Question re Winchester 1910 WSL

[rattus]

I have my old Winchester 1910 and everything I need to reload for it but now I have two questions I can't find answers for:

1) Does the firing pin have a return spring or does it return under recoil? Mine sticks out after cycling and I have to push it back in or the next round won't chamber. Now don't worry, I'm not using live rounds

2) What is the length of a round supposed to be? I have found several pictures and been able to extrapolate a length of 2 inches, does anyone have one they could measure up for me? If it matters I'm loading 250 grain copper jacketed lead tipped bullets.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[416 Rigby]

401WSL reloading info

Yes you should have a return spring in the bolt for the firing pin, I have one manufactured in 1911 and I found that only the 200g bullets worked really well. I always run mine at 2.00" to 2.010" (I also checked 3 original factory loads and they too fall into these measurements) remember that they are a blow back design so if the loads you are using are pounding the receiver, back off a few grains. The last supplies I got were from western scrounger and I used a lyman 1967 edition loading manual. Also a tidbit of info alot of brass for the old 401 was also berdan primed, you try and run a decapping pin from standard dies and you will break off the pin every time, so check you brass
Good luck

 

[rattus]

Thanks Rigby. I bought new brass from the states and the 250 grain bullets from Ellwood Epps. I guess I better have that spring looked at. Oh well.