To the best of my knowledge, NO they did not. If you find someone trying to sell you one, I’d be very suspicious that it is a fake. Which I’ve seen.

Ideal made tools and molds during the early 1900s in the .405 WCF. So if you want a some what period tool, Ideal is best bet. 

To elaborate further, very few Winchester loading tools and molds were designed for use with Smokeless powder. The few calibers that were designed with smokeless in mind were encouraged to be reloaded with Black Powder by the company. For their Reloading Tools, only one tool was utilized for smokeless cartridges, the 1894 Tool. Which should be obvious as to why, but to state the obvious, smokeless wasn’t loaded by Winchester until 1893-95 timeframe. As it basically hadn’t been invented yet.

In the 1894 Tool, cataloged was basically six smokeless cartridges. The .236 U.S. Navy, 25-35 WCF, 30 WCF, 30 Gov., 303 Savage, and 32 W.S. 

The .236 Navy is a rare hard to find tool. The 32 W.S. was marketed as designed for both smokeless and black powder. The 25-35 WCF, 30 WCF & 30 Gov. were also sold with “Short Range” dies for loading with black powder.   

In the 1894 Tool, un-cataloged calibers are reportedly in .32 S.L., 35 S.L., .401 S.L. and 33 WCF. All being extremely rare. I own a tool in .401 S.L. that was once owned by Lewis Yearout.

In the Bullet Mold, only Short Range molds were sold for the 25-35 WCF, 30 WCF and 30 Gov. I don’t believe they made a mold for the 303 Savage. They did make a mold marked for the .32 W.S. and depending on when it was made will be found in 100grs Round Bullet or 117 grains flat point bullet. 

Here are some pictures of a 1894 Tool with a bunch of Faked or Homemade dies. One of which is in 405 WCF, 22 Lovell, 300 Savage and another in 219 Zipper, which Winchester never made.

Other than Winchester wanting to discourage the act of reloading with smokeless. The standard size 1894 Tool is basically too short to reload the 405 WCF. It is a rather long cartridge. The 1882 Tool with and adjustable die could have possibly worked, but Winchester never made it for any smokeless calibers.

Sincerely,

Maverick

I will have to look but Winchester was saying not to reload.  It is in one of the Winchester catalogs I have. 

On pages 155 and 156 of the 1920 Catalog under “Reloading Smokeless Cartridges Impractical”  they talk about the issues of loading with smokeless powder. 

“For this reason, the Winchester Repeating Arms Company cautions it’s patrons against loading or reloading smokeless powder rifle ammunition, and wishes to do its utmost to discourage this practice”

You’ll notice that the “Proper Loads of Smokeless Powder For Winchester Rifle and Pistol Cartridges” is its own separate pamphlet and the information was intentionally not put on the instruction sheet or in catalogs. These pamphlets were included in the boxed reloading tools and also inside ammunition boxes during certain years of production. I have found different variations of these pamphlets from 1898 to 1905. I have yet to locate one dated after 1905, they may exist but hadn’t found one yet. They also made a separate pamphlet(s) that discusses loading shot shells with smokeless powders. 

Chuck said  I have no idea if smokeless problems influenced the loading tools?  

Very much so, along with dealing with lawsuits from injured or killed customers that mistakenly / wrongfully reloaded ammunition with smokeless powders. Winchester slowly began discouraging reloading with smokeless and over time more so. Ultimately until getting out of the reloading business. 

For their smokeless cartridges they even began not including powder measures with their tools to discourage reloading smokeless.

This notice is from a 1911-1913 dated era tool. Statements were put on box end labels and warnings were placed on hang tags on rifles.

They had developed these and other various forms of ad campaigns discouraging reloading with smokeless up until the 1916 Catalog #80 which removes all information, prices, pictures, or any data pertaining to loading tools or bullet molds. They do continue to sell primers, primed and empty cases and bullets. And the catalog goes on to state “Winchester Repeating Arms Co., cautions its patrons against loading or reloading smokeless powder rifle ammunition, and wishes to do its utmost to discourage this practice.”  

Maybe one day I’ll get around to writing an article in specific detail about this topic and/or include it in a book.

Sincerely,

Maverick

28 gauge said

 Interesting about the 32,35, 401 and 33 dies? Was a bullet mold available for them? Were they for short range as well?  

The tools in .32 S.L., 35 S.L., .401 S.L. and 33 WCF were all apparently special order. To the best of my knowledge no bullet molds were available or ever made. These non-cataloged calibers were not for “short range” cartridges, at least not the self-loaders as that would cause jamming issues. These tools would have been intended loading using primed empty cases and pre-cast factory made bullets. Not with bullets cast from your own mold.

In the Bullet Mold, only Short Range molds were sold for the 25-35 WCF, 30 WCF and 30 Gov. This just has to do with just the molds. But Winchester also sold factory made grooved bullets of lead and/or jacketed bullets for loading smokeless cartridges. Often sold packaged in a box of 25 bullets per box.

Which in my mind was certainly mixed messaging for a number of years on their part. We “Winchester” state that we discourage you from Reloading with Smokeless. But we will sell you the primers, brass, powder, and bullets along with giving you a pamphlet on how to do so. Which is why ultimately, among other reasons, why they got out of the reloading tool business. 

Sincerely,

Maverick