Finally bought a 357 lever gun

[Pablo]

A Winchester. A converted .32-20. Completely rebuilt and refinished. A pretty amazing little shooter. Handles all ammo that I fed it - hot .357 w/heavy and light bullets, +P Treasury rounds, 38 special w/heavy and light bullets. I was shooting moving targets - the star of death at a decent distance.

Fun gun, I did a thorough cleaning last night and the action is smoother than any 357 lever I ever touched.

 

[Turk]

Nice.

 

[renegade_987]

Originally Posted By: tpitcher
Nice.

+1

 

[Pablo]

SN 723XX. Made in 1894. It sucks that it's a "ruined" relic. My heart says the gun should have been kept as the original. It was converted in the 1960's, before our time really. I got it for less than the price of a new Marlin, certainly less than a used Browning 357. Kinda glad I didn't buy a Rossi or Puma.

 

[greenaccord02]

You should post a pic. I bet it's a beauty.

I don't think of guns like that as 'ruined relics' unless they're highly, highly collectible and sought after. What you've got there is a great old gun that got a second lease on life.

 

[otis24]

Congratulations on a nice find. Just think of the conversion as part of its history. But, like you, I think its a shame that its not "original".

 

[Pablo]

I would never convert an old gun (well at least that is my stance). One could argue my buying one already converted spurs the market for such things.....maybe. The round barrel 32-20 (32 WCF) are not super rare. I tell you a good smooth 357 1892 would be selling like hotcakes in the $500 range. Rossi is blowing it.

Anyway maybe pics later today.

 

[Steve S]

I would say you found a treasure . The old Winchesters are really nice to shoot and are great rifles.

 

[G-MAN]

I would only shoot 38s in that gun. It may be chambered for 357 but the steel used in 1894 is not up to the pounding of full-house (35,000 psi) 357 loads. The 32-20 was a blackpowder cartridge (as was the 38 Special when it was introduced).

 

[Pablo]

Originally Posted By: G-MAN
I would only shoot 38s in that gun. It may be chambered for 357 but the steel used in 1894 is not up to the pounding of full-house (35,000 psi) 357 loads. The 32-20 was a blackpowder cartridge (as was the 38 Special when it was introduced).


I was worried about this as well, but actually it's not not a real concern. The size and strength of the barrel can easily handle the pressure. Plenty of reading material on the web about it. Plus the old guy has been shooting 357 in it since 1968. Barrel is still very nice.

One quote:

Quote:
"Do we really feel that the aging metal of the Winchester 1892 can safely support a current technology 357 round?"..............the m-92's (and m-86's) were 'over built' for their original calibers and are safe with both the .357 mag. and .44 mag. (thank you John M. Browning). assuming they were properly converted (bushed firing pin and properly headspaced).

 

[G-MAN]

Originally Posted By: Pablo
Originally Posted By: G-MAN
I would only shoot 38s in that gun. It may be chambered for 357 but the steel used in 1894 is not up to the pounding of full-house (35,000 psi) 357 loads. The 32-20 was a blackpowder cartridge (as was the 38 Special when it was introduced).


I was worried about this as well, but actually it's not not a real concern. The size and strength of the barrel can easily handle the pressure.


If the barrel was rechambered for 357 (rather than the gun being rebarreled for 357) I would definitely not shoot a 35,000 psi cartridge in a barrel that was proofed for blackpowder. If it was rebarreled with a modern steel barrel, my other concern would be peening of the locking lugs, bolt setback, and headspace problems.

 

[Pablo]

The barrel is Winchester marked on top and it's also marked 357 Magnum. It looks newish and beefy. The club gunsmith went through it and said it locks up fine, and no headspace issues. He said I could shoot 357 mag with no issues. Thanks for all the concern - if it explodes, I'll let you know.

 

[Johnny]

Well, show us a picture of it.

 

[Thomas1190]

We want pictures! I love lever actions. I just bought my first one off of gunbroker for a pretty good price, a Marlin Cowboy Limited in 45LC. Cant wait to get it!

 

[Shannow]

Pablo,
Personally, I think an 1892 will tell you a long time before you get hurt that it's not happy.

And I wouldn't feel at all bad about some bloke converting it over 40 years ago. Local gunsmith (and that's too pedestrian a word for his works should people commission his good stuff) is doing Martinis in .357.

.310 Cadet is fines when you can find a soft lead heeled bullet and cases....357 gets them back out of the cupboard and onto the range.

'Gratz on the find.

I'm sort of half leaning towards an 1892 in .357, as I can use it at the local range rather than the .44.

 

[Pablo]

Originally Posted By: Johnny
Well, show us a picture of it.


Lousy shot:

 

[greenaccord02]

Very pretty!

Originally Posted By: Shannow
.310 Cadet is fines when you can find a soft lead heeled bullet and cases....357 gets them back out of the cupboard and onto the range.


That's what I'm saying!

 

[UncleS2]

Congrats!

Looks really sweet, I'd much prefer that to any Marlin, Puma, Rossi, etc. I like the rcvr sight too- it may not look very "Cowboy", but it should shoot very well. You might even experiment with removing the aperture disk & using it as a ghost ring- very quick & much more accurate than many people think.

I considered hunting up a receiver sight for our old recently-returned-to-the-family lever action, a Sears Model 54- that's a model 94 Winchester .30-30 mfg by Winchester for Sears with a few mods, like a steel forend cap. That photo has me thinking about it again- it's all your fault, Pablo!

 

[Pablo]

It's a Williams sight. I don't like that it sticks out, but WOW it's accurate and quick. I was shooting moving targets. Ever shot a death star, aka Texas Star? 5 iron targets.....first time I shot the gun 5 for 5. The old guy was telling me how to use it, but I kinda tuned him out and shot. He's like "don't seem like you need much help"

They want my shooting buddy and me to join their club.

 

[Bryanccfshr]

Congrats Pablo I suffer Levergun addiction.