Winchester M92 44-40 Bore Diameters

[Maj Dad]

I have a little Winnie M92 Half Magazine carbine that I am about to dig out of the safe see if it still works (haven't shot it in over 10 years). I also have some lead bullets (42798 Lyman) and some jacketed 427s, all 200 gr, but I am wondering what the standard/usual bore diameters were on the 92s. Please don't suggest I go slug the bore - that won't answer my question - as I have been shooting it for 30 years with bullets from 427 to 430, all with excellent results. I know the conundrum surrounding the Colts & others, what with cylinders, forcing cones, bore and groove diameters (subject of threads reaching back to the forum singularity ) and wondered if Winchester was more consistent over the years. Mine was made in 1906; picked it up from a warrant officer I worked with on the 18th Abn Corps pistol team for $150. It had been refinished, but nicely, has a Williams peep and it is extremely handy. If I remember which safe it's in & can get it out without major tipping of all the dominos and if anyone's interested, I'll post some pics.

 

[eastbank]

i own and shoot 5 rifles in 44-40 and one is a winchester model 53, it has a ex bore, the bullets you have listed all shoot well in my 53 and i think the winchesters have a large thorth in the chamber with a 426-428 bore dia. meaning the loaded rounds will chamber and fire with the bullet funneled down the barrel. i have a little sharps in 44-40 made in italy with a very tight thorth and with any bullets over 427 i can,t chamber it, to use these bullets i take the decapping rod out of the size decapping die and size the loaded round just enough to chamber, a PITA, but it works. eastbank.

 

[eastbank]

here are pic,s of my winchester 53 in 44-40. eastbank.

 

[Jim Watson]

Well, mine has a .428" g.d. but that is in a Redman liner. Can't help with the original.

 

[Red Cent]

OK. What is a thorth?

 

[Gordon]

Old Winnie 44-40s seem to do best with .429 bullets IMH experience with cast bullets in them for 40 years or so. A worn out one will usually tumble without .431-.433 OS bullets.

 

[Maj Dad]

OK. What is a thorth?

Been pondering that one myself. Thoth was with Egyptian god with the head of an Ibis and/or some other animals, but thorth? Beats me... How about it eastbank?

Gordon, I have always used bullets sized .429 (my bullets cast out of ww's in days gone by) with superb results. I tried them thinking I would need to get a .428 sizer die, but they work fine. The bore in this one is pristine; the whole gun is as slick as... well, as a M92

 

[eastbank]

sorry about my spelling-throat. end of the chamber before where the rifleing starts, my winchester has a large throat that will allow 430 dia bullet to be chambered with no problem. even tho the cases are bulged out because of the lardger bullet dia(430 verse 427). my little sharps 44-40 will not chamber the cases loaded with 430 dia bullets,untill i size the rounds with the bullets already seated, to do this i take the decapping rod out of the sizeing die and size the round with the bullet in untill it fits the chamber. here is a picture of the little sharps. eastbank.

 

[Maj Dad]

Understood - myself, I Frequently-Fat-Finger, too. That's a nice looking little rifle - where'd you get it? I have a little Remington #4 Takedown 22 that I really enjoy, and an old Stevens Favorite 22 that belonged to my uncle who was killed in Jan 45 in France. I like the older guns, and older styles like your rifle - may have something to do with being an old(er) style myself...

Cheers to all!

 

[eastbank]

when kbi in harrisburg pa. went under last year the charels dayle name went south. they were offered about 400.00 off retail and i got the 44-40,they had .22,.22mag,218-B and two 44-40,s . i have since put a malcom 3x scope on it and it works but to make adjustments its a PITA. i think taylors is importing the little sharps now,they were made inchiappa firearms in italy. here are pictures with the scope on it. eastbank.