1895 winchesters in .303
- Thread starter superbee
- Start date
I have an 1895 in 303. So far it's the only one I've ever seen. I imagine collecting them isn't easy.
- Location
- Southern Vancouver Island
I'd like to try one of the sporter versions of the Russian contract rifles that the Finns got hold of back in the days & re-barreled in 9.3x53R. 
Place a WTB advert in the EE.
You know where that is from your trader status....
I've held a 95 musket in 303 British in my hands 40 years ago. Stock was decorated with big brass tacks. Only one I've ever seen.
I'll jump downstairs and check my book then!
Cat
Well, I just checked my Winchester book
Book . The '95 musket was built in
.30 Army, .30-03, 3006 and 7.62 Russian (specifically for the Russian Imperial Government ).
The musket itself was never made in .303 British from the factory, but the rifles certainly were, as were the carbines.
Cat
Book . The '95 musket was built in
.30 Army, .30-03, 3006 and 7.62 Russian (specifically for the Russian Imperial Government ).
The musket itself was never made in .303 British from the factory, but the rifles certainly were, as were the carbines.
Cat
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I wonder if it wasn't a mistake made in my Winchester book, because it sure isn't listed in there.
Cat
I looked in my Winchester book again as it is perplexing to me that the Musket would be advertised in their 1900 catalog but not mentioned in the book I have!
However on page 218 , I found a reference to the 1895 Musket being offered to the London Armoury on September 19/1914 as the 1895 rifle was already chambered in the .303 British Mark V111 cartridge, it could if desired , be made up in musket form with a bayonet.
In the same letter it was noted that they were working on a Mauser type bolt actin rifle which will be chambered in the .303 British cartridge.
That would have been the P14 Enfield , of course.
There is no doubt in my mind that the exclusion of the .303 British cartridge in the 1895 musket listing is a mistake of omission in the list of models in my book, as the musket and chamberings for it ( minus the .303 Brit) are noted as listed in the catalogs number 62, from 1898 to 1924 in that same book!
Cat
However on page 218 , I found a reference to the 1895 Musket being offered to the London Armoury on September 19/1914 as the 1895 rifle was already chambered in the .303 British Mark V111 cartridge, it could if desired , be made up in musket form with a bayonet.
In the same letter it was noted that they were working on a Mauser type bolt actin rifle which will be chambered in the .303 British cartridge.
That would have been the P14 Enfield , of course.
There is no doubt in my mind that the exclusion of the .303 British cartridge in the 1895 musket listing is a mistake of omission in the list of models in my book, as the musket and chamberings for it ( minus the .303 Brit) are noted as listed in the catalogs number 62, from 1898 to 1924 in that same book!
Cat
Sold one, a saddle ring carbine, couple years back. Was a little rough, but serviceable. I've seen a couple of 95 muskets, but none in 303. - dan
Dorian Gray
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
If anyone would know how to get this done, I'd definitely be in for one.
Google search brought up this tidbit about 303 British chambered M95 Winchester muskets
Paisley
53 posts · Joined 2014
#8 · Mar 29, 2019 (Edited)
The 303 British was the first new caliber added to the 1895 lineup in 1897, joining the original calibers (30/40 Krag, 38-72 WCF, 40-72 WCF). There are four known first model or flatside 303 1895's that letter with the Cody Firearms Museum. 1895's in 303 British were available until the end, or very near the end of production in 1932. According to factory records, there were 3,548 produced in the first 59,999 for which factory records are available, making up about 6% of production. They were available in both rifle and carbine configuration. The mention of a 303 British musket in this thread is the only reference I have seen to a musket in this caliber. I believe it's likely that there were some produced, but they would be quite rare. As far as I know, there were no military orders for 1895's in 303 British. Most of Winchester's shipping records are lost to time, so we can't know where they were originally shipped. However, 1895's in 303 British are quite common in Canada and fairly scarce in the US. I have three 303 British 1895's in my collection: a flatside rifle with a pistol grip, a carbine, and a takedown rifle. I sure would have liked to have seen that 303 British musket on Gunbroker and added it to my 1895 collection as well
Paisley
53 posts · Joined 2014
#8 · Mar 29, 2019 (Edited)
The 303 British was the first new caliber added to the 1895 lineup in 1897, joining the original calibers (30/40 Krag, 38-72 WCF, 40-72 WCF). There are four known first model or flatside 303 1895's that letter with the Cody Firearms Museum. 1895's in 303 British were available until the end, or very near the end of production in 1932. According to factory records, there were 3,548 produced in the first 59,999 for which factory records are available, making up about 6% of production. They were available in both rifle and carbine configuration. The mention of a 303 British musket in this thread is the only reference I have seen to a musket in this caliber. I believe it's likely that there were some produced, but they would be quite rare. As far as I know, there were no military orders for 1895's in 303 British. Most of Winchester's shipping records are lost to time, so we can't know where they were originally shipped. However, 1895's in 303 British are quite common in Canada and fairly scarce in the US. I have three 303 British 1895's in my collection: a flatside rifle with a pistol grip, a carbine, and a takedown rifle. I sure would have liked to have seen that 303 British musket on Gunbroker and added it to my 1895 collection as well
