Video - Winchester's 1894 Rifle

[Bottom Dealin Mike]

We're shooting Winchester's classic 1894 lever action rifle. This is the Angle Eject model , chambered for .44 Magnum cartridges. We'll shoot it with black powder.

[hellgate]

From all your dead center hits with that little gun I can tell you've become "one" with it. I would not want to be a deer within any distance from you with that gun. Great shooting. Definately a meat gun.

A question: were the BP bullets round nose flat pointed? The factory smokeless round was amazing in its energy transfer to the melon and had a nice flat point.

A comment: I've read that the 44 Mag gets less blowback of fouling into the action than th 45LC because of the closer tolerances (tighter chamber) in spite of its thicker brass. Agree or disagree?

[Bottom Dealin Mike]

Hi Hellgate. The B-P bullets are Mav Dutchman big lube RNFPs.

I've never had blow-back problems with any of my lever action rifle calibers, which are, .44 Spl, .44 Mag, .44-40 and .45 Colt.

I don't think brass thickness has much impact on blow-back at all. In my experience the most important factor in reducing blow-back is a really tight crimp. The second most important thing is bullet weight...heavier is better. My .45 Colt chambered 1873 is loaded with 250-gr PRS bullets.

Third is the powder charge, but it is a distant third. A really tight crimp will ensure even light powder charges combust fully and develope the maximum chamber pressure they are capable of.