Indians For Guns

Hey guys I need some suggestions on buying a Winchester .405 lever action rifle.
I was planning of buying it as the weapon is in good conditions.
Guys I need info on it's ammo availability and it's accuracy and others aspects of the rifle
Thanx
Gurpartap Kaleka

AFAIK, Ammo for it is going to be a challenge.Apart from that, there is no practicality in owning this calibre in India at the moment.All of course, my opinions only.

Best-
Vikram

Thanx Vikram for the opinion

never seen one in my life.checked the net.seems good.i doubt about the ammo.

While ammo is available (again) in the US, and some limited run rifles are also available; in the Indian context it makes little sense. As to accuracy, accurate enough for a hunting rifle for medium heavy game and medium range. Whether a cartridge/rifle combination is accurate depends on a number of factors; not the least on your definition of "accurate". If you want two minutes of angle or less, probably not.

Is this famed hunter Kenneth Andersons rifle ? Of all the hunters ,i think only He was crazy enough to go after Tigers, probably after smoking a joint.

In the Indian context ammo would be difficult to come by, but if you are fond of big bores buy it. You will get it cheap. Also the ammo is on the import list so you may find a fresh stock somewhere, sometime.If you are planning a trip to Africa, then it is not worth it because the 405 win is underpowered and not now considered suitable for dangerous game.
The 405 win was Americas big bore till the 458 Win came along in the 60s. It has been used in Africa and also in India. Lots of 405 Wins came to India between the wars, all were made in the US but stamped by Manton, Rodda, Army and Navy, Webly Scott and even Westley Richards( contrary to what some young lad posted on another forum)to attract Indian buyers. The famed tiger hunter Kenneth Anderson used one in India as did the US President Teddy Roosevelt on his African safari. Many left handed Shikaris in India used it on big game in preference to the Bolt Action because of the ease of operating the lever action while shooting from the left shoulder. I shot one once and found it pleasant to shoot.
Happy shooting

Don't even think of buying the rifle even if its brand new mint condition. The ammo is hard to find .And even if you locate the ammo its exhorbitantly priced.

If you just keep it as a collection piece it's ok... but NO Practical Use..... wastage of money......

kalki wrote:keep it as a collection piece it's ok

Never been able to understand people buying rifles they can not shoot.Now I know

The .405's are no longer wall-hangers as many might think as plenty of ammo is available with Rakesh Anand of Garg Armory, Delhi. I've seen a bunch of Hornady and Winchester ammo floating around, so call him and give it a shot!

z375,

Considering the price of .405 ammo they might as well be wall hangers.

kalki wrote:If you just keep it as a collection piece it's ok... but NO Practical Use..... wastage of money......

Really? Of what practical use are other centre fire calibers in India, please enlighten an old cuss like me

Hi shooter50,
"Really? Of what practical use are other centre fire calibers in India, please enlighten an old cuss like me"

In India self defense,target practice and competition shooting are some of the practical uses for centre fire caliber rifles. If permission can be obtained from the authorities in some situations even for crop protection against pigs or deer. The practicality that we are talking about may actually surround the availability and cost of such ammo and therefore the ability to use that rifle for the aforementioned purposes.
Regards,
anand

Anand wrote:Hi shooter50,
In India self defense,target practice and competition shooting are some of the practical uses for centre fire caliber rifles. If permission can be obtained from the authorities in some situations even for crop protection against pigs or deer. The practicality that we are talking about may actually surround the availability and cost of such ammo and therefore the ability to use that rifle for the aforementioned purposes.
Regards,
anand

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