Winchester 1892 in 44 WCF (44-40). Just picked it up, is it a keeper.

nitro-express

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I took up Cowboy Action Shooting and my friend told me I had to have his old '92. I traded him a bunch of car parts that he wanted, and now it's mine.

We made the deal over breakfast, I didn't have the gun in my hand, so it was a sight unseen. I hadn't handled it for a few years, when I got it home it was a bit rougher than I remember.

It's serial number 713### puts it made in 1913. The stock is gumwood, and it is a SRC (Saddle Ring Carbine). Not original by a long shot, the front sight is a Lyman blade, the rear was from a Cooey, the saddle ring was removed, probably with an chisel. I has a couple of extra holes, plugged with 10-32 farmer screws. I replaced the rear sight with a Marble 63 short shank, as finding an original sight would be impossible. The dovetail is pretty far back, I think the original might have been a ladder flip up or ??.

It shoots OK, Cowboy OK, not deer hunter OK. Prefers Winchester factory, my lead cowboy loads group a bit bigger. It is pretty nice inside, not much wear on the internals. It is good enough for CAS shooting, runs slick, but I like my guns to look a bit nicer. I'm thinking about putting it on the table at our local gunshow. I am at a loss as to what a decent asking price should be. What really bugs me are the bench vice jaw marks on the action.

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I can see it both ways. A rifle that looks like the day it left the factory has attraction. But theres also something to be said for a peice of equipment that has went through the ringer and still functions. “Takes a lickin’ keeps on kickin’!”
 
Upon close examination the muzzle looked a bit banged up. I re-crowned it, 11°, and then it was off to the range to test. That smartened up the groups, at least the cast was a ton better. The jacketed loads (factory) were about the same size.

We had a family meeting and the decision is to sell. I want to use it for this weekends CAS meet. I list it after the shoot.

I have 2 other lever guns to use for Rifle, and a borrowed one as well. Like the expression says, a pair and a spare. This one is back-up for the spare, not necessary IMO.


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Poor thing looks like it's growing warts.

I assume you are referring to the big round head screws added for who knows what reason. They really bothered me at first, but when you're running her, you don't notice them at all. In the end I suppose it's how the tool works that's more important than looks.

Some days i do lament selling my almost BNIB Centennial B92 Browning. Sold it before going the CAS route. The thing about CAS is that the guns get used, and they do start to look it after a while. The handguns fair better, they are most always in the holster.

If it doesn't sell, I have some 200 gr Hornady HP that I may handload and see what she's capable of.
 
It runs good. I used it on 2 stages at the meet on Sunday. The only issue I had was with the forend band, it has a swivel, and when sitting on the "horse" (wooden prop), it interfered with my hold, got in the way.

It would be nice if the swivel were removable, but alas it is permanently attached to the band. Perhaps I'll try and locate another band, one without the swivel. Seems ironic, I think the usual happenstance is the adding of a swivel.

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