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Hello.
I am new to this site. I have a Winchester Model 1892, serial number 640968, manufactured in 1911, 44-40 WCF. I was wondering if there is a specific type of round i should be using. My uncle gave this gun. He never shot it. I have never shot it. I had a gunsmith go through it and he says it is safe to shoot. Any information would be great.
Thank You.
Darick
Welcome to the Winchester Forum. A Mod. ’92 is a very sturdy gun and if it is in good operating condition and a decent bore, I would not be shy of using any of the standard commercial grade ammo with it. Cowboy loads are a little less potent an may be more comfortable to shoot, and not as hard on the ears. Have fun with it and hopefully You get hooked on old Winchesters. Is Your gun a rifle or a saddle ring carbine, if a rifle is it round or octagon barrel or does it have any special features. Some pictures is always nice for the forum to comment on Your gun.
W.A.C.A. life member, Marlin Collectors Assn. charter and life member, C,S.S.A. member and general gun nut.
In the year your rifle,or carbine was made, they were made of very sturdy steel, and the action is exceptionally strong if the rifle is in good shape.
I also have one from 1911. # 613252. It is a 44-40 TakeDown with the oct. bbl. It is a real nice one too. I have never shot it as I paid a lot of $$$ for it.
Either way, carbine or rifle, you have a super collecible rifle. Any made load today is fine to shoot. They actually will take near 44 magnum pressures too if you reload them, but why beat an old rifle up. BTW, the M92 is a real fun gun to shoot. Big Larry
As Henry Mero suggested, we love to see photos of vintage Winchesters. I’ve owned and shot and hunted with a variety of 44 WCF/44-40 Winchesters, including the Model 1873, Model 1892/92 and the Model 53. If the bore is clear of obstructions, and you can cycle a cartridge in and the lever locks up nicely, then it is safe to shoot, provided you are using factory ammo and not someone’s hot reloads. The recoil from a 44-40 is so mild I don’t even notice it, but then I do quite a bit of shooting of heavier calibers. The cartridge is one of my favourites with a long history of putting meat in the larder.
Here’s a photo of my favourite. I’ve had ones that were much higher condition, and nicer to look at, but this one is my favourite because it was out of northern BC, and saw a lot of outdoor use.
Hello and welcome Darick,
Your rifle’s receiver was serialized on the 22nd of November of 1911 and most likely the rifle would have been fully assembled shortly there after. Modern ammunition is loaded to the same pressure regime as the original black powder ammunition and is fine to shoot in these rifles. I commonly use modern Winchester or Remington ammo. Black Hills brand ammo is a MUCH lighter load at about 75% muzzle velocity.
I would love to add you gun into my research survey if you will post or send me some images. [email protected]
Michael
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation
Thank you for all the advice. It really helps and I greatly appreciate it. I guess I forgot to add photos, but I guess I’m an idiot because I can’t figure out how to add photos. lol.
Darick
also, I have a missing screw/bolt that goes through the stock right behind where the lever action is. What is the chance of finding out what the time period part would be?
Darick
[email protected] said
I guess I’m an idiot because I can’t figure out how to add photos.
Not at all! “Guests” are barred from doing so.
[email protected] said
Hello.I am new to this site. I have a Winchester Model 1892, serial number 640968, manufactured in 1911, 44-40 WCF. I was wondering if there is a specific type of round i should be using. My uncle gave this gun. He never shot it. I have never shot it. I had a gunsmith go through it and he says it is safe to shoot. Any information would be great.
Thank You.
Darick
Darick,
During 1903 Winchester produced High Velocity ammunition for the Model 92′. Right on the box it said “.44-40 Model 1892 Special”. This special ammunition produced what was called a low pressure load but was NOT to be used in the Winchester 73′ or Revolvers. However, by 1920, the loading was changed. Still for the Model 1892, but certainly fine in the Marlin 1894s (UMC also manufactured High Velocity Ammo), this offering produced 22,000cup, nearly DOUBLE that of the standard 13,000cup load. This of course was smokeless powder loads.
If you rifle is in good sound condition, it is certainly capable of using ANY modern commercial Hunting loads. Original black powder velocities were 1,325fps, by 1895…the smokeless powder offerings also clocked in at 1,300fps. The High Velocity loads clocked in at 1,500fps in 1903 and 1,570 during the 1930’s untill it was dropped from production after 1941.
1903 Winchester W.H.V., 1903 – This 10-9 (Oct. 1909) dated label is the earliest W. H. V. examples I have seen.
1925 Winchester World Standard Guns and Ammunition lists the rifle velocity for the 44-40 Model 92 Special W. H. V. (K-code not listed) to be 1,564fps with a trajectory of 2.3″ @ 100 yards, 11.5″ @ 200 yards and 31.2″ @ 300 yards.
1938 Winchester Shells and Cartridges lists the rifle velocity for the 44-40 K4414T (W.H.V.) to be 1,570fps with a trajectory of 2.2″ @ 100 yards, 11.0″ @ 200 yards and 30.0″ @ 300 yards.
1941 Winchester Ammunition Guide Code: K4414T Model 92 Special, W.H.V. rifle velocity to be 1,570fps @ 100 yards, 1,220fps @ 200 yrds, Mid-Range Trajectory inch/yds: 2.2″ @ 100 yards, 11.0″ @ 200 yards and 30.0″ @ 300 yards.
Here are some links that might be helpful,
History of the 44-40 cartridge – https://sites.google.com/view/44winchester
44-40 smokeless powder transition years – https://sites.google.com/view/44winchester/powders/smokeless-powders-transition-years
44-40 handloading – https://sites.google.com/view/44winchester/handloading
I ran some amateur tests a few years ago and here are my results.
I’d edit that reply again if it wasn’t timed out! I updated the pressure trace PDF flow chart…again….hopefully this is the last. If not, the current one can be found here: https://sites.google.com/view/44winchester/velocities
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