model 1907 Winchester .351 selfloader surprise....

handofzeus

handofzeus

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Trout Creekish Ontario.
I know they aren't technically 'antiques' due to our moronic legislative definitions but as far as I'm concernrd anything over 100 years old should qualify! I happened to come across another .351 Winnie and even though I already have one and making ammunition is a royal PITA I just HAD to get it. Something about these heavy little carbines just 'does it' for me. Anyway, after giving it the once over I looked at the serial number. Hmmm looks to be kind of near the serial on my other 1907 so off we go to get the other one. On closer examination I got a nice surprise.....the serials were only 6 guns off! I had XX002 and XX008!!! I was initially going to keep the better of the two and sell the other but not a chance now. I find it too cool that these two rifles rolled off the line probably in the same hour and then went their separate ways until I reunited them. If I ever do sell them I'll try to do it as a pair. Just thought I'd share.
 
Yeah, ammo IS a nuisance but it's worth it. Brass can be made-up from .357 Maximum with little trouble. I am loading for mine with Luger dies. They work, anyway.

Mine is first-year production, so no chance of military use, of course. It is likely the last one to be factory-rebarreled. It took tons (literally) of wolves before I got it.

Some of these were used by the French in the Great War, more in the 1920s when the Americans were trying to work out a tactical doctrine for a semi-auto rifle.

So they are military, in a way.

You sure got lucky on the serials, though!

Care to post a photo? I think a lot of guys might like to see them.
 
Nice score, what are the odds of that?? Better pick up a Lotto Max and hope you didn't use up all your luck ;)

I picked one of these up (1919 production) last year in IMMACULATE condition. They deserve more collector credit then they get; fascinating history around them (including post-war).

Also need to make brass & work some loads - but one project at a time right now, no time left in the day. I just couldn't pass it up when I saw it.
 
nipofthedoctor said:
why do you go to all the trouble of making brass. http://www.rustywood.ca/index.html has brass for this winchester if you reload. I see factory ammo at each gun show I got to.
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Yes I saw that there, been meaning to buy some. But the price tag is sort of hefty (however understandably) and I have a line on some .357 max so...all things considered. .357 max is not all that easy to find either, all the time.

CH4-D has dies (for everything else, for that matter) and makes swaging dies to get you down to the oddball diameter (although I'll slug mine first, I hear some are reportedly up around .355")
 
these WSL rifles are an interesting and simple design. All parts seen to be machined ,nothing stamped .As a previous poster stated that rwtc has brass and can also bring in the 180 plated rn berries bullets also for it .These are a lot of fun to shoot as I do have a few of these rifles in different cal also .

I am making up a brass catcher to stop the loss of brass as they tend to really toss them all over the country

would be nice to see some pic :)
 
You go to the trouble of making brass becaused it cannot be exported from the U.S. Mind you, it's a lot less fuss to buy it from Epp's. Problem is finding bullets. It actually does use a .351" bullet that nobody makes. You'd have to swage or buy a mold from Lyman.
 
I've been making brass from .223 and swaging .358 lead through a homemade die. (drilled the proper sized hole through an old socket and use a hammer and rod to whack'em through!). Will post pics soon.
 
No probems yet. Mind you I've only made about 45! If I have extraction issues I'll just turn them onthe lathe to get the groove profile to match the extractor pitch. If all else fails I'll reshape the extractor to match the .223 groove.......(shudder).
 
handofzeus said:
No probems yet. Mind you I've only made about 45! If I have extraction issues I'll just turn them onthe lathe to get the groove profile to match the extractor pitch. If all else fails I'll reshape the extractor to match the .223 groove.......(shudder).
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I wonder if that is my problem (the extractor groove). All I have on hand are military. Are you using a particular brand of brass?

Sorry, I guess this is gettin' off topic. I can start a new thread later.
 
Here are the pics. Lots of differences between the two. Buttplates, swivels, sights. Shame about the magazine damage, luckily it doesn't affect function.

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NorthCoastBigBore said:
Beautiful! Intact forends too. seems to be a common place for these to crack.
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Yeah, thanks. I've seen some nice guns with splintered toothpicks for wood. My first one (without the swivels) has a beaver-chewed stock! The previous owner told me about it before the purchase and I had planned on repairing it but when it finally got to me I saw how beautifully worn the chew marks were and just left it. I find it extra cool when chips or chunks of once ragged and splintered wood becomes rounded and smooth to the touch from time and use.
 
handofzeus said:
Yeah, thanks. I've seen some nice guns with splintered toothpicks for wood. My first one (without the swivels) has a beaver-chewed stock! The previous owner told me about it before the purchase and I had planned on repairing it but when it finally got to me I saw how beautifully worn the chew marks were and just left it. I find it extra cool when chips or chunks of once ragged and splintered wood becomes rounded and smooth to the touch from time and use.
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Beaver chewed? Interesting, I couldn't tell that from the photo. I'd also take the story there if it didn't need fix'n. I have a few with wear marks and same thing, I like it, as long as I can still use it.
 
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