Thread: Winchester 401 SL

Does anyone have experience with:

- sourcing or forming 401SL Winchester cases (including locating reloading dies);

- sourcing 401SL Winchester projectiles (actually .406 calibre) or swaging .410 calibre pistol projectiles down to .406 for the purposes of shooting them in a 401SL Winchester;

Have bought a mint 401 Winchester semi (i.e. a Model 1910 'self loader') and would like to get it going again - appreciating that it is not going to be very easy.

Thanks,
Ben

Hi, I understand this is a very old thread, but did you have any luck?

Originally Posted by LoganRobertson

Hi, I understand this is a very old thread, but did you have any luck?

Yes; thanks Logan.

In short:

- brass - managed to source some 401 Winchester cases made by Bertram via the Upper Hutt Gun Shop. Also have some reformed from 308 by Gunrunner

- dies - have a Redding set obtained via special order through Gunworks

- projectiles - I am currently using 41 pistol projectiles that I am resizing down through a CH4D .4065 sizing die that I ordered from CH4D direct (resizing is probably unnecessary but my chamber is quite tight so resizing the projectile ensures they cycle well).

It is a pretty cool little rifle...

Thats neat, I looked it up, both rifle and cartridge ceased mnf in 1936 so getting it going again is pretty amazing. Can you share a photo for us old gun nuts?

If the fore end isn't already cracked.It would be a good idea to find a reproduction fore end if you are planning to shoot it alot.Be a bugger to crack the fore end on such a nice Carbine.

I know a bloke that might have some cases,can't hurt to ask.

@huntsika sounds like you have it all under control then. My reason for asking is that my old man has 5 or so boxes of 401 ammo and has been looking at either getting a rifle or potentially swapping them for something more useful

With that much original ammo in boxes you could corner the cartridge collectors market.