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Low End Price for Shooter?
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January 10, 2021 - 6:51 pm
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It may be heresy to talk about the Miroku “Winchesters” on this forum, but have you considered one of them as a shooter?  I own a couple of the Miroku 1873’s and they are well made with nice actions.  They are not actual reproductions of the original Winchesters.  They seem closer to the Uberti rifles.

I have not seen a Miroku 1892 but I suspect they are just as nice as the 1873’s.  These rifles seem to be priced from around $1000 on up depending on stocks, etc.

As always, your mileage may vary.

I call myself a collector as it sounds better than hoarder

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January 10, 2021 - 8:14 pm
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Bill Hockett said

I have not seen a Miroku 1892 but I suspect they are just as nice as the 1873’s.  These rifles seem to be priced from around $1000 on up depending on stocks, etc.

I should think they’d be “nice” for a grand!  But but before spending that for a repro, I’d put that money into an original.  A Rossi repro can be bought for about $500, & the one I mentioned above was very slick.

The Miroku 52 Sporters are very well thought off, & also sell, I think, for about $1000.  However, in this case the price diff between original & repro is much greater–an original 52 Sporter would be five times that amount.

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January 10, 2021 - 8:22 pm
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Chuck said

Ah, Clarence I doubt you worry much at all.    

No, within not many yrs, ALL my worries will be over.  However, anybody who owns a gun other than antiques had BETTER worry!  And even owners of “antiques” ought to consider that the legal definition is not part of the Constitution & could be changed or revoked entirely by the next Congress. 

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January 11, 2021 - 2:38 am
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clarence said

The Miroku 52 Sporters are very well thought off, & also sell, I think, for about $1000.  However, in this case the price diff between original & repro is much greater–an original 52 Sporter would be five times that amount.  

By the way, what is this–a repro or a Winchester?  Read the marking on the rcvr before you answer.

https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-for-sale-online/rifles/winchester-rifles-model-52/winchester-52b-sporter-22lr.cfm?gun_id=101520404#lg-5

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January 16, 2021 - 8:15 pm
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First, I just want to thank everyone for the generousity of your thoughts. I am coming at this from a place of ignorance, so it’s nice to hear the back and forth.

When I said shooter, you’re probably right that I subconsciously meant “doesn’t have collectors value”, and I respect that this is the wrong frame of mind for it. If I’m truthful, I was hoping someone would say ‘for $600-700 you can find a beat up 92 in 357 from the 1980’s’ or something – but that’s obviously not a realistic price point.

I recently set myself up to reload the Savage 99 that was passed down to me from my father, but a part of me would rather find something in 357 simply for the ease of finding components (and low cost per round for plinking).

Recognizing that I would have to up my investment somewhat, how (or where) would you guys recommend I begin my search? 

thank you again.

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January 16, 2021 - 9:13 pm
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What’s the chambering of your Savage ’99?

As far as a more modern lever rifle in .357, let’s remember that the Winchester M94 was also made in .357 magnum.  Would one of those be acceptable, or are you set on the ’92 action?

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January 16, 2021 - 9:22 pm
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LD said I was hoping someone would say ‘for $600-700 you can find a beat up 92 in 357 from the 1980’s’ or something – but that’s obviously not a realistic price point.

“A beat up 92 in 357 from the 1980s” is going to be a repro, & you can certainly find that for LESS than 6 or 7 hundred.  A NEW Rossi is only about $600.  Then there are the El Tigre carbines made in Spain in the ’20s & ’30s.  Back in the ’70s they were being imported & sold so cheaply that I wish I’d bought a doz, but at the time I turned up my nose at them.  Don’t know what they bring now, but you can find out on GB.

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January 16, 2021 - 10:20 pm
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clarence said

  Then there are the El Tigre carbines made in Spain in the ’20s & ’30s.  Back in the ’70s they were being imported & sold so cheaply that I wish I’d bought a doz, but at the time I turned up my nose at them.  Don’t know what they bring now, but you can find out on GB.  

Holy Smoke!  Out of curiosity, I checked GB myself & damned if they aren’t bringing well over a grand!  Now I really repent that I didn’t buy an armload when they were under $100!

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January 17, 2021 - 12:05 am
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I was in your shoes once, a young (assuming) guy on a limited budget.  What I found is legwork and patience will always find a cheaper price than hitting GunBroker or just one gun shop.  Also, don’t narrow your search too much.  If it were me, I would go to the next 2-3 big gun shows, and also hit all the gun shops in your town, neighboring towns, for the next 6 months.  Don’t go in thinking “I gotta have a 1892 in .38-40”.  Say “I want a clean lever action in any centerfire caliber that was made from 1873 to 1964.  Carry $600 burning a hole in your pocket each time.  You’ll find one.  

I’ve built a collection over the decades that I’ve seldom paid “the going rate” for.  I buy when they are priced much lower than most people are paying.  It takes work and patience.  You can’t get cheap, good, and fast.  You must pick any two of those.  

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January 17, 2021 - 12:25 am
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AZshot said
I was in your shoes once, a young (assuming) guy on a limited budget.  What I found is legwork and patience will always find a cheaper price than hitting GunBroker or just one gun shop.  Also, don’t narrow your search too much.  If it were me, I would go to the next 2-3 big gun shows, and also hit all the gun shops in your town, neighboring towns, for the next 6 months.  Don’t go in thinking “I gotta have a 1892 in .38-40”.  Say “I want a clean lever action in any centerfire caliber that was made from 1873 to 1964.  Carry $600 burning a hole in your pocket each time.  You’ll find one.  

I’ve built a collection over the decades that I’ve seldom paid “the going rate” for.  I buy when they are priced much lower than most people are paying.  It takes work and patience.  You can’t get cheap, good, and fast.  You must pick any two of those.    

Very good advice, except that a ’73 (unrealistic) or ’92 is specifically what he seeks.  His $600 will buy other lever guns, but not those.  As you say, GB is no place to find a bargain, & seldom even a fair price.

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January 17, 2021 - 1:00 am
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It’s likely a function of the current climate out there, but I’ve noticed that .357 magnum lever rifles are selling for more money than they had been.  They are very popular right now.  As are other things like ammunition, reloading equipment and supplies, etc., etc., etc., etc.

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January 17, 2021 - 1:21 am
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AZshot said
I was in your shoes once, a young (assuming) guy on a limited budget.  What I found is legwork and patience will always find a cheaper price than hitting GunBroker or just one gun shop.  Also, don’t narrow your search too much.  If it were me, I would go to the next 2-3 big gun shows, and also hit all the gun shops in your town, neighboring towns, for the next 6 months.  Don’t go in thinking “I gotta have a 1892 in .38-40”.  Say “I want a clean lever action in any centerfire caliber that was made from 1873 to 1964.  Carry $600 burning a hole in your pocket each time.  You’ll find one.  

I’ve built a collection over the decades that I’ve seldom paid “the going rate” for.  I buy when they are priced much lower than most people are paying.  It takes work and patience.  You can’t get cheap, good, and fast.  You must pick any two of those.    

Seems sensible. Thank you.

 

My Savage is chambered in 250-3000 and was manufactured (if I’m remembering right) in 1952. I checked the rifling right at 1-14 twist hence the reloading. It will juuust stabilize the factory 100gr loads at 100 yards which is good enough for whitetail where I hunt up here in Minnesota/Wisconsin.

I’ll focus on the 92s in my search – which I think I would prefer anyway. I haven’t handled a 94, but I’m not quite as enamored with the long swinging action. 

Are the classifieds here very active?

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January 17, 2021 - 6:33 am
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clarence said

LD said I was hoping someone would say ‘for $600-700 you can find a beat up 92 in 357 from the 1980’s’ or something – but that’s obviously not a realistic price point.

“A beat up 92 in 357 from the 1980s” is going to be a repro, & you can certainly find that for LESS than 6 or 7 hundred.  A NEW Rossi is only about $600.  Then there are the El Tigre carbines made in Spain in the ’20s & ’30s.  Back in the ’70s they were being imported & sold so cheaply that I wish I’d bought a doz, but at the time I turned up my nose at them.  Don’t know what they bring now, but you can find out on GB.  

I’ll neither confirm or deny having a Rossi R92 in 38/357 around here somewhere but if I did I’d say it was cheap and fun to shoot. Some more ambitious souls have removed the opaque finish from the stocks and applied a nice finish. Haven’t priced them lately, tho.

I have a weakness for lower condition guns partly because of fiscal restraints. They can be frustrating to shoot and maintain and are often nearly impossible to sell. I love working on them and I don’t worry about making the occasional slip or faux pas because the collector value is low and I’m learning about the gun. They generally have buggered screws before I get them and I do a decent job of repairing them. I also appreciate the honesty of a well-worn Winchester; I’ll display one on the wall as proudly as any high-condition specimen. 

 

Mike

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January 17, 2021 - 12:57 pm
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LD said

Seems sensible. Thank you.

 

My Savage is chambered in 250-3000 and was manufactured (if I’m remembering right) in 1952. I checked the rifling right at 1-14 twist hence the reloading. It will juuust stabilize the factory 100gr loads at 100 yards which is good enough for whitetail where I hunt up here in Minnesota/Wisconsin.

I’ll focus on the 92s in my search – which I think I would prefer anyway. I haven’t handled a 94, but I’m not quite as enamored with the long swinging action. 

Are the classifieds here very active?  

I wouldn’t describe the classified here as active.

That .250 Savage sounds like just the ticket for Minnesota/Wisconsin whitetail.  However, I well-understand the desire to add another rifle to the herd.  Over the years I have occasionally seen the rifle offered for sale that would have been probably ideal for you.  That was, a vintage M1892 .32-20 that had been rebored to .357 magnum.  I suppose if you found a low end .32-20 with a bad bore, you might have it done.  I would speculate some feeding adjustments would need to be made so you would need a gunsmith experienced in such work.  

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January 17, 2021 - 2:30 pm
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steve004 said

I wouldn’t describe the classified here as active.

There’s a man given to understatement!

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January 17, 2021 - 2:36 pm
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TXGunNut said

I have a weakness for lower condition guns partly because of fiscal restraints. They can be frustrating to shoot and maintain and are often nearly impossible to sell.

Impossible to sell to a Winchester “collector,” but to a mere shooter who likes Old West guns, not so, IF priced right.  After all, you bought it, & so did whoever sold it to you.

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January 17, 2021 - 8:29 pm
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steve004 said: “Over the years I have occasionally seen the rifle offered for sale that would have been probably ideal for you.  That was, a vintage M1892 .32-20 that had been rebored to .357 magnum. .”    

If it were a 20 inch barrel, that would indeed be about perfect. Did Winchester do conversions at the factory?

I’ll try to think through a post for the classifieds, but if anyone thinks they might have something close to what’s been discussed here, please reach out: [email protected]

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January 17, 2021 - 11:05 pm
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LD said
steve004 said: “Over the years I have occasionally seen the rifle offered for sale that would have been probably ideal for you.  That was, a vintage M1892 .32-20 that had been rebored to .357 magnum. .”    

If it were a 20 inch barrel, that would indeed be about perfect. Did Winchester do conversions at the factory?

I’ll try to think through a post for the classifieds, but if anyone thinks they might have something close to what’s been discussed here, please reach out: [email protected]  

No, Winchester would have never converted a M1892 to a .357 magnum.  They converted a very few to .218 Bee, but beyond that, I am not aware of any other conversions they made to modern rifles.  All the .357’s I have seen were not done by Winchester.  

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January 18, 2021 - 1:17 am
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steve004 said

No, Winchester would have never converted a M1892 to a .357 magnum.  They converted a very few to .218 Bee, but beyond that, I am not aware of any other conversions they made to modern rifles.  All the .357’s I have seen were not done by Winchester.    

Ah, I had assumed that with the 357 coming around in the early 30’s this might have been the case.

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