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May 26, 2018
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I’ve always wondered why center fire pump actions (rifle calibers) never caught on. I think the Colt Lightning went up to at least 44WCF but I’ve never seen any reference to Winchester going this route.
Is the action any less strong than a lever action?
June 7, 2018
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They did make the Model 88 starting in 1956 I believe. Made in a number of modern cartridge chamberings.
January 19, 2006
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I thought the M88 was a lever gun.
Steve.
WACA Member. CFM Member. NRA Lifer.
April 15, 2005
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jban said
I’ve always wondered why center fire pump actions (rifle calibers) never caught on. I think the Colt Lightning went up to at least 44WCF but I’ve never seen any reference to Winchester going this route.Is the action any less strong than a lever action?
Colt made the Lightning rifles in cartridges as large as the 50-95 WCF (I recently had my hands on one at the WACA show in Cody last month).
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
November 1, 2013
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jban said
I’ve always wondered why center fire pump actions (rifle calibers) never caught on. I think the Colt Lightning went up to at least 44WCF but I’ve never seen any reference to Winchester going this route.Is the action any less strong than a lever action?
Damn sure strong enough for .30-06 in Remington’s slide actions! Furthermore, I’ve always found slide-actions easier & quicker to cycle than lever guns, because the recoil is working “with” you to manipulate the action. Maybe the reason the Army continues to issue pump shotguns, rather than autos.
May 26, 2018
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Those answers are what made me wonder why Winchester didn’t go into the larger calibers with this action. It would seem that if they made the slide for the more modern hunting rounds they would have been a natural to those who prefer it. To me the slide action is a natural and if I were looking at something like a 30-xx in lever and slide I might have chosen the latter.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the levers too.
November 7, 2015
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May be something as simple as the mechanical advantage of a lever to assist in chambering or extracting sticky rounds.
Mike
May 23, 2009
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One reason I believe Winchester never made larger framed pump action rifle had to do with possible patent infringement issues between them and Colt. But they did make several larger caliber experimental guns. Some of which were designed by John Browning himself. I’ve often wondering how a larger scaled version of the Model 1890 pump action rifle would perform.
Sincerely,
Maverick
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November 1, 2013
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Maverick said
I’ve often wondering how a larger scaled version of the Model 1890 pump action rifle would perform.
Well, if you can forego the exposed hammer, get your hands on a M. 25 Remington in .25-20 or .32-20 and you’ll know–you couldn’t empty the 10-round mag faster with a semi-auto!
November 19, 2006
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Even though I am mainly a lever guy, I am not immune to the allure of a slide action rifle.
Why Winchester did not make a slide action high power rifle is an interesting question given Winchester made tons of slide action shotguns and .22 rifles.
Remington did a good business with the M14 centerfire pump (followed by the M141). And of course Remington went on to sell a ton of M760’s and 7600’s (in cartridges as large as .35 Whelan). I’ve owned Remington M25 rifles and carbines (.25-20 and .32-20) and they are slick little rifles. I also have a M14 and 1/2 rifle in .44/40. I’ve kept that one a safe queen given it is in extremely high condition. I have some Colt Lightings but one of my favorite shooters is a Colt Express rifle in .40-60 Colt (i.e. .40-65 Winchester). The action is very slick and it is fun to empty a large caliber like that so quickly. I could never empty an ’86 Winchester that quickly. I have never had extraction issues with any slide action I’ve owned.
Bert mentioned the Colt Express rifle in .50-95. That is a rifle I have lusted for over the decades. I think I have seen about six advertised for sale over the years. They are plenty rare. However, on the subject of vintage .50 caliber slide actions, I do have one. A Standard Arms Camp .50. These are not found every day.
