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November 7, 2015
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Finally got my latest 1892 home, been a crazy month since the Cody show! SN is 799326 (SNA 11/22/1915) chambering is 38WCF, 24″ oct bbl, rifle butt. Nothing special, just a shooter with an excellent bore! Finish on the barrel, mag tube and finger lever is 75-80%, flaky receiver is about 50%. I call it a 60% gun, you can call it 70% if you want to. 
Wood may have gotten an additional coat of varnish since 1915 but it has a moderate amount of honest wear. Action is tight & smooth and trigger is more than acceptable. Bore is cleaning up nicely, don’t think it has any copper fouling but put some foam in there just to be sure. Tiny bit of pitting near the muzzle but no other rust.
You’ll have to excuse me, seems I don’t have any 38WCF ammo loaded and I and this sweet little rifle have a range date tomorrow. 
Pics later, my phone and laptop get along better when not in the same county.
November 7, 2015
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I’m learning how to load this cartridge, I’ll need a tang sight to shoot a decent group but I’m pretty tickled about the first range trip with this little rifle.
And yes, I know my photos are terrible, lol.
Does H110 work for the 38-40? I use it exclusively in my 44-40’s and it seems to work better than all the rest. Big Larry
November 7, 2015
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I don’t know, I was using Unique. Only other powder I’ve used for this cartridge (in another rifle) is FFFg. My shooting buddy is more into the 38-40 and 44-40 but I’ve gathered that as a rule, anything that works in one will work in the other. I’m thinking H110 is a bit slower powder than I want to use in my old guns, I’d be a bit worried about the pressures. I’ve used a fair bit of WW296 in some pretty stout 45 Colt hunting loads so I may be letting that cloud my thinking about this powder.
How is it working for you? Any erratic velocities or pressure signs?
Mike,
H-110 and WW 296 are virtually the same powder. I have used both for 44 Mag competition loads. Frankly, I would not use either for an original 44-40 or 38-40.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
November 7, 2015
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Yes, WW296 & H110 are essentially the same but I pay $1/lb more for 296. Same thing with WW231 and HP38. May be silly but it’s what I do. The other “equivalent” powders I usually don’t get too worked up over but I have one load/rifle that works best with H4350 and another that prefers IMR4350. Burned up a few pounds of powder trying to figure that one out.
Back to Larry’s question the slowest powder I’m familiar with that I saw listed for 44WCF was 2400. I’m not really comfortable with that even though it does fine in your 44 Mag and maybe even my 45 Colt at the higher velocities. I’ve never been fond of small amounts of slow powder in a large case but sometimes they work. They may not be dangerous but I don’t think they generally give consistent results.
Started to get waaaay off in the weeds talking powders but I think I’ll quit now before folks start nodding off.
I’ve tried several different powders in my various 38-40’s and they all gave good accuracy, but some gave a lower extreme spread in velocity than others. 5744 was the best at keeping the E.S. down to a minimum, but 2400 worked well too, and SR 4759.
I had good luck with 18 grns of IMR 4227 but recently switched to 14 grns of 2400. They shoot about the same in the 38-40 with a 180 grn lead bullet.
1892takedown @sbcglobal.net ......NRA Endowment Life Member.....WACA Member
"God is great.....beer is good.....and people are crazy"... Billy Currington
November 7, 2015
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Sounds like I need to chrono some loads next time out, seems this cartridge likes powders I have trouble keeping on the shelf. Haven’t given 2400 much thought but it’s surprised me before, it’s actually one of my favorite powders for 30WCF.
November 7, 2015
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Wow, old girl’s a shooter! Couldn’t do it justice with the tiny rear sight notch but a moderate roll crimp stopped the vertical stringing. Guess I better round up a tang sight to see what this old girl can do. Nothing like shooting a nice 100 year old Winchester!
April 26, 2015
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RE: the photo above.
This is Ethan’s next (or previous shot). One of several errors (editing or cutting room). Ethan fires a shot with a rifle, the next one with a carbine, the next one with a rifle, then a carbine, etc., etc., etc., yet he never stops to switch weapons. No one ever noticed while filming or in the editing room. Still my favorite movie, though (followed by Hondo).
"This is the West, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend."
November 7, 2015
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Tang sight made quite an improvement in this rifle, I think it’ll hunt!
Rather embarrassing but not sure I have a copy of Searchers. May need to remedy that.
April 26, 2015
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Thanks, I never noticed that. I’ll be watching the (excellent) movie next week and will take a close look. No, the editors don’t have a clue, and I wonder how many noticed that on the big screen? Now we can record, stop, reverse, and get still shots. BTW, for Duke fans there is a great narrative about the making of this movie and other John Ford films in “Company of Heroes…” by Harry Carey, Jr. I didn’t want to put it down.
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