Tell us about your Winchester WSL

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warhwkbb

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I started a thread a while ago that devolved into a discussion of the early Winchester auto-loading rifles. (05, 07 and 10) I thought a new thread would be appropriate.

I have a first year production Model 10 in 401 wsl. The wood was rotten and the receiver looked more like a rusty farm implement. However, internally it was fine. This became my first rebuild. I ordered a nice grained rifle blank and hand carved the stock. I then polished and re-blued the rusty pieces. I think it turned out pretty well.

The next step was trying to make ammunition. It took several months, but I finally located an original die set from the 30's. I located two sources of cases. One was 401 stamped brass from Quality Cartridge and the other was modified 7.62x39 brass from Buffalo Arms. THR members were able to help me with finding ancient reload data. Hawk Bullets were the only jacketed bullets I could source for years, but Graf and Sons recently offered .406 fmj 200g bullets at reasonable prices.

I swear the ejected empties leave faster than the bullet even though I only load hot enough to barely operate the action. I found 2400 a bit fast and settled on 4227 as the optimum powder.

Let's hear about your wsl experiences...
401.jpg
401b.jpg
 
Last edited:
ARGGG no more base of that mag ! I allready did it and yes it's French. I am extremely busy this week, I am working on equiptment on two different and distany ranches. Doing it for old friends- I am retired. I will get shots of my .351 and "elephant guns " I recently aquired ;this afternoon tho when I get home Ill drag them out and shoot my pictures
 
My 1907 was purchased by my grandfather in the early 1920's. Before he passed away in 1968, he wanted to pass the gun to my father. Long story short, a cousin of my father's ended up with the gun at his passing. My father a very quick thinker, told his cousin he would trade his brand new 30-06 rifle for the 1907. His cousin agreed. My father quickly ran to the nearest sporting good store and purchased a new 30-06 for the trade (since we lived out of state).
The 1907 was in very poor shape. Totally rusted and not able to cycle a round. It was also painted (elvis cadillac) pink. My father took the rifle home and got it working again.

Current condition:
Fore end is badly cracked and repaired. Fore end and stock still painted dark brown. This year I started to repair this 110+ year old rile. So far I've replaced the recoil spring and buffer and re-blued her. I need warhwkbb to show me how to replace the fore end. :)

xHd4dgz.jpg

I am now reloading my own .351 ammo.

zMMHOvq.jpg
My reload on the left. Factory ammo on the right.
 
warhwkbb said:
I started a thread a while ago that devolved into a discussion of the early Winchester auto-loading rifles. (05, 07 and 10) I thought a new thread would be appropriate.

I have a first year production Model 10 in 401 wsl. The wood was rotten and the receiver looked more like a rusty farm implement. However, internally it was fine. This became my first rebuild. I ordered a nice grained rifle blank and hand carved the stock. I then polished and re-blued the rusty pieces. I think it turned out pretty well.

The next step was trying to make ammunition. It took several months, but I finally located an original die set from the 30's. I located two sources of cases. One was 401 stamped brass from Quality Cartridge and the other was modified 7.62x39 brass from Buffalo Arms. THR members were able to help me with finding ancient reload data. Hawk Bullets were the only jacketed bullets I could source for years, but Graf and Sons recently offered .406 fmj 200g bullets at reasonable prices.

I swear the ejected empties leave faster than the bullet even though I only load hot enough to barely operate the action. I found 2400 a bit fast and settled on 4227 as the optimum powder.

Let's hear about your wsl experiences...
View attachment 854732
View attachment 854739
Click to expand...



damn - that is a pretty chunk of wood!
good job on the blueing too.
 
Agsansoo,
I'm not sure what you are asking for.
I need warhwkbb to show me how to replace the fore end. :)

If you need a replacement stock, I can point you to a couple of places. I love the history of your rifle, clean it up and it will continue to be a family heirloom.

 
I think I need an 05 and 07 to go with my 10. Of course I would also need an 03. That's what started the wsl family. Winchester needed their own 22 cartridge because most 22LR was still being loaded with black powder.
Winchester had to design around several Browning patents. The most obvious was the lack of a charging handle at the receiver.
 
Gordon said:
Here is something interesting !
View attachment 855156
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/826481986#carousel-modal-view-item
Click to expand...
I have seen several of these on GB. Someone had 2 made up & this must be one of them. It has an aftermarket mag. though. Several months ago I was looking on GB & there was a "fantastic" .351 & the guy was taking offers. I made him an offer of $450 knowing I would not win it, but according to GB I did. I thought it was a mistake so I didn't take any action. Finally after 3 or 4 days I called him & he said to send him the $$ which I did. He called me before I mailed the money order & said that he had an extra "clip" that I could have for $10. I said sure thinking it was an aftermarket. When the gun arrived it looked like it had just been made except for a few very minor dings on the wood. The guy who was the owner had wrapped the "clip" in a paper towel & had written 10 round mag. .351 $50. It was an original 10 round mag. Some years ago there was one on GB with a stainless steel barrel. Only one I've ever seen.
 
agsansoo said:
My 1907 was purchased by my grandfather in the early 1920's. Before he passed away in 1968, he wanted to pass the gun to my father. Long story short, a cousin of my father's ended up with the gun at his passing. My father a very quick thinker, told his cousin he would trade his brand new 30-06 rifle for the 1907. His cousin agreed. My father quickly ran to the nearest sporting good store and purchased a new 30-06 for the trade (since we lived out of state).
The 1907 was in very poor shape. Totally rusted and not able to cycle a round. It was also painted (elvis cadillac) pink. My father took the rifle home and got it working again.

Current condition:
Fore end is badly cracked and repaired. Fore end and stock still painted dark brown. This year I started to repair this 110+ year old rile. So far I've replaced the recoil spring and buffer and re-blued her. I need warhwkbb to show me how to replace the fore end. :)

View attachment 855022

I am now reloading my own .351 ammo.

View attachment 855023
My reload on the left. Factory ammo on the right.
Click to expand...

What are you using for the parent case....or have you found a source for 351 brass.
 
warhwkbb said:
Agsansoo,

If you need a replacement stock, I can point you to a couple of places. I love the history of your rifle, clean it up and it will continue to be a family heirloom.
Click to expand...

Yes, I need to find a replacement fore end most of all. The wood on your rifle is outstanding !
 
fpgt72 said:
What are you using for the parent case....or have you found a source for 351 brass.
Click to expand...

I have 200+ once fired factory brass that me and my father collected over the years. Plus I'm now buying 357 max brass from online vendors when available. The 357 max brass reloads with ease. Original brass is a struggle to resize.

b6xqkfA.jpg
Original once fired brass from (60's-80's)

fFR5XsL.jpg
357 Max brass
 
agsansoo said:
I have 200+ once fired factory brass that me and my father collected over the years. Plus I'm now buying 357 max brass from online vendors when available. The 357 max brass reloads with ease. Original brass is a struggle to resize.

View attachment 855189
Original once fired brass from (60's-80's)

View attachment 855190
357 Max brass
Click to expand...

Sounds like 357 max is the way to go....now just to find the rifle.....me thinks I need to be a little less picky
 
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