Winchester Self Loading 1907

Status
Not open for further replies.
rbernie

rbernie

Contributing Member
Joined
Jan 21, 2004
Messages
24,661
Location
Norra Texas
I have absolutely no practical use for a Winchester 1907, and yet I find myself wanting to buy one for nostalgic and ‘cool factor’ purposes. I know very little about them, but it just seems like a really neat rifle - they shoulder and point really well for me. I have found a couple of sources for 351 Winchester ammo, and the cost isn’t -too- bad.

So what is the good and the bad of this carbine?
 
They are a neat little gun as a piece of history, but not very practical for anything. They are very heavy for what they are because of the counterweight under the forearm, and the cartridge is pretty anemic. There is currently new ammo available, but that isn't always the case . Small manufacturers make runs of it every few years. The action is hard on brass, and it can't easily be made from any other caliber. It also uses an odd size projectile, so reloading even is going to involve a lot more effort.
 
They are a fun gun. There is the Jamison ammunition that is available but if you plan to shoot it much it really is a hand loading proposition brass can be made from DW360 but some have had luck making it from 357 Maximum brass. At it's best it is a intermediate cartridge rifle round along the lines of a 35 Remiington. 180 grains at 1900 fps. I think of it as a 357 Maximum out of a rifle. Not sure I'll load it that hot. The Jamison spits it out around 1400 fps and was quite accurate in my dilapidated 1907. I like it. It could be used on deer much like a 357 lever gun.
 
I got one I picked up in a trade in the 70s. Funny I can’t remember ever even shooting it!:what:
They were used in the prison systems in the earlier days—- as well as the old 30-30 Win 94!!!
The M1 carbine later followed the look!
Tell me how it shoots when you get it!!!!!
 
I keep a .351 ex prison Carbine in good shape loaded with fresh ammo as a defense weapon in a certain man cave. These guns, as long as the magazine is good, are very, very reliable, They point extremely well and they hit hard close up. They are certainly unique and well made and thoroughly obsolete :)
 
I really want one, I’ve wanted one for years but first want a reliable source for brass. I don’t have a lathe so I can’t turn down 357 max brass. I have heard of people using formed .223 brass, but is spotty in reliability. Either your gun loves or hates it.
 
Properly maintained these guns are reliable to the hilt. If they jam its because the chamber needs a good cleaning or your ammo is suspect. There is a reason these guns were produced for 50 years. They were popular with leo's & bad guys as well because they worked! Very simple action. You will probably need to replace the recoil buffer which is something I am about to do with the aid of a good friend. The buffers are available from Gun Parts, West Hurley, NY. Factory ammo is loaded pretty darn hot as Winchester was competing with it's then rival, Remington who had their more powerful model 8 & 81. My friend, the brassfetcher did a youtube video with one of my .351's. It's still up & running & was the only video he set to music.
 
Funny , I found a 351 Win. Self loader cartridge while picking up my brass last year. Had to look it up and researched. Ever since, I keep an eye out for one.
 
Gordon said:
I keep a .351 ex prison Carbine in good shape loaded with fresh ammo as a defense weapon in a certain man cave. These guns, as long as the magazine is good, are very, very reliable, They point extremely well and they hit hard close up. They are certainly unique and well made and thoroughly obsolete :)
Click to expand...
If you ru
kcofohio said:
Funny , I found a 351 Win. Self loader cartridge while picking up my brass last year. Had to look it up and researched. Ever since, I keep an eye out for one.
Click to expand...
You can find them on Gunbroker. I would buy a later model with the heavier wood, steel butplate & hooked cocker/bolt locker.
kcofohio said:
Funny , I found a 351 Win. Self loader cartridge while picking up my brass last year. Had to look it up and researched. Ever since, I keep an eye out for one.
Click to expand...
Gordon said:
Ill take a picture of the .351 in the rack, with the Ammo and the extra 15 round mag, which I don't keep in it as 5 shots of 180 grain .351 at 1500 fps ought to get me to the newer stuff :) the 5 round factory mag is 100 % :)
Click to expand...
I would love to see you gun, especially that 15 round mag. I've heard about them, but never seen one, not even a picture of one. Is it marked anywhere?
 
That's a neat rifle.

Question about the ammo. When I looked up the .351 SL it's not a standard .35 caliber (.358 dia), it's .351. I assume that means you'd have to cast your on boolits if you were going to reload for it?
 
My research tells me that I would either have to cast my own, or swage .358 cast down to .352. I cannot find a production casting house that offers .352.
 
Johnm1 said:
They are a fun gun. There is the Jamison ammunition that is available but if you plan to shoot it much it really is a hand loading proposition brass can be made from DW360 but some have had luck making it from 357 Maximum brass. At it's best it is a intermediate cartridge rifle round along the lines of a 35 Remiington. 180 grains at 1900 fps. I think of it as a 357 Maximum out of a rifle. Not sure I'll load it that hot. The Jamison spits it out around 1400 fps and was quite accurate in my dilapidated 1907. I like it. It could be used on deer much like a 357 lever gun.
Click to expand...

35 Remington is a "real" rifle cartridge more along the lines of 30-30, and really a big step up from the 351 wsl or even the 401.
 
LoonWulf said:
I honestly want one too for some reason....course I want a Remington model 8 or 81 as well.

No use just neat.
Click to expand...

I have both an 8 and an 81, and the mechanical workings in them are just cool. One is in 30 remington....the other is in 300 savage.

When you shoot it you do know you shoot something the long recoil lets you know it does something, but I find the 30 remington much more sweet to shoot.

Back to the early winchester auto loading rifles, that are really just blow back, this is why the weight.....they are very interesting and also on my short list. Really I would say unless you just want to have it for its historical value, and not for a even every quarter range toy...then it is good. If you are wanting to hunt with it just know for deer it is really what I would say marginal for that sized critter, I know it can be done, but leaves little room for error, and with this boutique cartridges, I always wonder just how they are loaded.
 
rbernie said:
My research tells me that I would either have to cast my own, or swage .358 cast down to .352. I cannot find a production casting house that offers .352.
Click to expand...
I used to get bullets from Mr. Penney in Ca. He told us that he had more dies than lyman. He passed away about 10 years ago & I tried to track down his family to see if I could get some dies, but I had no luck.
 
fpgt72 said:
I have both an 8 and an 81, and the mechanical workings in them are just cool. One is in 30 remington....the other is in 300 savage.

When you shoot it you do know you shoot something the long recoil lets you know it does something, but I find the 30 remington much more sweet to shoot.

Back to the early winchester auto loading rifles, that are really just blow back, this is why the weight.....they are very interesting and also on my short list. Really I would say unless you just want to have it for its historical value, and not for a even every quarter range toy...then it is good. If you are wanting to hunt with it just know for deer it is really what I would say marginal for that sized critter, I know it can be done, but leaves little room for error, and with this boutique cartridges, I always wonder just how they are loaded.
Click to expand...
Don't underestimate the .351. It opens up quick, penetrates & destroys meat like you would not believe. On paper it seems anemic, but it is more than adequate in the hands of a good shot out to about 100 yds. for deer/hog.
 
351 WINCHESTER said:
That is a 10 round mag. I've never seen a real 15 round.
Click to expand...
then mine is a 10 round mag ! That is what I have ! I am gonna post a picture by noon. I only tried my longer mag with 6 rounds and it was an iffy feeder at that . I tried fooling with it, the problem is in the body of the mag binding the follower. I have 2 five round factory mags that work perfectly.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

kcofohio
  • Locked
.351 Winchester Self Loading Rifle (M1907)?
2
Replies
25
Views
2K
Dr.Rob
Dr.Rob
P
  • Locked
351 and 401 Winchester Self Loading
Replies
0
Views
342
planetmobius
P
G
  • Locked
Winchester Model 1905
Replies
16
Views
1K
NCsmitty
N
Lu249
Ribeyrolles 1918 Build Project
Replies
3
Views
333
jonnyc
J
L
  • Locked
What happened to 351 Winchester?
Replies
20
Views
6K
iiranger
I
Back
Top