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I’d be willing to bet that this barrel came from an 1885 high-wall single shot rifle. 30″ would be the standard length. Per Wikipedia, the 40-72 was chambered in the model 1895 and 1885 (see link below).
I believe it is a 95 barrel, the breech end looks correct. I don’t think it’s a modified 85 barrel as there would be a very deep extractor cut on the right side.
Off the top of my head the shank DIA and thread pitch are the same for the 85 and 95 at 16 TPI, so a 85 barrel will screw into a 95
Interesting
V/R
Mike
I have a beautiful 40-72 first made in November 1895. That makes it one of the first made. The problem is I can’t find brass to reload. Can anyone help. Love this rifle but will sell it if I can’t find what I need to fire it. I reload my own ammo.
It is my understanding that 40-72 WCF can be very easily formed from 405 WCF brass.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
You are reading a post from a guy on the internet, so take this for what it’s worth: Based on the photos alone, from what I can see, if I were you, I’d get some really good lighting and a good magnifying glass and give one more good, close look at that area. It **seems* to be different than the areas to the left and right of where the address should be.
Bert H. said
It is my understanding that 40-72 WCF can be very easily formed from 405 WCF brass.
Bert
Bert is correct that .405 brass can be used. Get The Handloader’s Manual of Cartridge Conversions by John J. Donnelly. You have to trim the OD of the rim and then thin it. Cut the case to length, full size it and you may have to neck ream.
Mount the case in a drill press and use sandpaper or a file if you don’t have access to a lathe. Bullets are shown as .406″-.408″ diameter at 330 grains. Somewhere under 40 grains of 3031 may be a starting load. Mike Venturino’s book states 21 to 22 grains of XMP 5744. I use toilet paper to fill the void above the powder to the base of the seated bullet.
deerhunter said
I’d be willing to bet that this barrel came from an 1885 high-wall single shot rifle. 30″ would be the standard length.
Maybe…but I’ve never seen a SS brl. without that address. (Which I’ve often cursed, because it’s sprawled out so far that it’s almost impossible to mount scope blocks without drilling into the makings.)
Chuck said
Guys, Donnie has entered his question on a Post from 2014.
deerhunter said
I’d be willing to bet that this barrel came from an 1885 high-wall single shot rifle. 30″ would be the standard length. Per Wikipedia, the 40-72 was chambered in the model 1895 and 1885 (see link below).
Don,
You would lose that bet. Winchester manufactured exactly one single Model 1885 rifle in 40-72 WCF.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Donnie Hightower said
I have a beautiful 40-72 first made in November 1895. That makes it one of the first made. The problem is I can’t find brass to reload. Can anyone help. Love this rifle but will sell it if I can’t find what I need to fire it. I reload my own ammo.
I’m trying not to complain here, but you confused the hell out of me when you posted this in a 6 year old forum topic. 
Good luck with the reloading. Hornady makes pretty regular runs of .405 brass. So I think its feasible to get the job done.
Sincerely,
Maverick
WACA #8783 - Checkout my Reloading Tool Survey!
https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-research-surveys/winchester-reloading-tool-survey/
Donnie Hightower said
I have a beautiful 40-72 first made in November 1895. That makes it one of the first made. The problem is I can’t find brass to reload. Can anyone help. Love this rifle but will sell it if I can’t find what I need to fire it. I reload my own ammo.
Donnie,
Buffalo Arms sells both brass and loaded ammo for the 40-72:
https://www.buffaloarms.com/obsolete-hard-to-find-ammunition
Rocky Mountain Cartridge Co. sells a turned brass 40-72 case:
http://rockymountaincartridge.com/products.htm
I’d be very interested in hearing more about your rifle. I have several very early 1895’s in my collection as well. If you would prefer to talk privately, my e-mail is: [email protected]
Also, Brad Dunbar is compiling a survey of Winchester 1895’s. If you would like to contribute info about your rifle for the survey, he can be reached at: [email protected]
Mark
I deleted my original old post thinking it would make the thread less confusing, but fear it may have made the thread even more confusing for some.
The answer to why some 1895 barrels have a barrel address and some don’t is that the information was stamped on the barrels on first model (flatsides) and was subsequently moved to the receivers of second model 1895’s. So barrels made for the flatsides will have barrel addresses, while barrels made for second model 1895’s will not.
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