Interesting Winchester

Blackpowder Burn · January 09, 2016, 05:37:08 PM

I fell into a honey pot today, and acquired 2 toys from a "retiring" CAS shooter. One is a custom Winchester 1892 rifle I picked up for $700. The part that is amazing to me is that it was built in 1995 from an unused receiver whose serial number dates it to 1898. The dates are not typos. It was built for the person I purchased it from, so has good provenance. He reports that a now deceased gunsmith (Neal Denman) in Conroe, TX somehow acquired 3 or 4 of these unused receivers and offered to fellow CAS shooters to build them out to any caliber originally offered by Winchester. The one I purchased was built in 32 WCF with a 28" octagonal barrel, full length magazine (holds 18 rounds) and a 15-1/2" LOP. The receiver and barrel all appear to have accurate Winchester markings. The provenance of the barrel is not clear, but it certainly seems to be an original Winchester, although I'm not sure about the date of manufacture. Of course, the barrel could have been stamped with anything by a good gunsmith and appear period correct.

Now the 1892 has never been my favorite action, but I never knew one could be this slick!

It is extremely accurate to boot. I think this may turn in to my favorite CAS rifle.

Cliff Fendley · January 09, 2016, 10:35:26 PM

Interesting indeed.

Navy Six · January 10, 2016, 08:32:56 AM

Congratulations on your good fortune! These are the type of things we wish would happen more often. I only got lucky once--wound up with a Colt SAA 44-40 because of an argument between two friends! Good Luck with the new toys!

Blackpowder Burn · January 10, 2016, 10:30:18 AM

I'm busily increasing my stock of 32 WCF ammo not so I can play with them at our next match.

Cliff Fendley · January 10, 2016, 07:32:54 PM

Quote from: Blackpowder Burn on January 10, 2016, 10:30:18 AM
I'm busily increasing my stock of 32 WCF ammo not so I can play with them at our next match.

It could well indeed turn in to your favorite CAS rifle. I just started shooting a 32wcf in the past year or so. I fell in love with that caliber as soon as I started shooting it.

Besides being a blast to shoot you can load over 400 rounds with a pound of black powder. I use 3F Old E in mine.

Blackpowder Burn · January 10, 2016, 10:44:01 PM

Cliff,

Yep, that's what I also use. With that 28" barrel, you do have to make sure to use a bullet that carries a lot of lube. I had one bullet with only moderate lube capacity that works fine in revolvers, but didn't carry enough to reach the end of a 24" barrel. I recently got a different mold, and it worked great for the 28" barrel in this rifle.

I also have a Colt Lightning rifle I rebuilt and am now having the barrel relined. I'm hoping it turns out to be a good shooter, also. So many toys, so little time..............

I can't wait for the next match to run this rifle and the 32-20 Bisley I bought at the same time. I'm waiting on the conversion kit for my Dillon 650 to get set up for real volume production of the 32-20.

Cliff Fendley · January 11, 2016, 08:25:10 AM

Which mold are you using for the longer barrels? I'm using a 311008 Lyman but I'm only shooting them in a 20 inch barrel. Not sure if I really need too but I wipe the bore after three stages or 30 rounds or so. I haven't tried shooting it until if fouls out to see how many rounds it will go, I figure that can vary with the temp and humidity so I've been just running a wet patch just in case.

Blackpowder Burn · January 11, 2016, 05:34:51 PM

I use the 31-110 mold from Accurate Molds and love all their BP designed molds. Use them for 44 WCF, 38WCf, 45 Colt, and 45-70

Cliff Fendley · January 11, 2016, 08:50:00 PM

Thanks for the info! I've been eyeing the 31-110C mold design. Might just go ahead and pull the trigger on one. I've been using the 43-215C in the 44wcf.

Coffinmaker · January 12, 2016, 01:25:02 PM

I can help. Really

I can. First a caveat. For the 25+ years I've played the CAS game (more, but I ain't admitting it) I have always been a Toggle Link rifle Gunplumber (worked on 92s too) but preferred Toggle Link. I can see where you might have some trepidation
setting up your knew-2-Ewe '92. They can be a bother.

Ship it to me. I'll set it up for you to run light and fast as well as develop a very efficient fun load in 32-20 for CAS and return it to you.
It should only take me about 3 or maybe 4 years to finish the set-up, cartridge load development and test firing to insure your complete
happiness and satisfaction. Waddia think. Want my address

Coffinmaker

Blackpowder Burn · January 12, 2016, 07:48:28 PM

Coffinmaker,

I am truly appreciative and extremely grateful for the concern you demonstrate. Your willingness to expend all that effort to help a fellow shooter is one of the most heartwarming things I've come across in a long time!

However, the rifle is already slick as a baby's butt - didn't know a '92 could run this nice. The old gunsmith that built it really knew his stuff!

And it seems quite happy with my Accurate bullet and 15 grains of FFFg Olde E.

Now, it you get to the Houston area, I'll be happy to let you shoot both the '92 and it's companion Bisley. However, I will lock them up immediately afterward to prevent them from "growing legs"!

Coffinmaker · January 12, 2016, 10:40:13 PM

HARUMPF!!

Coffinmaker

Blackpowder Burn · January 17, 2016, 09:20:22 PM

Cliff,

Just to clarify - the mold I use is the 31-110C.

I'm very happy with it. I shot it for the first time this weekend from my 28" barreled '92 and it had plenty of lube to keep down fouling all the way to the muzzle.

Cliff Fendley · January 17, 2016, 10:30:23 PM

Thanks again for the info. I've been hoping to find some input on that design. It looks like a good one.