Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors "Antique" Winchester owners, do you shoot them?

I'm curious to hear of people who own Winchester 1895, 1894, and 1885's from 1940 or later. Do you shoot your rifles? How do they shoot? Or are the barrels pretty much gone at this point and they're worth more as collector pieces?

Most of mine are shooter grade rifles...I really prefer them this condition as I don't feel bad using them...I bought a 92 in 25-20 with a rotted barrel and someone's initials carved in the stock..I relignd the barrel and shoot it a lot..
Also have a 1885 in 22 hornet...made in 1885 ...it's had hard use and is a rimfire convention ...it's pretty accurate still so I use it...

I've owned 1886's and 1895's and have shot them and hunted with them. After all that's what they were made for.

I have over 30 Winchester 22's and they get used. My grandkids, my kids, their friends, my friends... even the local scouts., we all shoot'em.

I've shot a doe with my 1876 in 45/60 that was made in 1881 and took it bear hunting a couple of times with no luck. A 1910 in 401 WSL produced in 1914 is on the list for deer this year unless it snows then a 1907 in 351 WSL (1911) will get the nod. I have a 1911 shotgun I might bring with pheasant hunting this year, chambering a round in the "widow maker" should get the attention of my buddies!

All get shot on the range now and then, as does a 32 WSL 1905 (1909), a pair of 1895s in 303 Brit (1900?) and 7.62x54R (1915) and I often shoot Winchester made Pattern 14 (1916?) and Model of 1917 (1918). I really have to buckle down and make some ammo for my 1895 Lee/Navy (1896) but I have been putting it off as too much fuss and bother. The occasional accidents with the rifle have not helped my confidence any. The M1carbine would be pushing the date, it is a 1942.

None of these are pristine guns so a minor dent or scratch is unlikely to hurt their value. This year I have 4 guns I plan on using for deer, only one was made after WWI and that is my bad weather gun.

Actually ‘antique’ Winchester’s were serialized before 1898.
As for shooting antique Winchester’s, all possibilities that you’ve noted.

I have a1906 Winchester Model 94 in 38-55.I have been shooting it,butt think a re-lign is in the future.BTW, anyone have any recomedations as to who would do this.Fellow I used up in Washington state no longer is taking work in

Love taking my 1886 to the woods with me. She's a 1920 33 WCF and, while well used, keeps iron sighted groups about an inch and a half at 100 yards. Every deer I've shot with her has dropped straight to the ground. Love reconnecting with the old stuff.

I also have hunted with a 33 WCF Model 1886. I've been hunting with a M 1895 in 30-40, mfg. 1910, and have killed deer with both rifles. I have some unfinished business with the Model 1895 and plan to trade off between it and a non-Winchester 250-3000 this year. Looking forward to it!

The only true pre-1898 "antique" Winchester I have is an 1885 that I hope to blood this year. The bore is kinda rough but it still shoots minute-of-deer at tamarac swamp distance.


Last year was the .25-35 1894s turn.

I'd shoot my M92 .25-20 if I could figure out what to shoot with it. What an anemic little cartridge and for what purpose?

Absolutely. Not only do I shoot them, I hunt with them. And successfully!

Edit!!!!!

BTW, BradD!!! I got my 1895 book from Shrap!!! Outstanding publication!!!! Highly recommended to any serious student of the great 1895! You and Rob done REAL good!!!

Thanks Bob. I'm really happy to hear that you like it!

Elk hunting with the '95 this year?

No, we skipped this season as they are finishing up a big logging operation on the ranch. Also getting out bunches of beetle kill. Should be great next year.

Dang right I shoot em, original 1886's in 40-65 and 45-70 get shot with black powder and cast lead bullets, even an old 1937 year model Winchester 71 I got from BSA here gets hunted with and shot, pre-64 bolt guns from 22 Hornet up to 375 H&H all get used, original 94's in 32-40 and 30 WCF all have more than enough accuracy for hunting, some even close to target grade accuracy.

I enjoy the hell out of them, value deprecation be damned.

For me the 25-20 is perfect for squirrel hunting. It is a bigger and heavier bullet than the .22 LR at about the same velocity. Knocks 'em down real good.

"Jim Jordan was hunting with his friend Egus Davis in Danbury, Wisconsin on November 20, 1914. A recent snowfall allowed the men to follow a fresh set of tracks, which ultimately led to the world-record buck. Jim shot the buck with his .25-20 Winchester rifle and later recovered the deer in the middle of the Yellow River."

Yes, but Jim didn't shoot it very well and if he hadn't broken its back, there wouldn't have been a Jordan Buck.

Took a doe a couple years ago with my 1906 vintage Winchester 1894 SRC 25 35. It shoots as good as I can shoot it.

Winchester model 1886 made in 1891. Rebarreled sometime to 33 WCF.