Winchester 1895 rifle

[rufrdr]

I just purchased a gently used modern production Winchester 1895 rifle in .30-06. How prevalent are these on your side of the pond?

I've owned two 95s previously. One was an original 1895 SRC in .30 US (.30-06) that a previous owner had completely covered in shellac as a waterproofing method. Headspace was very marginal in it and eventually I sold it to a collector. Subsequently I bought the modern Browning marked rifle in .30-40 in the late 80s, kept it for some years and was talked out of it by another fancier of the 1895s. Always wished I hadn't sold it.

Here in California all arms are subject to a 10 day 'cooling off' period so this 1895 is in gun jail until later.

The current production 1895 differs a bit from the original arm. These are made in Japan by excellent craftsmen. Funny that a heavily gun restricted country such as Japan produces such nice firearms!

I have read that the original 1895 in .303 was reasonably popular in Great Britain. Any of them owned by board members?

Once I have the arm I will let you know how well it performs.





(Pictures taken by the previous owner)

[ovenpaa]

They do exist over here and I remember watching a 303 Model 1895 being shot at 600 yards a few years ago. Unfortunately it was not doing very well.

EDIT - The thought of owning one in .303 sent me hunting and this is the first UK advert to pop up.

https://www.gunstar.co.uk/winchester-mo ... les/880802

At GBP1750.00 I doubt I will be owning one any time soon :)

[Chapuis]

"I have read that the original 1895 in .303 was reasonably popular in Great Britain. Any of them owned by board members?"

I would say that the writer was misinformed on that one. A .303 1895 would be a bit of a rarity in the U.K.

[dromia]

They are about and I usually turn 2 or 3 over a year. Most of the ones I have had have been in 303 and 30-40 Krag, never seen people pay £1700 quid for them, then again I have never asked £1700 for them. They are popular as they always turn over quickly very few make it onto my website.

Personally for pointy bullets in an underlever I prefer the 1899 Savage.

[redcat]

Hi, rufrdr
Firstly, that's a nice looking rifle. Hope it performs as well as it looks. The 1895 is, unfortunately, comparatively rare over here and when the do pop up they tend to be a little over priced and sometimes condition leaves a bit to be desired. Can't recall seeing a Miroku-made example in recent years.
Once again, nice score on that one.

Redcat

[mowdy]

I had modern 1895 in 30-06 until just last year I was going to get it barelled to 9.3 mm x62
And put micro dot on the bolt for shot it wid Boar .but it was just to nice a gun and a great shooter.
I have seen a 303 one for sale @ £1700 and it was rough on the receiver with rust
Pitting. I Think it was for sale at C&G but hat was a few years ago

[snayperskaya]

I would love one of the original Russian contract Model 1895's that were chambered in 7.62x54r.I don't know it the .303 ones are the same but the 7.62x54r ones could be loaded with stripper clips using the same 5 round clips as those designed for for the Mosin.

[GRSporth1]

Very nice, those picture make me want another one!
1895s are not common, but you can usually find a few about, often in the antiques market at silly prices.

In my time, I have owned both a modern one in 30-06 and an original in .303.

The 303 was "minute of barn door" capable, the new one was acceptable for a hunting rifle, although I never did much load development with either. I put a Williams sight on my USRAC one, but I much prefer the looks of your your Providence Tool sight.

You could load the 303 with stripper clips, but you had to get the placing just right.

[rufrdr]

I took the 95 for a spin yesterday. I have crates of .30 M2 ball ammo so I grabbed some Lake City 1969 and FNB 1980 for sighting in. At 50 yards it was smack on and put 4 rounds in the X ring. At 100 yards it opened up to 4 in the X and 10 ring. I'm guessing that it is more my eyesight than the arm's potential accuracy that kept the groups to the size that they were. That and the quality of LC 69 ball which is notorious for being indifferent ammunition. The LC 69 that I have is mostly delinked from Browning belts.

My friend and I then went after the steel plate targets that go from 125 to 250 yards. No plate was safe from us! We shot the 95 until the forearm started getting a bit warm so we let it sit to cool.

A real fun rifle to shoot! I haven't been hunting in years but if I still lived back east where the typical deer shot is less than 100 yards I feel that this would be great medicine to have on hand. Not quite as potent at T.R's .405 'big medicine' but good enough for me!

[greenshoots]

theres a few modern miroku ones around usually in .270 win i had my eye on one for ages

greenshoots