Winchester 1905
I was checking one out at the gunshow today. I thought it was pretty neat. I Have never seen one befor so I started checking the auctions. I have found a few of them ranging from $250 to $12000.
Also thay are in 32 and 35 cal.
Can anyone tell me anything about these guns? And the calibers? If I buy one I mighy take it deer hunting.
Also are magizenes available for them? One I found was missing the mag but was in pretty good shape. And was at a pretty low price.
Thanks TOOLS
General TOOLS RRG
When I was a child, I thought as a child. But now that I am grown, I just wish I could act like a child and get away with it.
Also thay are in 32 and 35 cal.
Can anyone tell me anything about these guns? And the calibers? If I buy one I mighy take it deer hunting.
Also are magizenes available for them? One I found was missing the mag but was in pretty good shape. And was at a pretty low price.
Thanks TOOLS
General TOOLS RRG
When I was a child, I thought as a child. But now that I am grown, I just wish I could act like a child and get away with it.
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I have a Winchester 1905 in .32 WSL. I am looking for ammunition for shooting, not collecting. I'm not really interested in loading my own shells. Is there anyone out there who still shoots a 1905 and might have some advice? 0 -
I suggest that you save your money Tools. The 1905 was manufactured from 1905 until around 1920, maybe a little later. Winchester made less than 30,000 of these rifles and they were, shall we say, less than well received by shooters and a sales flop. The .32 cartridge was pretty underpowered and was quickly replaced by the .35, which had maybe 10% more power but was still a loser. Both these rounds became obsolete when Winchester discontinued the 1905 and they were never used in any other rifle, although some folks say the .32 is the basis for the .30 M1 Carbine cartridge. Gunparts Inc., lists a few parts for the 1905 including magazines (when available) for $30. Finding ammo will be tough- although there may be some new manufactured rounds in production- and even if located it is pretty useless for hunting any thing other than small game. These rifles are more for collecting now a days and not used much for shooting.
Mark T. Christian0 -
Old Western Scrounger has ammo for around $25 for 20 rounds. To make your own 35WSL you need a lathe (made from modified 357mag brass), dies, and a source of 180gr jacketed .351 bullets. Power wise the 35WSL is right in the 38spl+P range.
The rifle (both the '05 and the '07 in 351WSL) is a streight blowback action and has a large chunk of steel in the forend that is attached to the breechblock to give it enough weight (think model 63 22lr action on steroids).
I wouldn't recogmend any of the 3 (32, 35, 351) for deer hunting any more than I'd recogmend the 30carbine (in fact the carbine has some advantages over them).
Mark, as far as the 35wsl replacing the 32WSL goes, I beleive that both cartridges were introduced at the same time. My 1905 (333x) built '05 is in 35WSL.
Some guys like a mag full of lead, I still prefer one round to the head.0 -
Thanks guys. I am more of a collector than a hunter or shooter. I mostly collect milatery weapons. But thought this gun was intersting. I am still trying to decide if it would be worth putting in my collection.
TOOLS
General TOOLS RRG
When I was a child, I thought as a child. But now that I am grown, I just wish I could act like a child and get away with it.0 -
My grandfather, dead now, always said the .32 was considered the ultimate deer rifle. I guess times have changed as this would probably not even be legal to use on deer now. 0 -
Kissgoodnight....your grandfather may have been referring to the .32 WCF, not the .32 WSL.
The .32 WCF (Winchester Center Fire) was a bottleneck cartridge with power and ballistics very similar to the .30-30.
The .32 WSL (Winchester Self-Loading) was a straightwall cartridge for the Model 1905, and very much underpowered for deer.0
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