Author Topic: Winchester 50 Express  (Read 2007 times)

Offline shrapnel

  • There is nothing like the original
  • Top Active Citizen
  • *
  • Posts: 264
  • Keeping what made the West safe, alive
  • Liked:
  • Likes Given: 2
Winchester 50 Express
« on: January 26, 2022, 12:08:13 PM »
I just picked up this original 1876 Winchester in 50 Express. These guns are rare and especially in this condition. I already have a Colt Lightning in 50 Express, so I don’t have to go searching for dies and components to shoot this rifle.

It came with Freund sights, both front and rear. Those sights are different than what you expect to see on these old Winchesters, but they do give you more sighting options.

I took it to the range and with those open sights, was able to shoot this 3 shot group at 100 yards.

Now I have to wait for gophers to come out to get some practice deer hunting next fall.















I never considered myself a failure...I started out at the bottom and happen to like it here!

Offline ATCDoktor

  • Active citizen
  • *
  • Posts: 28
  • Liked:
  • Likes Given: 2
Re: Winchester 50 Express
« Reply #1 on: January 26, 2022, 12:30:24 PM »
I dearly appreciate these old 1876’s and would love to to have an original but they carry such a premium nowadays (especially the 50’s) I’ll make do with me reproductions.

What load did you use for your 100 yard group.

Offline shrapnel

  • There is nothing like the original
  • Top Active Citizen
  • *
  • Posts: 264
  • Keeping what made the West safe, alive
  • Liked:
  • Likes Given: 2
Re: Winchester 50 Express
« Reply #2 on: January 26, 2022, 12:34:35 PM »
I dearly appreciate these old 1876’s and would love to to have an original but they carry such a premium nowadays (especially the 50’s) I’ll make do with me reproductions.

What load did you use for your 100 yard group.

I am using a 318 grain gas check bullet, sized .512, and AA5744 powder…





I never considered myself a failure...I started out at the bottom and happen to like it here!

Advertising

  • Guest
Re: Winchester 50 Express
« Reply #3 on: Today at 02:53:42 PM »

Offline ATCDoktor

  • Active citizen
  • *
  • Posts: 28
  • Liked:
  • Likes Given: 2
Re: Winchester 50 Express
« Reply #3 on: January 26, 2022, 01:09:50 PM »
I am using a 318 grain gas check bullet, sized .512, and AA5744 powder…







Well, it appears to be working for you that’s for sure.

It doesn’t get much better than that especially for a rifle that I would imagine is crawling up the backside of 130 years old.

Offline King Medallion

  • Top Active Citizen
  • *
  • Posts: 1180
  • SASS #: 14753
  • Liked:
  • Likes Given: 165
Re: Winchester 50 Express
« Reply #4 on: January 26, 2022, 01:28:59 PM »
Good shooting! Are those Freund sights original to the gun? I've not heard of them before. Kinda looks like a built in peep.
King Medallion

Offline Black River Smith

  • Top Active Citizen
  • *
  • Posts: 1179
  • Liked:
  • Likes Given: 36
Re: Winchester 50 Express
« Reply #5 on: January 26, 2022, 03:18:53 PM »
Very nice rifle.  You are a lucky man to get your hands on beautiful firearms like that.  Like those Freund aftermarket sights.  Could you post a side view of that front sight?  Does the front sight have an hourglass curvature in the rear center or is it an illusion, to me?  If yes, what do you think it did or does for the oversight picture?

Now to the next topic --- a 50 caliber against a gopher?? Really?? :o ;D ::)   Must have 'monster' gophers up by you.
Black River Smith

Offline Coal Creek Griff

  • Top Active Citizen
  • *
  • Posts: 2078
  • Liked:
  • Likes Given: 634
Re: Winchester 50 Express
« Reply #6 on: January 26, 2022, 03:46:37 PM »
Another amazing rifle! Theodore Roosevelt was a fan of Freund sights. There exists a letter that he wrote to Frank Freund requesting to have the vertical line on the rear sight painted vermilion instead of white. At one time, the Cody Firearms Museum had three 1876 Winchesters which had formerly belonged to Roosevelt and all three have Freund sights.

Thanks again for letting us experience the gun vicariously!

Griff
Manager, WT Ranch--Coal Creek Division

BOLD #921
BOSS #196
1860 Henry Rifle Shooter #173
SSS #573

Offline shrapnel

  • There is nothing like the original
  • Top Active Citizen
  • *
  • Posts: 264
  • Keeping what made the West safe, alive
  • Liked:
  • Likes Given: 2
Re: Winchester 50 Express
« Reply #7 on: January 26, 2022, 05:28:06 PM »
Very nice rifle.  You are a lucky man to get your hands on beautiful firearms like that.  Like those Freund aftermarket sights.  Could you post a side view of that front sight?  Does the front sight have an hourglass curvature in the rear center or is it an illusion, to me?  If yes, what do you think it did or does for the oversight picture?

Now to the next topic --- a 50 caliber against a gopher?? Really?? :o ;D ::)   Must have 'monster' gophers up by you.

It is hard to get a camera lens close enough to the barrel to get a picture of the sight as you would see it from sighting the rifle. It is a bead with a thin support staff and a brass insert in the front of the sight...

I never considered myself a failure...I started out at the bottom and happen to like it here!

Offline SiringoMN

  • Very Active Citizen
  • *
  • Posts: 57
  • SASS #: 16689
  • Liked:
  • Likes Given: 7
Re: Winchester 50 Express
« Reply #8 on: January 28, 2022, 10:02:23 AM »
I have been using 35.0 grains of 5744 with a 330 grain bullet. I have been contemplating getting a bullet mold that uses a gas check. Thinking being it will enhance accuracy considerably.

Offline shrapnel

  • There is nothing like the original
  • Top Active Citizen
  • *
  • Posts: 264
  • Keeping what made the West safe, alive
  • Liked:
  • Likes Given: 2
Re: Winchester 50 Express
« Reply #9 on: January 28, 2022, 07:06:19 PM »
Good shooting! Are those Freund sights original to the gun? I've not heard of them before. Kinda looks like a built in peep.

They are a unique and very desirable frontier sight from Freund brothers in Colorado from the 1870's...

I never considered myself a failure...I started out at the bottom and happen to like it here!

Offline Boone May

  • CAS-L Ghost Rider
  • Very Active Citizen
  • *
  • Posts: 91
  • SASS #: 5904
  • Liked:
  • Likes Given: 3
Re: Winchester 50 Express
« Reply #10 on: February 17, 2022, 01:22:14 PM »
What a great old rifle!  You did well.  I love the Freund sights.  They are more common on antique Sharps than Winchesters.   
"There are a few things they didn't tell me when I hired on with this outfit."

Offline frimath

  • Top Active Citizen
  • *
  • Posts: 112
  • Liked:
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: Winchester 50 Express
« Reply #11 on: March 10, 2022, 07:31:03 AM »
Love how it’s shooting! Great group!! Congrats on a fine purchase 👍🏻👍🏻

Offline shrapnel

  • There is nothing like the original
  • Top Active Citizen
  • *
  • Posts: 264
  • Keeping what made the West safe, alive
  • Liked:
  • Likes Given: 2
Re: Winchester 50 Express
« Reply #12 on: April 03, 2022, 01:21:31 PM »


Got it out and shot some gophers and rabbits. The rabbit was a 150 yard shot. Those sights really work!

I never considered myself a failure...I started out at the bottom and happen to like it here!

Offline King Medallion

  • Top Active Citizen
  • *
  • Posts: 1180
  • SASS #: 14753
  • Liked:
  • Likes Given: 165
Re: Winchester 50 Express
« Reply #13 on: April 03, 2022, 04:50:24 PM »
I see no entry/exit holes. What did you do, bark it? Again, great looking rifle, and obviously a shooter!
King Medallion

Offline shrapnel

  • There is nothing like the original
  • Top Active Citizen
  • *
  • Posts: 264
  • Keeping what made the West safe, alive
  • Liked:
  • Likes Given: 2
Re: Winchester 50 Express
« Reply #14 on: April 21, 2022, 11:57:37 AM »


Look at the head...
I never considered myself a failure...I started out at the bottom and happen to like it here!

 

SMF spam blocked by CleanTalk

© 1995 - 2023 CAScity.com