Log In
Members
Home
Add Reply
Add Topic
I picked this ugly brute up at our local GS. ($300) Just ordered new semi inlets from Macon gunstocks and a proper replacement butt plate. I don’t know why, but I have had a notion to put one of these in the safe for quite some time. I did test drive it and it functions fine but it has seen it’s share of abuse over the years. The metal is actually in decent shape but the wood……….not so much! I will post some “after” pics some time this winter.
Erin
November 7, 2015
Offline
Interesting, been seeing a .351 now and then as well. Have you decided what you’ll be doing with this old warhorse?
Get that poor excuse of a srewmagler away. Use only hollowgroud screwdrivers. But I’m sure you know that. I’m looking for its baby brother the 03 . Maybe for Christmas , if I find one at the Reno show.
Vince
Southern Oregon
NRA member
Fraternal Order of Eagles
“There is but one answer to be made to the dynamite bomb and that can best be made by the Winchester rifle.”
Teddy Roosevelt
Vince said
Get that poor excuse of a srewmagler away. Use only hollowgroud screwdrivers. But I’m sure you know that. I’m looking for its baby brother the 03 . Maybe for Christmas , if I find one at the Reno show.
Give me a little time and it won’t be as offensive……… I have one of those little rascals (03) in the stable already. I redid it about 4 years ago. I wish Aquila would of put a little more zip in the run of ammo they produced in 22 Auto. I have a few boxes of WW and the report is substantially louder. The Aquila is barely adequate to cycle the rifle. Just something to keep in mind if you intend to shoot yours after you acquire it. There is about a 3″ difference in point of impact between the 2 different types of ammo. There was an 03 for sale at the local show here today. The guy wanted 700 for it and it was a “brown” specimen. Solid complete rifle with good wood, just no blue.
Erin
TXGunNut said
Interesting, been seeing a .351 now and then as well. Have you decided what you’ll be doing with this old warhorse?
I will have to give it a full face lift. It wouldn’t look correct with new wood and “old blue”. When it’s done I fully intend to fill a doe tag or two with it.
It’s a shame the ammo is miserable to locate or reload. Odd bore size and only a couple custom bullet makers have slugs for it. It sounds like IMR 4227 is “the” powder for it. A few guys have posted they are using 10mm dies for it (which I have) and getting acceptable results without having to buy a set of 401 dies. Load develpment is a little ways down the road.
Erin
Nice 22auto . Did you cold blue or rust blue yourself? It really cost to much to hot blue, but I would love to have the ability. I enjoy bringing gun I call scratch & dents back to some semblance of good condition and of course shooting them.
Looking at your pics reminded me how much I dislike the trigger guard on the 03. It is just too round, unsightly. And Winchester was known for grace and styling. But then “Carbine” Williams ” had a big roll in the 1903. Well that’s what I read in 1 article.
Vince
Southern Oregon
NRA member
Fraternal Order of Eagles
“There is but one answer to be made to the dynamite bomb and that can best be made by the Winchester rifle.”
Teddy Roosevelt
November 7, 2015
Offline
Some guys on another site are .351/.401 fans. I’ll check out the reloading threads and see if I can be of help.
Would .38-40 bullets work? They are not too difficult to find.
RCBS Cowboy Dies .38 WCF for seating/crimping?
FromTheWoods said
Would .38-40 bullets work? They are not too difficult to find.RCBS Cowboy Dies .38 WCF for seating/crimping?
Not quite………38 WCF has a .401 bore and the 401 Winchester has a .406 bore diameter. I don’t believe accuracy would be acceptable.
The proper bullets are out there, they are just a little pricey. That’s just the price of admission for playing with old obsolete calibers. Old factory ammo seems to be going for about $5.00 a round and that just takes all the fun out of it.
I have seen write ups of guys using 10mm dies for the whole reloading operation. I have a set of those, If I can’t make those work I believe CH4D dies are the most reasonable to purchase for caliber specific.
I see Ron Reed has an ad on GB for loaded ammo, I believe he will also sell components ie. brass and bullets. I need to give him a call.
Erin
TXGunNut said
Some guys on another site are .351/.401 fans. I’ll check out the reloading threads and see if I can be of help.
Thanks! More info is always appreciated.
Erin
November 7, 2015
Offline
Erin Grivicich said
Thanks! More info is always appreciated.
Erin
If you’re a bullet caster I know that Tom @ Accurate Molds can make one of his 38-40 moulds a bit larger to fit your rifle. He can also do custom designs. Doesn’t matter in your case but his turn-around is usually quite fast, very remarkable for custom moulds of this quality.
I can’t recall the details of brass situation but I know at least one guy that can reform brass to make almost anything. I’ll do some checking later today. Headed for the club to do some research in applied physics.
Vince said
Nice 22auto . Did you clod blue or rust blue yourself? It really cost to much to hot blue, but I would love to have the abil1903. I enjoy bringing gun I call scratch & dents back to some semblance of good condition and of course shooting them.Looking at your pics reminded me how much I dislike the trigger guard on the 03. It is just too round, unsightly. And Winchester was known for race and styling. But then “Carbine” Williams ” had a big roll in the 1903. Well that’s what I read in 1 article.
Vince,
I rust blued that one. I do have tanks for hot blue also.
Erin
.406–I knew something was wrong with my question shortly after I posted it since there are many 10mm bullets out there, and you were saying bullets that fit were hard to find. Thanks for the enlightenment.
FromTheWoods said
.406–I knew something was wrong with my question shortly after I posted it since there are many 10mm bullets out there, and you were saying bullets that fit were hard to find. Thanks for the enlightenment.
Not so much hard to find, just very limited choices that are a bit spendy………..
Erin
After quite a few hours of polishing metal and inletting and shaping wood I think the old girl is finally ready to go out dancing. I’m still working on the proper sights. I do have the rear but I need the elevator. Anyway I did a couple things a bit different than the factory…….. I put a more defined pistol grip with a grip cap on it. Not to the extent of a deluxe model just something a little more definitive. I always thought the grip area on 05’s, 07’s and 10’s looked kind of cheesy and not very well thought out so this is my version of an improvement. I matt finished the end and recess cut on the forearm cap. I was going to matt the top of the receiver but there just is no clean place to break the matt finish from a polished finish so I decided against it. I went 1/4 longer than standard length of pull and went a bit heavier on the wood through the grip area. I also left a bit more wood on the forearm as the eggshell ones Winchester put on were so prone to breakage. The original I took off this came out in six pieces. A layer of fiberglass on the inside would really be the way to go, maybe on the next one……… The last photo shows where I pimped her out just a little. Anyway here she is!
Nice Work! Serial #203?
Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
November 7, 2015
Offline
Very nice! Good call on the wood modifications, should work better than new.
JWA said
Nice Work! Serial #203?Regards,
Thanks JWA,
Yes, serial #203 It’s the lowest numbered Winchester I own, Which isn’t saying a whole lot………
Best,
Erin
TXGunNut said
Very nice! Good call on the wood modifications, should work better that new.
Thanks Mike,
Sometimes I should leave well enough alone and other times it works out.
Best,
Erin
Erin Grivicich said
Thanks JWA,
Yes, serial #203 It’s the lowest numbered Winchester I own, Which isn’t saying a whole lot………
Best,
Erin
Well, I got 203 beat, I have some Winchester 22s with NO serial number…..that’s lower than #1 right?
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
1 Guest(s)
