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Winchester 1907 question

toad67toad67 Member Posts: 13,008 ✭✭✭✭
edited January 2014 in Ask the Experts
What can anyone tell me about a 1907 Winchester, other than they are a semi in 351 and both the butt stock and forend always crack? They remind me of a Winchester 63 but larger caliber. It looks like they aren't worth much, what about the ammo?

Comments

  • rufe-snowrufe-snow Member Posts: 18,650 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Value would depend on factory originality, and cosmetic condition. Made for 50 years. Supposedly popular with the law enforcement and the custodial folks.

    When first marketed in the early 20th Century. They were pretty much the only game in town, if a compact semi-auto rifle was required.

    Commercial ammo hasn't been available for years. You either have to reload, or buy it off custom loaders.
  • charliemeyer007charliemeyer007 Member Posts: 6,572 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.351_Winchester_Self-Loading

    ammo http://www.GunBroker.com/Ammunition/BI.aspx?Keywords=351+winchester

    cartridge wise I like the 401 better.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.401_Winchester_Self-Loading


    I have seen ammo for both but not in shooting quantities.

    Dad had a 63 when I was a kid. I got run a magazine full rapidly only once. I liked the finger tip bolt knob, and dropping ammo in the loading port depression was easy with cold fingers.
  • CapnMidnightCapnMidnight Member Posts: 8,038 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Winchester Semi Auto early history:
    Model 1903--22 Auto caliber, tube magazine
    Model 1905--32 WSL caliber, detachable magazine.
    Model 1907--351 WSL caliber, detachable magazine.
    Model 1910--401 WSL caliber, detachable magazine.
    Model 63----22 LR caliber, tube magazine.
    W.D.
  • Bert H.Bert H. Member Posts: 11,281 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    W.D.,

    The Model 1905 was also made in 35 WSL. It was the only Model that was chamered for more than one cartridge.

    WACA Historian & Life Member

  • chiefrchiefr Member Posts: 14,115 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The 1907s were liked by people on the side of the law and those that were not. As far as I know, all are takedowns. IMHO they are built like Swiss watches, much machining involved. The forestock cracking problem was predominant with the early 1905s. The 07 had a beefier forestock.


    They are fun to shoot. Been shooting one for years.
    Rufe is correct: Ammo is no longer made unless custom. Quality Cartridge makes brass, Redding makes dies, Hornady makes the bullets and sells thru Graf's. When you reload, you will find you need near or max loads for your rifle to cycle reliably. Preferred powders: 296 & 2400
  • txfellertxfeller Member Posts: 198 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The 1907 is a great little rifle, and you can usually pick up a good one for about 500. Bullet weights being even, the cartridge is very comparable to the 357 maximum.

    Ammo is the issue, even if you hand load. Other than paying out the wazoo for brass with a gun that slings them away to parts unknown, Be aware that it will refuse to feed anything but round nose bullets. I always put a hollow point in the chamber, and use the round nose for backup shots.

    I haven't had any cycling issues with any load.

    All kidding aside, if you have too much free time on your hands and too much money in your pocket, go for it! Otherwise, I wouldn't recommend it.
  • CapnMidnightCapnMidnight Member Posts: 8,038 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Finding brass for my model 1910 401 is a real challenge. As we speak, I have 73 rounds or loaded ammo, and 12 empty pieces of brass.
    35 Winchester SL can be made from 357 Rem Mag brass. This one's easy.
    351 Winchester SL can be made from 357 Max. Scarce as honest politicians.401 Winchester can be made from 9.3X72R. I haven't been that desperate yet. In fact, I'm pretty sure I've never seen a 9.3X72R.
    W.D.
  • SoreShoulderSoreShoulder Member Posts: 3,148 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    They were used heavily in WW1. The French issued a select fire version.

    Then they tried to create an assault rifle by necking the case down to take the Balle D bullet, a 200 grain 8mm, but rejected the final design. They cited poor accuracy at 400m, maybe they meant too large of a beaten zone.

    I believe they are an unlocked breech, blowback weapon with a little more power than a 357 mag.
  • ochocoochoco Member Posts: 216
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by CapnMidnight
    Finding brass for my model 1910 405 is a real challenge. As we speak, I have 73 rounds or loaded ammo, and 12 empty pieces of brass.
    35 Winchester SL can be made from 357 Rem Mag brass. This one's easy.
    351 Winchester SL can be made from 357 Max. Scarce as honest politicians.401 Winchester can be made from 9.3X72R. I haven't been that desperate yet. In fact, I'm pretty sure I've never seen a 9.3X72R.
    W.D.
    I bought a couple boxes of 401WSL from Buffalo Arms Co. in Idaho so I could shoot my 1910. It came with the brass marked 7.62x39.
  • txfellertxfeller Member Posts: 198 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by SoreShoulder
    They were used heavily in WW1. The French issued a select fire version.

    Then they tried to create an assault rifle by necking the case down to take the Balle D bullet, a 200 grain 8mm, but rejected the final design. They cited poor accuracy at 400m, maybe they meant too large of a beaten zone.

    I believe they are an unlocked breech, blowback weapon with a little more power than a 357 mag.


    For some reason, a lot of people think that the 351 is just a little more powerful than the 357. I'm guessing it's because a lot of people use cast bullets in the 351, and most posted velocities are around 1450 fps.

    In reality, when using equal weight jacketed bullets, the 351 is easily anywhere from 500 to 1200 fps faster than the 357. It really is very comparable to the 357 maximum cartridge when using jacketed bullets.
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