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Are they making another run of Winchester 1895's? I just love mine. It shoots 300TSX bullets into tiny little groups with RL 15 but I like the 300 Hornady spires with RL7 better. I use to find it a bit clumsy to load but once you have the knack it works like butter.

Over the past 7 months I have been taking it out and putting three rounds down range and it has been very stable. the amalgamated group of 12 rounds is 3.7" with the zero remaining constant. I did some forend skeletonization and bedding work,,it shoots pretty well know. Bison season worthy.

Video on mine....Not sure I can describe my admiration for this firearm. Last weekend I kept ringing the gong at 200 yards and the heavy bullet generates some good swing! It also gets out there pretty fast!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEJXKSdpIDY&feature=em-upload_owner

bullet study from last year... woodleigh vs hornady spire vs hornady flat nose. Wet news print media.

When I bought my 95, I had no plans to ever use jacketed bullets. One of the online component suppler had a heck of a buy on blemished 300 grain spitzers so I bought 1,000. I put them under the loading bench and my grandsons can play with them.
My preferred bullet is a 350 grain cast, gas checked. I'm using a case full of IMR 3031. When it goes off it will get your attention.

Jim

North61
Nice job on the video. I'm like you, I bought my Win. 95 when they first became available .
Then I added a couple of .405 No. 1 Rugers . I have found with out a doubt that Reloader 15 is hands down consistently the best powder for me. Reloader 7 is also good.
Mouse

Thanks...RL 15 with the 300 TSX really gets some good groups in my 95. Probably the best load but I like the Hornady's too.

Very well done, bravo sir! I have one in the safe I have yet to fire. Yes ,yes I know that is pure sacrilage. I have dies and some factory ammo just haven't gotten around to it, too many projects. I will add that I have another 95 converted to .35 Whelen and it is awesome! You are right butter smoothe and like a bank vault.

My 1885 in 405 likes a heavy dose of H4895 with the Hornady 300, got a couple molds to try soon

Hi North, thanks for the video. Both my 405s (jap) love RL-15 too, but another forum member suggest VV N-133 and that REALLY made a difference for me in accuracy and velocity. My rifle also loves the 300gr TSX as well as the North Fork soft and solid. With them I am convinced I can handily take a Cape Buffalo..

Now Jorge, you know you can not kill a cape buffalo with a levergun!

What a great photograph! Now to find some N133

Some very nice pictures of the 405 in action in Africa with the Johnson's from the 1930's or so..rhino..elephant...the old 405 wracked up quite the tally!

http://www.reedercustomguns.net/forum/index.php?mode=thread&id=50451

North61
Nammo has just purchased VV from Eurenco and promises to improve distribution to serve the US market. see link:
http://www.nammo.com/

There are several other such news items to be found on the Internet.
http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com...ri-plant-but-production-should-continue/

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2013/01/nammo-lapua-oy-announces-distributor-changes/

So what is the difference between vv 133 and alliant Reloader 15 in the real world.
Granted after firing only a few thousand rounds of .405 Winchester and trying most any powder available that would work but not the VV powders, should I reconsider my position in reloading this round. It shoots better than I shoot, that's Reloader 15 that is. Please let me know the advantages of VV133. Just want to learn the possibilities of the wonderful .405 Winchester.
Thanks
Mouse

Mouse,
Short version:
I had been told by a number of people (including a bench rest type and a bullet manufacturer that used pressure barrels) that it was very accurate and for a given velocity, it was usually 10,000-12,000 PSI lower in pressure than most other powders; a valuable trait when pushing the upper limits of recommended velocities. I tried it and learned that it also meters and compresses very well, though not quite so well as ball powders. In my .405, it does generate much less pressure than 300 grain factory ammo at the same velocity of 2250 fps. In my 400 grain hand loads, it also generate pressure well below that of the other powders I tried at just under 2100 fps (DG loads with JSP and FMJ bullets).

Like any powder, when the upper limit of efficiency is reached (obvious when more powder does not get more velocity and when shot to shot velocity variations increase), it is time to stop and/or change powders.

Long Version:
I would need to email traces and reports from my Pressure Trace II system along with more background information.

However, if you are happy with your present load formulas, why not stick with them? I did that with RL11 in my .308 hunting rifle because it shot around 5/8 inch 5 shot groups from the bench and I never get to use a bench in the field.

Found this video on Osa Johnson. Her and her husband shot many animals in Africa with the .405 win 1895 in the 1920's and 30's At 38 seconds Osa takes a rhino...I think with a 405 though you can't tell for sure. Nice shot though!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M24y9seWXj0

right in the eye too. that rhino was getting ready to have her for lunch.

Pretty good for a 5 footer!

Here is a list of movies starring the Winchester 1895

http://www.imfdb.org/wiki/Winchester_Model_1895

In the real world? I run out of case capacity with RL-15 and struggle to reach 2250 with 300gr TSXs or Woodleighs and it burns MUCH cleaner. Accuracy's about the same.

I've had good success with accracy using Benchmark as well. Tried Varget, didn't like it. H4895 was acceptable. Benchmark is the best I've tried, but haven't used any of the VV series.