Some fun with the Winchester 1885 Low Wall

[David LaPell]

I took my Winchester 1885 Low Wall in .32 WCF made in 1889 out today for a work out. I shot some of my handloads, Lyman 115 grain cast bullet with a mild charge of 2400, just above minimum. At 25 yards, the bullseye was the same diameter as the front sight so it was tough to see. The group size speaks for itself, the empty case by the three shot group is a .45 GAP.
The bison target was shot at 50 yards, hard to see it in those pics, but the group is a little more than an inch in diameter. I shot that group off of my shooting sticks. Overall, not too shabby for a gun made almost 20 years before the first Model T rolled off the assembly line.

 

[sdb321]

Good shooting & a great looking rifle!!!!!

 

[CptCurl]

A fine rifle and good shooting. Those rifles and sights will do much better than people realize.

I have been having a wonderful time with my Stevens 44-1/2 barreled in .25-20 SS and .38-55.

Right now I have one in transit chambered in .32-40 and I am looking forward to shooting it.

Curl

 

[CptCurl]

Have a look at my Stevens here: http://smith-wessonforum.com/firear...s/534162-stevens-44-1-2-american-classic.html

Curl

 

[Hang-Fire Hank]

BARREL SIZE

David: Is that a #2 size barrel? It looks larger, like a #3. You probably know the number is stamped under the barrel right in front of the forearm.

#2 was the standard size, but many options could be ordered by the original purchaser.

Years ago, I had a Low Wall chambered in .22LR with a Lyman tang sight like yours'.

Regards, Hank M.

 

[David LaPell]

David: Is that a #2 size barrel? It looks larger, like a #3. You probably know the number is stamped under the barrel right in front of the forearm.

#2 was the standard size, but many options could be ordered by the original purchaser.

Years ago, I had a Low Wall chambered in .22LR with a Lyman tang sight like yours'.

Regards, Hank M.

According to the number under the barrel and the letter from Cody on the gun's history, the barrel is a #1.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

Very nice old Winchester! Closest thing in my little collection is a Winder Musket, US Army contract training rifle in .22 short. I still enjoy taking it out after small game from time to time. Past several years have kept me hopping around for sources of .22 short ammo.

I shoot .32 WCF (aka: .32-20) in a Winchester Model 1892 carbine, and .25-20 in a Model 1892 rifle. All good fun, and pretty serious small game getters.

I love the older guns! Nothing made in the past 50 years really compares.

 

[Qc Pistolero]

Some people will scoff at 1'' at 50 yds.They don't realize that we are not using 21st century tools and that they were designed to shoot lead lumps with gulp of lube around them with a propellant that was being concocted by a norm that was light years from ESO 2001 or whatever.
I challenge these gentlemen to get close to the performance of Mr Browning's brainchild from 1885 with the tools of then trade.
That is very good shooting Sir!and a beautiful gun.Just asking....would you consider selling it?(just joking...I know you are in full possession of all your senses and won't do such.....or would you?Here is my phone no

 

[CptCurl]

. . . At 25 yards, the bullseye was the same diameter as the front sight so it was tough to see.

David, what you need on your Low Wall is a nice globe front sight with an assortment of inserts. For bullseye shooting an aperture in the front sight cures this problem and allows some amazing shooting. A vintage Lyman globe, a current production Lyman globe, or the superb globe being made by Lee Shaver.

Once you have the globe front sight you will be moving your target to longer distances.

And of course, you must have a S&W .32-20 HE to go along with this fine rifle. I'm right happy with mine paired up with my Model 1892 chambered in .32-20.

I posted a thread about them here: A Couple of .32-20s at the Range Today


Curl

 

[David LaPell]

David, what you need on your Low Wall is a nice globe front sight with an assortment of inserts. For bullseye shooting an aperture in the front sight cures this problem and allows some amazing shooting. A vintage Lyman globe, a current production Lyman globe, or the superb globe being made by Lee Shaver.

Once you have the globe front sight you will be moving your target to longer distances.

And of course, you must have a S&W .32-20 HE to go along with this fine rifle. I'm right happy with mine paired up with my Model 1892 chambered in .32-20.

I posted a thread about them here: A Couple of .32-20s at the Range Today


Curl

I had a HE a few years ago, and I was thinking of buying one but my local gun shop had this Uberti clone of a Colt SAA in .32-20 and it is a lot of fun to shoot. Still getting it where I want it, but the action is like glass.
I just finished paying off a Winchester 1892 in .32-20, made in 1894, rifle with a round barrel and full length magazine, hope to have it here at the end of next week or so.

 

[Qc Pistolero]

David, what you need on your Low Wall is a nice globe front sight with an assortment of inserts. For bullseye shooting an aperture in the front sight cures this problem and allows some amazing shooting. A vintage Lyman globe, a current production Lyman globe, or the superb globe being made by Lee Shaver.

Once you have the globe front sight you will be moving your target to longer distances.

And of course, you must have a S&W .32-20 HE to go along with this fine rifle. I'm right happy with mine paired up with my Model 1892 chambered in .32-20.

I posted a thread about them here: A Couple of .32-20s at the Range Today


Curl

Them two guns are simply beautiful.I'm sorry I can't master english language any better so as to find a more appropriate term.They simply make me want to rewind the years a century back.Congrats!