Log In
January 20, 2023
Offline
Having gotten my Model 07 to successfully feed, fire and eject (!) fresh commercial ammunition made from modified .357 Maximum brass, I’m ready to reload fired cases.
Having done some research, the balance of opinion favors very fast rifle or magnum pistol powders, with some specific starting recommendations of 16 grains of 4227, 2400, or 296/110.
Because I have good quantities of Olin 296 on hand and have had good experiences with it, all the way from 22 Hornet to 357, 41, and 44 magnum, I propose to make up a ladder from 16 to 18 grains of 296, using Winchester WST large primers, Graf 180 grain brass plated RN bullets, in what are likely modified Remington brand 357 Max brass, now once fired.
Ten of the Graf bullets have been seated to factory OAL and roll crimped in the cannnelure of once fired, dead/inert primered, FL resized, vintage Western brass. Loaded into a 5-round magazine, these were fed and ejected repeatedly using the operating rod sleeve, to test whether these bullets and the 07 feed ramp can get along. They can.
When Winchester-Western discontinued their SuperX commercial ammunition [W351SL2], the 180 grain softpoint bullet was advertised to have a muzzle velocity of 1870 foot seconds from the 20″ barrel, producing 1400 foot pounds of muzzle energy. Not a pipsqueak cartridge. I’ll chronograph my loads but all I’m looking for is from 1600 to 1700 foot seconds.
I’d welcome comment, particularly from those with reloading experience in the caliber.
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
November 7, 2015
Online
Zeb-
I believe your starting loads may provide clues to what it takes to cycle the 07 action. I like 296 in some RBH-only 45 Colt loads. Should prove interesting!
Mike
January 20, 2023
Offline
Like Johnson’s Model 63, the 07 is interesting (to me) because it is beautifully made and because it is built to work and last. Some of Winchester’s finest craftsmanship went into these self loaders. And a lot of creativity to snake around all the Browning patents.
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
November 7, 2015
Online
Zebulon said
Like Johnson’s Model 63, the 07 is interesting (to me) because it is beautifully made and because it is built to work and last. Some of Winchester’s finest craftsmanship went into these self loaders. And a lot of creativity to snake around all the Browning patents.
Actually it goes back to Johnson’s 1903 which is the predecessor to your 07. The 1903 was a very simple design that evolved to the Model 63 about 30 years later to take advantage of the improvements to 22LR ammo. As a blowback design it has problems but was a very good design for its time, IMHO.
Mike
January 8, 2025
Offline
TXGunNut said
Zebulon said
Like Johnson’s Model 63, the 07 is interesting (to me) because it is beautifully made and because it is built to work and last. Some of Winchester’s finest craftsmanship went into these self loaders. And a lot of creativity to snake around all the Browning patents.
Actually it goes back to Johnson’s 1903 which is the predecessor to your 07. The 1903 was a very simple design that evolved to the Model 63 about 30 years later to take advantage of the improvements to 22LR ammo. As a blowback design it has problems but was a very good design for its time, IMHO.
Mike
After working on mine , I noticed things about it that every modern semi auto has. It seems to be the grandfather and the Johnson the great grandfather. It’s likely under appreciated due to the chambering. It is definitely one of my favorites so far. Easy tie with the 92 in 25-20. They are just fun to shoot. Ammo is hard to come by. But 1 full magazine, they make excellent “truck guns”.
November 7, 2015
Online
MidwestCrisis said
TXGunNut said
Zebulon said
Like Johnson’s Model 63, the 07 is interesting (to me) because it is beautifully made and because it is built to work and last. Some of Winchester’s finest craftsmanship went into these self loaders. And a lot of creativity to snake around all the Browning patents.
Actually it goes back to Johnson’s 1903 which is the predecessor to your 07. The 1903 was a very simple design that evolved to the Model 63 about 30 years later to take advantage of the improvements to 22LR ammo. As a blowback design it has problems but was a very good design for its time, IMHO.
Mike
After working on mine , I noticed things about it that every modern semi auto has. It seems to be the grandfather and the Johnson the great grandfather. It’s likely under appreciated due to the chambering. It is definitely one of my favorites so far. Easy tie with the 92 in 25-20. They are just fun to shoot. Ammo is hard to come by. But 1 full magazine, they make excellent “truck guns”.
I very much enjoyed researching and writing “T. C. Johnson and the Model 1903 Winchester” for the Winter 2024 Collector. If you haven’t read it I think you may enjoy doing so. In fact, I enjoyed it so much I recently finished a “prequel” for a future issue.
Mike
1 Guest(s)
