New Winchester/Miroku '92

[Blackpowder Burn]

My better half has finally decided she wants to shoot CAS with me, after about 15 years of me running off 2 weekends per month.  Needless to say, I'm happy with this, as it gives me the chance to buy more guns - for her, of course!  

Now, she has very little upper body strength, so made it clear she wants the lightest rifle possible.  After trying everything I had and rifles owned by other shooters - everything from '73's to '92's to Marlins to Lightnings - she decide that she liked an original Winchester '92 saddle ring carbine I have  and a USFA Lightning carbine.  Not typical CAS rifles you say?  Well, we're not typical CAS gamers, so speed is no issue.

So, cruising around GunBroker I found a new Winchester/Miroku '92 saddle ring carbine in 44-40 (without the stupid large loop).  Externally it is a very close copy of the original rifle I have.  It does have the tang safety and rebounding firing pin.  It's a beautiful little rifle - beautiful bluing and plain but very attractive wood that is well fitted and finished.  It's darn sure not a Rossi!  

The action is quite nice right out of the box, with only one relatively minor drawback.  The extractor spring is so strong that there is a very definite "hitch" closing the bolt as the extractor is forced over the cartridge rim.  I'll have to work on that, but otherwise the rifle is a jewel.  My wife was easily dinging Cody Dixon targets with it this afternoon.  I've ordered a Marble tang sight for it and look forward to getting that installed.

I'm off tomorrow to "break it in" for her (her suggestion  ) with some Holy Black ammo tomorrow.  Should be a hoot.

[rifle]

That's wonderful getting the wife to shoot with you. NRA member too?  She'll need some attire to go with the guns. She'll like shopping fer that I bet.

About this statement...."Darn sure not a Rossi". I bought a Rossi carbine in 357 back in the early eighties. Really nice rifle. Action smooth and accurate and.......never had a problem with anything working properly. Brother stole it from me,so to speak, and still has it and shoots it. It's fit well with nice dark wood and stood up to the riggers of being carried in the truck and on the tractor and in sweaty hands in the dusty hot weather. A real bargain I'd say since I can't say anything bad about it. It doesn't have the safety on it ceptin the half cock with the hammer. Made like the originals were. Never misfired like my 1886 Japan made Winchester.

I know the Winchesters made in the shop in Japan are good guns. Got a real nice finish and fit. I'd have to say that the finish to the lil Rossi seems to be more durable compared to the 1886 Winchester I have. Hunted with it in the rain this deer season and got flash rust quick and wiping it down with a dry rag now and then thinned some bluing on it. I don't care bout that much but I'm just sayin.......I can't say anything to down grade the lil "92" Rossi that I bought over thirty years ago. The bluing is still real nice. Not perfect of course but never got flash rust(the kind that wipes right off) from the rain.

Don't worry I'm not really offended with the "darn sure not a Rossi" remark. Glad you got a real Winchester. Really nice guns. I'm just sayin.......Rossi makes nice guns I'd say. So does Miroko in Japan. They made a muzzleloader rifle way back when that was nice too. If I'm thunkin right.

I have to reload my ammo. Not really have to I just like it that way better and it's more affordable. My ammo is made better than the factory stuff.  The ammo 45/70 I reload fer my 1886 Winchester/Miroko has to have Federal primers that are the thinest ones since.....it misfires with any other primers. I'll have to delve into why some day maybe. It's an accurate gun fer sure. Hope you tune the extractor in yer "92" well with no real trouble.

Since you got the 44-40 "92" does that mean yer gonna use the Holy Black?
By the way....I thunk the girls wearin those nice demin jeans and cute chaps and cowboy hats with the leather boots and all are real nice lookin in them. Same with the pretty dresses they wear to CASS events. The Cowgirls improve the sceanery a lot.

[w44wcf]

Blackpowder Burn,
Nice find and great to hear that your wife wants to participate.

If you haven't already, you might want to check the ejector spring. If it's a bit stiff, that could also be the reason that the action does not close as easily as it should.

w44wcf

[Dick Dastardly]

Miroku made my Browning 92 44ELR (Extra Long Russian), 44 Magnum to those in Rio Linda.  Had two, sold one, won't part with the other one.  Had one in .357Mag also.  Sold it to my sidekick.  He loves it.  Material, fit and finish have always been excellent in those guns.  The 44-40 is a better choice for black powder, although the 44ELR is no slouch.

Congratulations on a good buy.  Now, make sure you let your hunny shoot it from time to time. . . . 

DD-MDA

[Noz]

Since you got the 44-40 "92" does that mean yer gonna use the Holy Black?
By the way....I thunk the girls wearin those nice demin jeans and cute chaps and cowboy hats with the leather boots and all are real nice lookin in them. Same with the pretty dresses they wear to CASS events. The Cowgirls improve the sceanery a lot.

Just something about a gunbelt and a couple of single action revolvers that makes a gal's butt look gooooood!

[Blackpowder Burn]

w44wcf,

You're exactly right, further investigation has shown the stiffness to be due to the extractor spring.  I've been looking around to see if the new rifles use the same extractor/spring as the originals, and it seems they do - the best I can determine.  Do you have any experience with this?  I'm tempted to order a new extractor and try installing it.

From examining the rifle and exploded drawings, it appears I can change the extractor without even disassembling the action.   The pin holding it is accessible when the bolt is fully to the rear.

[Blackpowder Burn]

I've taken my trusty Dremel and ground down the thickness of the extractor, and it has helped quite a lot in reducing the effort required to close the bolt.  I've ordered a spare from a parts house that supplies parts for original Winchesters as a backup.  I do notice that the "original" design is thinner, especially nearer the tip of the extractor.  I think I'll install it upon receipt and see what happens - assuming it will fit, of course!

[cpt dan blodgett]

Just something about a gunbelt and a couple of single action revolvers that makes a gal's butt look gooooood!

I was thinking it was the other way around Noz