for the case head, and then jam it to the rear between the lips, then you can push it down too.
Click to expand...
No idea. I’ve never tried in person. Perhaps has something to do with the magazine design.
 
If it's used ... Check the Headspace .
If the headspace passes ... check feeding and ejection !
Then check the rifled barrel ... clean , shiney and sharp lands ... Good !
Thats my short list of "checks" !
Gary
 
Is it an original or mikuru?
If it's an original be gentle, they're strong but won't take to hotrodding.
The Browning Mikurus are fantastic guns and work like original, the newer Winchester Mikurus are well made but have a tang safety and rebounding hammer that's not original.
As an aside Buffalo Arms has a reproduction of the Lyman #21 (climbing Lyman) rear sight.
 
The shape of the straight-grip Winchester lever gun buttstocks give me an increase in felt recoil over bolt designs. It's not awful, but I think it is a tad sharper.
Love the 1895 looks, they are really nifty rifles when you get to hold and shoot them in person. :thumbup:

Stay safe.
 
Riomouse911 said:
The shape of the straight-grip Winchester lever gun buttstocks give me an increase in felt recoil over bolt designs. It's not awful, but I think it is a tad sharper.
Love the 1895 looks, they are really nifty rifles when you get to hold and shoot them in person. :thumbup:

Stay safe.
Click to expand...
My Browning 1895 also has a pretty narrow smallish butt plate, it's only a 30/40 but has a little more "felt" recoil
 
This is a current production 95 in .30-06. It is very accurate, even with just the peep sight, which is aftermarket. If you are looking at an original production .30-06, check headspace first. I owned an original .30-06 SRC that had very generous headspace, to the point that the primers were backing out of the fired cases. I got it when I lived out west, and apparently a cowboy or ranch hand owned it because the whole carbine was covered in shellac to waterproof it. Loved the look of it bur someone offered me an indecent amount of money for it so I let it go. Winchester made a current version of the SRC in .30-06, long out of production now but they show up on Gunbroker now and again.

Best of luck!


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1KPerDay said:
I think they’re the absolute coolest rifle ever made. But I don’t have one yet. I’d look for a Browning or newer issue Winchester also. FYI you can’t use stripper clips, like you can on the Russian infantry version that takes 54R. And you have to load it by starting the case into the magazine vertically, then sliding it back and lowering the nose. Pretty weird and certainly not fast. But the looks, the history, and the amazing JMB mechanical puzzle are all intensely satisfying to me.
Click to expand...
I had the Browning version in .30-40 and didn't know about starting the cartridge base first into the magazine. I just pushed them in like any other magazine and they went in and fed fine. What the long term effect of this loading method would have had, I can't say but for the 5 years I owned it, there was no problem.

What I'd like to know is why the Japanese production guns only hold 4 rounds in the magazine when the original Winchester guns hold five.
 
Here's mine. It's a Miroku takedown model with a color case hardened receiver in 30-06 made in the late 2000's I think.
I put together a little imaginary Teddy Roosevelt safari theme when I took the picture
W3v6yxd.jpg


Here it is in a nice fitted case for take-down models from "Jeff's Outfitters" (now out of business)
Wnd5V8E.jpg


It originally had one of those glossy urethane finishes on the stock but I removed that and went with a satin finish. After the first trip to the range,
I got a cheap slip-on butt pad for it since that narrow iron shotgun-style buttplate was unfriendly shooting from a bench. I bought it to hunt with but I quit hunting a few years ago and at my age (80 by year end) I've decided to dispose of all my collection but two of three for home or personal defense at auction before the year ends.

Cheers
 
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