What the heck and did it anyway!

[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.

[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.

[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.

[Centaur]

It’s only money

[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

[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.

[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.

[BigAl52]

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.

[Centaur]

That rifle looks very nice. No ffl required for one that vintage?

[BigAl52]

Im betting that aint going out Cabelas door without a background check. Cabelas won’t ship BP guns anymore and it’s legal

[fortyshooter]

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.

[Vaquero]

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 1089 times

RP

[Hatchdog]

Let’s see, an 1892 built in 1894. What a time in firearms history.

[cooperhawk]

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.

[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.

[cooperhawk]

Marlin rifles..jpg (36.68 KiB) Viewed 1073 times

Here's two of mine.

[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

[fortyshooter]

You all have some great looking 1892 Winchesters! Might get lucky and see mine by the weekend.

[Travlin]

An 1892 made in 1884 ????

[fortyshooter]

An 1892 made in 1884 ????

Yep...my mistake!