Home Forums Lever Action Central Cowboy Levers 1896 Vintage M1892 .44 WCF

I recently received a 24" barreled Winchester 1892 in .44WCF.

It is worn on the outside, but locks up tight and has a pretty good bore. A local gunsmith replaced the missing loading gate.

I plan to shoot it a bit with lead bullets and greatly reduced
smokeless loads.

Will low pressure smokeless loads tbe OK in this Gun?

I bought a box of cowboy action loads and fired 5 rounds.
The gun shot at point of aim with these factory loads.

I don't want to abuse an old iron framed gun, only shoot a few boxes of light loads a year.

Appreciate all input.

Bob

i have one form 1897 it will be fine

Sounds like a good plan to me. Lead bullets and mild loads will work fine. Might take a look at the Hodgon website and check out their black powder equivilent loads of Trail Boss powder. It works very well in applications such as yours.

You might want to check this out a little further, but I'd say that's actually a pretty STRONG gun and could handle a bit "above" Cowboy Action loads.

The later ones, 1910-1920s vintage could for sure.

I remember when Winchester still made "Hi-Speed" .44 WCF ammo and it only cautioned on the box, "Do not use in Winchester 1873 Rifles or Revolvers".

Thanks for all replies.

Bob

Just to add more to what the last poster said;

I had a catalogue from 1900, which listed both smokeless and blackpowder loads you could order in .44 wcf. The smokeless section was labelled for "1892 model rifles only", and were normal to high velocity loads for that caliber in those days. (IE considerably higher than you will find today)
Your rifle was considered by Winchester well able to handle loads that you will not find in modern reloading manuals for the .44/40, since they have all been reduced to basically the BP pressure loads for all the '73 and '66 replicas made nowadays.
In other words, if your rifle is in good condition I see no reason why you should limit yourself to mild loads.

Looked at several M92s this week at a gunshow.

Even the ones with less than 60% finish were tagged at well over $1500, in 32-20 and 25-20. "Cheapest" one was a 44-40, maybe 40% finish, listed at $1200. All were made prior to the 1920s. One fairly nice SRC was tagged at over two grand, forget now what it was chambered in, though.

Mine, in 38-40, was made in 1906, shoots modern WW 180gr soft point loads very well.

Bob none of the '92's were iron frames. It's as strong as many modern guns if it's mechanicly sound.
Shoot it and enjoy but be forewarned '92's can be addictive.

Shoot it and enjoy but be forewarned '92's can be addictive.[/quote]

Boy, I guess they are addictive.

I now want to find an original 92 carbine redone in .38Spec/.357 for the kids to shoot. I have seen them at gun shows, and have a LOT of loaded .357's to shoot.

Just find a clone. They are a lot less expensive and most are quality pieces. I've got a Rossi in 44-40 and it is sweet. I've also had one in 44 Mag. and it was very good too. The newer ones from EMF and Navy Arms look to be even nicer, especially if you like case colors.

Thanks to Cole and the rest of the folks that replied.

I have loaded the Winchester cowboy brass 5 times with 8 grains of Unique
and 200-215 cast bullets purchased locally.

Case life has been great! Accuracy at 50 yards has been 5 shots in one ragged hole! Not bad for a 113 year old worn out rifle.

Now I need to choose a mold.

Lyman 427098 looks cool, but has no crimp groove and depends on a
case full of BP to keep the bullet in place.

What molds have you guys used with smokeless powder?

Thanks.

Bob

I believe mine is the Lyman 427215. Don't know for sure, but it throws a nice SWC that shoots well. Mine has the gas check provision.

Thanks.
Bob

I had a Rossi '92 in .44 Magnum, it was a heckuva nice little rifle. The majority of the ammo shot in it duplicated the .44 WCF load, a 200 @ 1200fps or thereabouts. Not because the rifle couldn't handle it, but because it was so much fun to shoot that way. It handled 240 XTPs well, also, with a full-charge equivalent hunting load (AA#9).

You might nose around and find one of those for playing around with, and let fly to your heart's content. The 92 is my favorite levergun action, by far.

The Lyman 427098 is the only bullet that I shoot in my 92. Purchase the Lee Crimp die and crimp in the top driving band just above the lube groove. You will not have a problem when shooting smokeless with this method. I shoot BP most all the time but smokeless will work with this bullet.

.

Someone has misinformed you. The Winchester 92 is not a weak action and is NOT iron framed. A 92 in good condition will handle any factory loading and much more regardless of age.
However, you indicated that your is "a 113 year old worn out rifle" so it should be checked by a competent gunsmith before any shooting.

.

"92's are addictive"
Yep!
I've got (actually Wifes gun) a Browning 92, 357 Mag. A Navy Arms 92 in 45 Colt, and a Winchester 92 carbine in 32-20 mfg. in 1915.

Heck! All lever actions are addictive! At last count I have 10. Prolly not done yet. (grin!)

Virgil B.

I love 92s.
And 94s.
Hell i like just about anything that shoots!
I have two octagon 92s one is a 32/20 from 1907 and it shoots great. Just got a 1st year 38/40 in real good shape. Probably 70 % bluing. I have put together some rounds for it but not fired it yet.
I am looking at a couple of others now. A 92 src in 44 WCF and a 94 half octagon rifle in 38/55.3?4 mag here too
Also a 94 take down octagon with 3/4 magazine in 32 special at a great price.
...tj3006?

The 1892 action is plenty strong, however the earliest ones have relatively soft barrels, and a really hot load, that the action can handle OK can bulge the chamber. If the barrel is marked Nickel Steel, jacketed bullets and stout loads are good to go, if not, stick with lead and moderate loads. (Don't ask me about how I know about bulging the chamber, but it involved 2400 and a 200 grain jacketed bullet at nearly 2000 FPS. Yes, the load was in a manual I had, and no, I won't tell you how much 2400.)

Thanks.

Sorry to hear of your barrel.

I am sticking with 8 grains Unique and a 200-215 cast bullet, probably
1200 FPS. I will try this on a local pig.