1912 Winchester 1910 401 WSL

[Gary @ R&G]

Picked this one up to go with my 1911 mfg model 1907 351. They are a blast to shoot. Never seen one (either model) without cracked or repaired wood. Will need some loading suggestions if any of you guys have one.

[gunzo]

Cartridges of the World 5th edition list a 200 grn. bullet with 24grns. 2400 as MAX. They also show loads for a 200 & 250 bullet with 4227 powder, but didn't say if it was IMR or Hogden, so I don't think I should repeat those. Hope this helps.

[cj3a]

I always liked those guns. Is brass hard to find for the .401 or .351?

[Gary @ R&G]

Midway has 401 Brass for $29 per 20 and 351 for $65 for $50. Vintage ammo usually runs $65-$100 per box. I bought a few boxes of 351 at gunshows. The 401 has a box of ammo with it.

[Tom Richardson]

I hope you got a good'en.

I traded for one of those model 1907 351. and got a half box of ammo along with an old box of ammo, vacuum sealed for posterity.
The old rifle had some cracked wood and someone had carved a hand imprint into the fore arm, just fit the right hand. Also got a set of wood 90% fitted and unfinished.
I showed that rifle to an old boy and he decided that I had a prison gun. I allowed how the 351 was used in law enforcement and that some had notches in the wood where a grad might have been keeping score. I also allowed as how I had herd that lawmen liked them because they would punch a car door or bust an engine block.
I told this old boy that I didn’t believe this rifle had done such.

The crap had been placed on the top of the hill. It was time for me to shut up.

This old boy started absorbing suggestions for fact by the process of osmosis. I call it the process of moronosis. He conjured up a history for that old rifle that was hard to believe even being hatched in his own mined.

This old boy got so excited that he offered me a ridicules price for that rifle. (quite a bit more that I was going to throw out as a starting price) I allowed that I couldn’t in good conscience sell for that kind of price, and I believed that I would just keep this piece of junk because I would feel bad it fell apart in someone’s hand. I started to put the rifle back in the case and before I could get it all put away in a safe manner he had up his offer a couple time at fifty a wack. Moronosis had set in.

When they build their own tail, start to talk fast, and get kind of walleyed it is time to let them have what they want even if you do feel bad about taking all that extra cash.

[boxhead]

I always liked those things. I shot my first deer, a little blacktail, in Mendocino county many years ago with a 351. My brother sold it off soon after.

[Gary @ R&G]

I bought my 351 about 2 years ago from an old guy who had collected them for years. He had 136 of them some of which had PD or prison markings. He gave me a 10 round "police" magazine for mine.

I think they were marketed as having block breaking stopping power to help sell them as police weapons. I saw an old advertisement listing the 351 with and optional 15 round mag and bayonet. So was the 357 mag back in the day. The 351 with 180 grains at 2000 would come closer to doing it than the 357. There were several used to stop Bonnie and Clyde and Purvis's posse had them. The 401 lobs 200 grains well over 2K fps. I read that France and Russia bought them for military applications.

While not a powerhouse considering the era a "high capacity" 10 -15 round mag with this kind of ballistics would have some LE appeal.

As Winchesters go they arent real pricey. A good specimen can be bought around here in the $400 - $500 range.

[boxhead]

Growing up in the Bay Area I seem to recall hearing/reading that they were standard issue in the SFPD patrol cars back when. I do need to get one as, I agree, they are cheap for a very well made gun. Flat machined and polished steel and walnut carefully fitted. While I was living in Canada they were to be found regularly though often missing the magazine. You got me thinking now... Would be fun to thump a hog with one.

[Gary @ R&G]

Hog hunting is one of my plans with them. Got a friend whose deer lease is getting over run with them.

Not sure why they are so hard on wood. I know the forearm nut loosened on my 351 after a few rounds. The play may allow enough movement to crack the forearm.

[boxhead]

That sliding hunk of steel within the forearm must be it. Perhaps a good look see and a bit Acraglass gel?