Winchester 1885 .22

[bruce5781]

I have had my eye out for a Winder Musket for some time now, but didn't want to pay the 1K plus that most places are asking these days. I lucked into this commercial Winder for 480 on GB Sunday night. Finish not the best, but is complete, has a good action and 9/10 bore.

Regards,
Bruce

 

[brucev]

Good deal for you! Winder musket was rather unique. Once looked a good bit at one back in 1995 at a little hole in the wall gunshop in the metropolis of Danville, GA. They were very proud of everything they had for sale. Must have been given the prices they posted! You paid slightly more than the gentleman owner wanted for that rifle in his store. Find yourself some .22 Shorts and take that wonderful old rifle to the range! Sincerely. bruce.

 

[foxy320]

Is yours one of the military marked ones? I have one of those & can't see how it was used as a trainer but it's a fun gun to shoot

 

[Charlie Foxtrott]

If the bore is not roached out of it.

Then I think that you did pretty good. The wood looks pretty clean. I have one of the new production Miroku 1885s in .22 caliber. I am pretty fond of it.

 

[Muley Gil]

Is yours one of the military marked ones? I have one of those & can't see how it was used as a trainer but it's a fun gun to shoot

It had the same heft and length of a Trapdoor Springfield, without the kick.

 

[Engineer1911]

With a barrel that large, why not rechamber to 22 LR?

 

[bruce5781]

Is yours one of the military marked ones? I have one of those & can't see how it was used as a trainer but it's a fun gun to shoot

I won't have it in hand until Friday, but I don't believe it is Military marked.

Regards,
Bruce

 

[red9]

You did well. I sold one recently at auction for a little more, and not quite as nice. The civilian is not as desirable to some collectors, but I believe is scarcer than the military.

Bob

 

[wundudnee]

With a barrel that large, why not rechamber to 22 LR?

I have a military model marked Winder and it either has been or the military rechambered all their rifles to .22 LR. If I had an unmolested .22 short chamber I sure wouldn't rechamber it.

Nearly all military, if not all military will accept .22LR.

 

[DWalt]

If I had an unmolested .22 short chamber I sure wouldn't rechamber it.

Nor would I.

 

[JohnRippert]

Nice pickup there.


This thread makes me realize that I still have not taken my No2MKIV .22LR out to the range yet. Hope to see a range report on yours soon.

 

[CptCurl]

Good pickup.

I'm tickled to death with my High Wall Winder Musket, and it's accurate too!

I would not recommend re-chambering the .22 Short to .22 LR. The original barrel (.22 Short) has too slow a twist to shoot LR accurately. Besides that, you would ruin the originality of the rifle.

Curl

 

[CptCurl]

P.S.

Your Low Wall will be a heck of a lot easier to load than my High Wall.

Buy some Short ammo and let us know how it shoots.

Curl

 

[bruce5781]

Thanks,
Just got update from USPS, should be able to pick it up today.

Regards,
Bruce

 

[LoboGunLeather]

My Winder musket is the piece that keeps me constantly on the lookout for .22 Short ammo! A real pleasure to shoot.

From a collector standpoint rechambering for .22 LR is a bad idea. From a shooter standpoint you might be disappointed by the accuracy (or lack thereof), which is due to the inherent differences between .22 Short (29gr. bullet) and .22 LR (typically 40gr. bullet). It is my understanding that the rifling twist rate is different, so the heavier bullets may not be properly stabilized. My rifle remains original, decent bore but shows some corrosion, and will easily produce quarter-sized groups at 50 yards from the bench.

I think you did well at the price mentioned. Enjoy it!

 

[MCorps0311]

Congrats looks good to me,it's above my class.