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I’m not interested in this gun at all, but was just surprised to see an old octagon barreled 1895 re-bored to .405 WCF. If you zoom in on the top barrel flat, you can see the two proof-marks (indicating a mail order replacement barrel) and the remnants of an old caliber marking (guessing 40-72 WCF). Since the .405 WCF is such a hot smokeless cartridge, it surprises me that someone would re-bore for that caliber from a barrel that was designed to shoot only black powder cartridges. That would sure make me flinch touching one of those off in this rifle.
Don
Don,
I doubt that it was originally a 40-72 WCF barrel. The bore diameter of the 40-72 is too large to cleanly rebore & rerifle it to the 405 WCF dimensions. Instead, it must have been a 38-72 WCF barrel. Further, if it is not a nickel steel barrel (smokeless powder), it was not designed for jacketed bullets at 2200 fps.
In regards to your trepidations about shooting it, I agree… I certainly would not do it either.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
I think the rifle is a mess and wouldn’t be interested in it. I suppose if someone gave it to me, I might shoot it. I would use lead bullets with reduced loads that would duplicate .40-72 black powder factory equivalent loads. I’d want to slug the barrel too. But, this is a rifle to stay away from for sure. Way overpriced for what it is.
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