clarence said
If the question pertains to shooting, there’s only one reasonable choice: .30-40.  

I agree, Clarence. I wouldn’t mind having one in 35 or 405 but I don’t think I’d enjoy shooting them as much as I do the 30-40.

Mike

I needed a 95 to fill the spot.  This one is a deluxe and it was selling real cheap.  I bought the 30-40 because I really want antique examples.  When I bought the 35 brass and bullets weren’t hard to find.  I have enough to last me.

I always thought the creme de la creme of 1895′ s was one in .405 Winchester.  But probably very unpleasant to shoot.

Old Logger said

Not bad at all imo. I have hunted with one that has been in my family for 5 generations. I got lucky enough to take a caribou with it. But then I hunt with other big guns also including .458, .416, .375, .300, and a bunch of big lever guns. I dislike the .338 enough that I don’t own that caliber.   

I’m glad you said that.  I’ve been looking for a Winchester 1895 in .405 Winchester for years, but usually the condition and/or price aren’t to my liking.

I’ve been known to shoot firearms a bit heavier in the recoil category as well, so I suppose .405 Winchester wouldn’t be too bad, in the end.  In my experience, recoil is more a product of the (poor) design of the stock than the size of the cartridge.

My Model 1895 of choice would be in either 38-72 or 40-72 and would have a tapered octagon barrel and crescent buttstock. I owned one exactly like this in 38-72 but sold it to get a high condition ’73. I’ve shot the 405 with steel buttplate and I can’t say I would enjoy shooting 20 rounds out of it, at least with just a t-shirt on, which doesn’t provide much padding. I do like the 35, however, though never owned one.

tim tomlinson said
My favorite is the .405.  But as has been stated, stock design makes a big difference!  The early second version with crescent buttplate is a killer.  The late production with shotgun butt much more pleasant.  The former is one of the few I have any “story” about.  I bought it from the second owner, and he said his friend had it first and used it for the big bears in the Northwest Territories.  Unfortunately, he would not provide any names as it would be so neat to relate just who it was chasing the big bears with that rifle!  I have shot the .405 for a lot of years, starting when the brass was extremely hard to come by, getting basic cases from BELL and cutting them down.  Bullets were a little easier from the original Barnes company.  Enjoy!   Tim  

The one I used on the caribou has a crescent butt also. I remember when I was a kid and someone was going to hunt with it so The men (my dad and uncles) decided we better make sure it was still sighted in. They used an old G.I. truck with an A frame on the back for a rest. Yeah it was still sighted in. The grownups each shot it a few times, and those loggers had all hunted with it in the past. Some of the older ‘boys’ wanted to shoot it. I don’t remember any of them shooting it more than once. The oldest ones would have been in high school. I was too young to give it a whirl back then, but so glad I got to hunt with it later. 

My great grand father bought it new at the urging of TR. who used to correspond with him by letter. Wanted him to join the Rough Riders. We had letters in the family bible when a foster cousin helped himself to some things in my grandma’s house while she was in the hospital. (late 1960’s) The bible went missing. He likely took it to check it for money later and when he didn’t find any, tossed it. He took his own life not too long after.