351 Winchester

[Archon_g24]

My girlfriend's dad gave me a partial box of 351 Winchester cartridges to dispose of.

Any of you have a gun capable of using this round? They look ok externally but I have no way of knowing how old they are.

[11C ABN]

Good weapon, but its considered an underpowered round. The correctional facilities used them a lot.

French pilots also used them in WW1. Many old time gangsters from the 30's use to modify them and turn them into Full Auto's and re-work the front handguard adding a Thompson hand grip.

A converted Winchester 351 WSL was found in the deceased couples shot up car of Bonnie & Clyde.

The cartridges are considered collector items and sell from a buck apiece to 2.

[Milsurp Collector]

Any of you have a gun capable of using this round?

I have one.

[Sutcliffe]

Blast from the past

Pretty rare, but not overly valuable. Still, someone might want them for a collection.

[rromeo]

If I was closer I'd let you shoot them in mine. It's similar to a 357 Maximum, 180 grain bullet at 1600 fps. You could buy a gun, they're $300-400 for decent condition shooters. Brass and bullets are available.

[Milsurp Collector]

By coincidence, I ordered reloading dies for 351 Winchester yesterday.

[rromeo]

I need to get some. I loaded a couple rounds with my 357 dies, but that was new brass, so I didn't size them. Did you get the Redding dies from Midway?

[Milsurp Collector]

I need to get some. I loaded a couple rounds with my 357 dies, but that was new brass, so I didn't size them. Did you get the Redding dies from Midway?

Yup, those are the ones and that's where I ordered them. You also need the shell holder, but it is the same one used by the 357 Sig, .40S&W, and 10mm if you already have one.

[dfletcher]

My girlfriend's dad gave me a partial box of 351 Winchester cartridges to dispose of.

Any of you have a gun capable of using this round? They look ok externally but I have no way of knowing how old they are.

I'd hold on to the old stuff as a keepsake and not shoot it. It's not because the ammo is overly valuable, its just neat to have since factory ammo is so long out of production, assuming it's Remington or Winchester. Modern loaded ammo offered by smaller companies is a bit of a challenge to find, but components are "sort of" readily available.

[dfletcher]

I need to get some. I loaded a couple rounds with my 357 dies, but that was new brass, so I didn't size them. Did you get the Redding dies from Midway?

Reloading for the 351 is a breeze, the Redding dies work great. Grafs and Buffalo Arms usually have brass and bullets. I grabbed a few hundred 180 RNL from Western Bullet Company.

Aftermarket magazines generally have springs that are too weak, Numrich sells original full powered springs and they help alot. There are a few pretty good YouTube videos by a fellow named "Logcabinlooms" IIRC. He's got a terrific leather "brass deflector" that works great and I'm trying to duplicate.

The recoil spring is a PITA to re-insert, his video on that saved me alot of time and swearing.

[Archon_g24]

Thanks for the input. It's Western brand and the box is deteriorating. He also gave me a box of 380 acp along with a savage 1907

[Levallois]

That's a girlfriend's dad that I could live with.

A couple of things - first it wasn't an underpowered round when it was used the most - 1920s and 1930s - unless the .357 magnum is underpowered round because the ballistics are very similar. One of the original loadings was 180gr bullet moving out at 1961 fps. The .351 could reliably punch through car doors - these were 18 gauge metal doors not the aluminum foil we have today - and bullet proof vests. Second, one of these rifles was not at the Bonnie and Clyde ambush, although if one was I'm sure it would have performed admirably. And last, I love these darn things - I currently have three. The original assault weapon.

[alsea]

I recently picked up one. I have not had a chance to shoot it. Are you interested in selling the Savage? I have a 32 and would like to add a 380.

[Levallois]

They really are interesting rifles and they are a bargain in many cases. I wonder if they'll go up in value because of "The Son."


[IMG][/IMG]