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What the heck and did it anyway!
Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2023 3:03 pm
by fortyshooter
Just pulled the trigger on a Winchester 1892 chambered in .44-40 made in 1884 ! Looked good for it's age in the pics and after talking with the sales guy as he inspected it with a bore light. When it gets here I can have store return it if I don't like.
Why did I do this??? Well would be cool to have an old original Winchester...but now to dig up some 44-40 ammo! Won't shoot it a lot however.
Re: What the heck and did it anyway!
Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2023 3:30 pm
by North Country Gal
Please, please post pics when you get it. Doesn't get any more classic than that. And for those who don't know it, the 44-40 was the 30-30 of its day. Hard to say which cartridge has taken more deer.
Re: What the heck and did it anyway!
Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2023 3:54 pm
by daytime dave
Congratulations on a classic rifle in the classic chambering. Of course now you will need to track down a 44/40 Colt Single Action to go with it.
Re: What the heck and did it anyway!
Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2023 4:47 pm
by Centaur
It’s only money
Re: What the heck and did it anyway!
Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2023 6:01 pm
by Vaquero
Very cool, forty.
Can't wait ti see it, I have an original 1892 from 1912 or 13, but in 25-20.
You may want to look for some dies for it.
RP
Re: What the heck and did it anyway!
Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2023 6:33 pm
by cooperhawk
I have a Marlin 1892 lever action in .32 Long Colt that I've had for more than 40 years. I can't purchase ammo for it
anymore so I hand load all of it. It's a lot of fun to shoot. Kinda like a great big .22. Not much recoil at all.
Re: What the heck and did it anyway!
Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2023 7:23 pm
by fortyshooter
Okay so I ordered a box of 50 HSM Cowboy ammo at 77.95 to see how it shoots. I can get the die set from Redding and the shell plate kit from Dillon for my 550 press. Was hoping that Starline would have brass but out of stock right now so will try to reload the spent brass. I hear that 44-40 can be tricky to load so will see how that goes.
May see the rifle next week and this time it's coming FedEX to my local Cabelas with free shipping.
Well it don't look too bad for 129 yrs old! Guy said it was an estate sale item. Serial number check which I read of the rifle indicates 1894 as build date.
Re: What the heck and did it anyway!
Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2023 7:32 pm
by BigAl52
fortyshooter wrote: ↑Mon Sep 11, 2023 7:23 pm
Okay so I ordered a box of 50 HSM Cowboy ammo at 77.95 to see how it shoots. I can get the die set from Redding and the shell plate kit from Dillon for my 550 press. Was hoping that Starline would have brass but out of stock right now so will try to reload the spent brass. I hear that 44-40 can be tricky to load so will see how that goes.
May see the rifle next week and this time it's coming FedEX to my local Cabelas with free shipping.
Well it don't look too bad for 129 yrs old!
For an experience loader like yourself its a piece of cake. I use to load for it just be careful of the thin brass neck. Its really not that bad. I have 44-40 dies for my Dillon but they are not carbide so you need to lube the case. You can handle it.
Re: What the heck and did it anyway!
Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2023 7:46 pm
by Centaur
That rifle looks very nice. No ffl required for one that vintage?
Re: What the heck and did it anyway!
Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2023 7:49 pm
by BigAl52
Im betting that aint going out Cabelas door without a background check. Cabelas won’t ship BP guns anymore and it’s legal
Re: What the heck and did it anyway!
Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2023 10:04 pm
by fortyshooter
BigAl52 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 11, 2023 7:49 pm
Im betting that aint going out Cabelas door without a background check. Cabelas won’t ship BP guns anymore and it’s legal
Yes will have to fill out the FFL paperwork for that one.
Re: What the heck and did it anyway!
Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2023 11:15 pm
by Vaquero
cooperhawk wrote: ↑Mon Sep 11, 2023 6:33 pm
I have a Marlin 1892 lever action in .32 Long Colt that I've had for more than 40 years. I can't purchase ammo for it
anymore so I hand load all of it. It's a lot of fun to shoot. Kinda like a great big .22. Not much recoil at all.
Hey Coop, I have one of those also.
Here's my two 92's.
The Winnie is a 1912 or 13, and the Marlin is suppose to be a 1899 best I've been able to figure out.

- 20230303_075736.jpg (1.85 MiB) Viewed 1092 times
RP
Re: What the heck and did it anyway!
Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2023 10:55 am
by Hatchdog
Let’s see, an 1892 built in 1894. What a time in firearms history.
Re: What the heck and did it anyway!
Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2023 6:14 pm
by cooperhawk
Vaquero wrote: ↑Mon Sep 11, 2023 11:15 pm
Hey Coop, I have one of those also.
Here's my two 92's.
The Winnie is a 1912 or 13, and the Marlin is suppose to be a 1899 best I've been able to figure out.RP
My 1892 model was built around 1912 according to the serial number. I have the dies and can get the
bullets but the brass has to be created using a special die and 32 S&W Long brass. I have a source for them.
Loading is delicate. They have to be a certain length to feed properly and if not crimped the recoil will
seat the bullet in the mag tube shorter in the case causing a jam. They have go be crimped, but if you bulge the case
at all they will not feed either.
Don't even ask how I know this.
Then there is the issue of waxing the bullets. I have the wax BTW.
Re: What the heck and did it anyway!
Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2023 6:28 pm
by cooperhawk
If you have an original box of unfired 32 Long Colt cartridges they are worth quite a bit of money now as they have become collectors
items.
Re: What the heck and did it anyway!
Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2023 6:40 pm
by cooperhawk

- Marlin rifles..jpg (36.68 KiB) Viewed 1076 times
Here's two of mine.
Re: What the heck and did it anyway!
Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2023 9:46 pm
by Vaquero
Coop, I agree with everything you say about the 32 colt.
I've been through the woo's. it is the most meticulous caliber I've ever loaded.
I have a partial box of 32 short colt, mine doesn't cycle the shorts very well.
I have some original 32 long colt brass that I load sparingly.
By the way, nice looking pair of 92's.
RP
Re: What the heck and did it anyway!
Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2023 9:52 pm
by fortyshooter
You all have some great looking 1892 Winchesters! Might get lucky and see mine by the weekend.
Re: What the heck and did it anyway!
Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2023 11:30 pm
by Travlin
An 1892 made in 1884 ????
Re: What the heck and did it anyway!
Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2023 7:10 pm
by fortyshooter
Travlin wrote: ↑Tue Sep 12, 2023 11:30 pm
An 1892 made in 1884 ????
Yep...my mistake!
