Russians 1895 winchester in 7.62x54 rimmed?

[akuser47]

I never new this was made until coming across a thread elswhere and finding one on GB for $3250.00 with bayonet. Man a lever action in 7.62x54 what a gun that could be cheap to shot. I wish they were cheaper like mosin nagants are. Anyone here ever shot one own one or see one?

[Model 52]

Ironically enough, Winchester made 300,000 of them for Russia in 7.62x54R between 1915 and 1917, comprising about 70% of all model 1895 production, making them the most common Winchester 1895.

My understanding is that the Russian inspectors were a prickly bunch and rejected the rifles for things like the grain pattern not being straight enough in the stock. So those nicely figured walnut "rejects" were sold in the US on the civilian market. The rest disappeared into Russia and soon after the Soviet Union.

The Russians ordered over 3 million Model 1891 Mosins to be made by Remington and New England Westinghouse,but the October Revolution intervened and left the companies stuck with about 280,000 undelivered rifles. The US government bought them to bail the companies out, and eventually sold them between WWI and WWII through DCM. They were dirt cheap, and that pretty much eliminated any commercial interest in an 1895 Winchester in 7.62x54R and none (or at least very few) were ever made for commercial sale. Consequently, 1895s in 7.62x54R are comparatively rare in the US, even though they were the largest single category of 1895s ever made.

[akuser47]

good info thanks

[cstone]

Thank you for the information. I am definitely a fan of the 7.62x54R cartridge and would like to see more domestic rifles chambered in the round.

[Fullthrottle]

Thanks Model 52 for that info. I knew about the US Mosin contract but had no clue about the Winchester lever contract using the 7.62x54r!

I too am a fan of that caliber but, man what recoil that must have! My Rossi92 is far lighter than any of my Mosin Nagants and they have some kick.

[Tuco Ramirez]

I never new this was made until coming across a thread elswhere and finding one on GB for $3250.00 with bayonet. Man a lever action in 7.62x54 what a gun that could be cheap to shot. I wish they were cheaper like mosin nagants are. Anyone here ever shot one own one or see one?

Ak, I had no idea that gun even existed...... So I went to do some research. I did find that rifle sold in the last few years for as low as around 1000 to 1800 on online auctions. If a guy really wanted one you could find one for under 2K.

Here is a link that has some great info. http://www.guns.com/2013/08/16/the-winc ... her-lever/

[akuser47]

I have been digging around looking at options Maybe someday. I truely love the idea of this rifle.
Thanks for the link more great info on a this awesome rifle.

[Ranch Dog]

I always thought they were very nice looking rifles but I have never actually run across one. There is a lot of interest in the 7.62mmR cartridge, there is a good article about it and cast bullets in this month's Handloader magazine. Buffalo Arms has reproduction rifles in their print catalog, but I think I tossed it, couldn't find them online.