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September 22, 2011
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.30-06?
Or can it mean something like .303 British?
Or…???
June 26, 2013
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Likely .30 U.S. (or .30-40 Krag).
September 22, 2011
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deerhunter said
Likely .30 U.S. (or .30-40 Krag).
That’s what I would have thought. This is the letter for a rifle in .303 British with British proofmarks as well.
However, ALL other .303 British rifles I found on the internet with factory letters say .303 and not .30 caliber.
September 19, 2014
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Under the circumstances, I suggest the reinterpretation of the record and committing to the letter, induced a typo. As in a dropped number when it should have been .303. Also could be the person entering the data back when also omitted the final digit.
Tim
November 7, 2015
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Considering the date my guess would be 30US especially if the barrel was manufactured before the introduction of other 30 caliber chamberings. I’d have to consult my 1895 book to see if .303 was a possibility. Does the receiver have a guide for stripper clips?
Mike
September 29, 1993
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Agree with Deerhunter: 30 U.S. same as 30-40.
Rick
WACA Life Benefactor Member
NRA Life Member
August 27, 2014
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Is the barrel British proofed?
“If you can’t convince them, confuse them”
President Harry S. Truman
September 22, 2011
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Tedk said
Is the barrel British proofed?
Yes I believe so.
Described as having period London proofs.
September 22, 2011
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Here’s the factory letter on this rifle, which is photographed and discussed for Madis’ book.
With British proofmarks, seems it should be .303 British to begin with, but the letter does not say this. Many on the same page of the ledger are listed as caliber .303 which makes a transcription error less likely.
Should you run across this one, a (possible) caveat emptor!
WINCHESTER MODEL 1895 – SERIAL NUMBER 57985
Serial number applied on March 26, 1907
Type: Rifle
Caliber: 30
Received in warehouse on May 09, 1907
Shipped from warehouse on May 11, 1907, Order number 100373
April 15, 2005
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Ian,
With that information on the letter (in the ledger), and the fact that the gun itself is marked “30” and not “303”, the only logical conclusion is that it is a 30/40 Krag (30 U.S. or 30 ARMY).
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
September 19, 2014
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IF the RIFLE (not a ‘gun’) is marked 30 and the letter and ledger say 30, then it is a 30 Army/30 US/30-40 Krag or should be. NOT any idea why the caliber didn’t include the rest of the caliber marking in 1907, however. Have to agree with caveat emptor! Tim
September 22, 2011
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Bert H. said
Ian,
With that information on the letter (in the ledger), and the fact that the gun itself is marked “30” and not “303”, the only logical conclusion is that it is a 30/40 Krag (30 U.S. or 30 ARMY).
Bert
This is rather curious/confounding. With British proofmarks, it surely must have shipped to the UK with the current .303 British barrel as I’m sure that a .303 British barrel for a Winchester 1895 isn’t exactly common in the UK. Unless the ledger is in error, which seems unlikely, it must have started out in .30/40 Krag before the original or a subsequent owner elected to swap barrels and export to the UK.
Logical…???
April 15, 2005
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mrcvs said
Bert H. said
Ian,
With that information on the letter (in the ledger), and the fact that the gun itself is marked “30” and not “303”, the only logical conclusion is that it is a 30/40 Krag (30 U.S. or 30 ARMY).
Bert
This is rather curious/confounding. With British proofmarks, it surely must have shipped to the UK with the current .303 British barrel as I’m sure that a .303 British barrel for a Winchester 1895 isn’t exactly common in the UK. Unless the ledger is in error, which seems unlikely, it must have started out in .30/40 Krag before the original or a subsequent owner elected to swap barrels and export to the UK.
Logical…???
Logical?… No.
Possible… certainly, but then again, almost anything could be possible.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
March 25, 2024
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MRVCS it would be good to ckeck what calibers were available in the 1895 Win before the 30/06 a cartridge known as 30/03 which was not well known was in existence this was not the 303 british different bullet diameter check a cartridge collectors listing to verify this hope this helps gene66
September 22, 2011
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And here’s the rifle. I didn’t bid on it due to the discrepancy in the letter.
March 25, 2024
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Mrcvs I just looked at Ray Giles book on Win cartridge boxes 1856-1956 pg 202 shows the 30/03 cartridge and that it was made in 30/03 caliber for the Win 1895 even though it has British proof marks it might not be for 303 British I would contact Cody Museum to check if they have factory record of the serial number as proof of the original caliber good luck hope this input helps gene66
September 22, 2011
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gene66 said
Mrcvs I just looked at Ray Giles book on Win cartridge boxes 1856-1956 pg 202 shows the 30/03 cartridge and that it was made in 30/03 caliber for the Win 1895 even though it has British proof marks it might not be for 303 British I would contact Cody Museum to check if they have factory record of the serial number as proof of the original caliber good luck hope this input helps gene66
THIS rifle IS inn.303 British.
The Cody records say Caliber .30 which is NOT one and the same as .303 British.
Hence, it doesn’t “letter”.
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