Winchester 1895?

[shilo]

Read a review of one in American Rifleman. Accuracy didn't seem that good and the trigger pull sounded heavy. Does anyone have one of these to comment on how they shoot and their trigger pull? The one in the artical was a take down model. Maybe those aren't as accurate?

[Blackhawk44]

While I have not yet read the review you speak of, I can only comment on my experience.  At first blush, it sounds as if the review piece had some QC problems. 
Past experience with a couple of take-down rifles (though not 1895's) has proven that their accuracy can be very dependent upon the tightness of the take down setup.  Basically, wear and looseness equals poor accuracy. 
On the 1895, I have been using a Browning 1895 in .30-06 for a number of years now and have played a bit with a friend's orginal .35 Winchester.  On mine, after changing the front sight to a post and the rear to a Marble tang, plus work with handloads, I am now able to get 2.25", 200 yard, 5 shot benchrest groups.  Not bad for iron sights!  After working with both guns, as Dave Scovill states in his writings, they both prefer bullets in the moderate to heavier range for their cartridge.  In the .35, it has to be 225-250gr bullets.  In the .30-06, it will not tolerate anything lighter than a 165gr bullet, factory or handload. 
Regarding triggers, neither of these has been reworked, just used quite a bit.  Both would be considered rather smooth and fairly crisp for their type.  I consider their actions a good bit faster and smoother than any 1894 ever handled, with no need to ever remove the butt from the shoulder.  One of our group is fast enough to get off a second aimed shot while the last hull is still in the air, with full loads.     
Should you be interested in a solid frame gun, keep your eye out for the upcoming limited release of a Winchester marked Miroku 1895 CARBINE in .30-06.  Very cool !  Hope this helps.

[shilo]

Blackhawk44, thanks for the replie. That is very good accuracy your getting with yours. Is yours a solid frame gun? The limited release carbine that you speak of, is this the saddle ring carbine that is out now? This is what has kind of got my intrest stirred in these. The saddle ring carbine is a neat gun. Or are they going to come out with a carbine that doesn't have the wood ontop of the barrel? Thanks.

[muskeg13]

I can get about 2" groups at 100 off of the bench with my USRAC solid frame .405.  The rifle is more accurate than I can shoot it. I did cut my groups in half when I replaced the factory open buckhorn style rear sight with a receiver mounted aperature (peep) sight.  The trigger pull was/is ok with a little creep, but not very heavy (I don't have a guage).  I glasss bedded both the fore end and buttstock, mostly to prevent the stock from splitting under recoil.  I also smoothed the action with very little careful stoning and now it's the smoothest action of any rifle I own.  I think you can accurately shoot these rifles faster than any similar caliber bolt action, particularly from a standing offhand position.  The offhand balance is perfect for me.  Overall, I find the Japanese made Miroku rifles to be very well made.  As purchased, I did not care for the rear sight, buttplate or the ugly bulbous schnabel fore end, so these were replaced or modified. 

[T.R.]

My Grandad's original 30-40 would shoot 10 shots into a 3.5 inch circle at 100 yards.  This rifle was used for deer and elk hunting and not for target matches.  Everyone at the ranch liked it.  Those long round nosed bullets seemed to penetrate deeper than anything else we had on the rifle rack.

Sadly, it was cut up into pieces and tossed into the Pacific Ocean about 10 years ago.  My southern California cousin inherited this rifle through my Uncle's estate and foolishly assumed it would be stolen from her and mis-used by criminals.  So it goes. 
TR

[Rick Teal]

I have one in .303 British that I bought for sentimental purposes a few years back.  This gun has a very rough looking barrel, but at the time I didn't care.  I've taken it to the range several times, and originally expected it to print all over the paper.  As it was, it's turned out to be a tack driver (given the limitations of the coarse open sights).

I can't really comment on the trigger, since I'm not a target shooter, and don't notice stuff like that.

[shilo]

T.R. ,  that made my stomach bunch up. What in the world was she thinking? Did she take her car to a scrap yard and have it demolished because someone might steal it too and use it in a crime? And what about those kitchen knives? California.    Muskeg13, That is very good accuracy. I need to find somewhere that has one in stock so I can handle one.                 

[T.R.]

Shilo:

She paid a metal shop to cut Grandad's 95 into several pieces.  Then she tossed the pieces into the Pacific Ocean.  Yeah, I'm so sure a criminal would choose a 95 as a hold-up weapon.  But what's done is done.

TR

[Blackhawk44]

Shilo- The saddle ring carbine is the only current issue.  There are a few of the .405 take down rifles still in dealer stocks.  Mine is the Browning issue from 1984 without checkering or tang safety.  There never was an 1895 carbine without the handguard (wood on top).  Since the new one is basically a re-creation I don't expect to ever see a factory (non-custom) piece without it.  Just wish they would go back to the calibers that made it famous- .30 Army, .35 Winchester or even 7.62 X 54 (don't laugh, made 293,000 of them).     

[Centennial]

Shilo, I have had several original 95s over the years and hunt with them on a fairly regular basis.  The triggers have all been okay.  Not match quality but certainly functional.  I have been fortunate that I have been able to find loads that were accurate enough to work out to about 200 yards; as far as I’m comfortable shooting open sights at standing elk.  I have never noticed any difference between TDs and solid frames.  Probably because each rifle is so unique. 

On my 30-40, it seems to like 44g of IMR 4350 and the 180G Win ST (original) and the 190g Horn BTSP.  Both loads get in to the mid 2200fps.  Both are less than 2 inches at 100.  On my 405 it’s 53g of RL7 with the 300g Horn FP.  That goes right at 2200fps and gives me 2.5 inches at 100.  I’m still trying to find a good load.  Factory loads go 4 inches at 100...yikes.  I cant find my 35WCF load.

They are great fun.  If you have a chance, try to find a receiver sight.  They really help me. 

Centennial