Definition and Brief History
Winchester Rifle is a wide-ranging or major term for single-shot, lever-action series rifles made by Winchester Repeating Arms Company. Having inherited its lever-action tubular magazine from its predecessor, the 1860 Henry Rifle, these improved design rifles were one of the earliest known repeaters. Winchester Model 1873, “The Gun that Won the West”, was especially successful while the newer Model 1894 designed by John Browning, became the most popular of all Winchester Models.
Even though most Winchester Repeaters have the “Lever” type of firing action, later models include Single-Shot, Bolt-Action and Semi-Automatic ones, not mentioning that they even manufactured some shotgun types. These repeaters vary in different models, namely:
- Winchester lever-action repeating rifles
- Model 1866
- Model 1873
- Model 1876
- Model 1886
- Model 1892
- Model 1894
- Model 1895
- Model 88
- Model 9422
- Winchester Model 1885 Single Shot Rifle
- Winchester bolt-action rifles
- Winchester semi-automatic rifles
- Models 1903 and 63
- Models 1905, 1907, and 1910
- Winchester repeating shotguns
- Model 1887/1901
- Model 1893/1897
- Model 1911
- Model 1912
- Model 1964
How to Use the Winchester Rifle
Winchester Rifle series works through feeding the bullet cartridge from its tubular magazine into its barrel chamber by means of a lever that is found around the trigger guard area; hence, the term “lever-action”. Regardless of the cartridge type, the rifle hammer is lifted away from the firing pin while the lever puts the cartridge in place. The hammer is released once you decide to squeeze the trigger.
Depending on the model, Winchester Rifles’ ammunition ranges from the smallest Winchester Rimfire up to the biggest and most powerful Winchester Centerfire Cartridges.