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Because I am a bun on guns and ammunition, and velocities and energy, etc, I am writing to know if what I have will be of any interest to you.

I have in my possession an 1895 Winchester bored for the .30-06 Government ammunition. This gun is comparatively new, having had between 300 and 500 rounds shot in it. Last year the owner attempted to shoot a coyote and the gun blew up. The plates by which the frame is bolted to the stock were sheared off clean. The frame was bulged outward. Almost the entire back end of the shell was blown out. Fortunately the bolt did not entirely give way and remained fastened.

The victim was Jno. J. Shults, a California state vermin trapper. His only injury was a powder burn of his left eye. (he shoots left handed) He was 54 years old, and a seasoned trapper.-G.R.F.

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Answer I am not at all surprised at the accident that occurred to Mr. Shults with the .30-06 Winchester Model 95 rifle. It is about what would be expected sooner or later to one using one of these rifles today and not completely understanding its weakness.

The Winchester Model 95 rifle was adopted to use the .30-06 cartridge at a time when the only cartridges of this size on the market were those loaded with 150-grain bullet and giving a muzzle velocity of 2,700 feet per second, and those loaded with a 220-grain bullet and giving m.v. 2,200 fps. These cartridges did not give breech pressures in excess of 46,000 to 48,000 pounds per square inch . A Winchester Model 95 rifle is safe with such cartridges.

Following the World War, all of our cartridge companies placed very much heavier loaded .30-06 cartrides on the market in response to the popular demand, these cartridges being intended only for use in Springfield, Winchester, and Remington bolt-action rifle which have receiver and bolt constructed of properly heat-treated alloy steel, and have two large locking lugs at the head of the bolt. These cartridges have bullets and velocities as follows:

110 grain bullet M.V 3,500 fps
150 grian bullet M.V. 3,000 fps
180 grain bullet M.V. 2,700 fps
220 grain bullet M.V. 2,450 fps.

The breech pressures run from 52,000 to 56,000 pounds at a normal temperature of 70 degrees; but when the cartridge has been exposed for a short time to a temperature of say 100 degrees on a hot summer day, these pressures may rise 10,000 pounds or so. Despite these high pressures, these cartridges are entirely safe in normal Springfield, Winchester, and Remington bolt-action rifles which have been made since the World War. No doubt Mr. Shults used one of these cartridges, for scarcely any of the older ammunition is now seen.

These new heavily loaded cartridges that began to appear on the market from 1920 to 1924 proved too heavy for the Winchester Model 95 rifle. The rifle was dangerous for them. Therefore in 1925, when the Winchester Repeating Arms Company placed on the market their Model 54 bolt-action rifle in .30-06 caliber, which was perfectly safe with these cartridges, they discontinued the manufacture of their Model 95 rifle in .30-06 caliber, and have not made it since.

Those having rifles should now use them only with the .30-06 ammunition made by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company and loaded with 150-grain bullet, M.V.. 2,700 f.s. The pressure of this cartridge is low, and it is safe in Model 95 rifles that are in first-class condition, that have not developed excessive headspace, and that have not had the finger lever catch filed to make them operate easier.

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Originally posted by dpcd:
405 pressure is 46K PSI max. I have converted many of them to 405.

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Originally posted by dpcd:
I recommend you not shoot any Win 95s in any caliber, just to be safe; your data point of one failure in 1932 should scare everyone to never shoot one. I know I won't shoot any of my collection of vintage Winchesters ever again. I didn't realize that old Winchesters were so weak.
I'll warn all my clients too.
Best to take up knitting.