Winchester 1895 Lever Action Rifle Owners Manual

SAFETY POSITIONSÑ
The safety (also referred to as the manual hammer stop) is
a modern feature built into the action of your Model 1895
to provide an additional level of safety. When the safety
has been placed in the ÒonÓ position it serves the function
of blocking the hammer from striking the firing pin. It
does not prevent the hammer from falling when the trig-
ger is pulled, even if the safety is on. When the trigger is
pulled Ñ with the safety on Ñ the hammer drops, going
immediately to the rebound...

10
USING THE SAFETYÑ
To place the safety (hammer stop) in the ÒonÓ position:
First, point your rifle in a safe direction, then place the
safety in the ÒonÓ position by pulling it fully to the rear
with your thumb until the red ÒwarningÓ spot is covered
by the safety and the ÒSÓ is visible (Refer again to Figure
5-A).
To place the safety (hammer stop) in the ÒoffÓ position:
Push the safety fully forward, covering the ÒSÓ inscribed
on the rifle, and exposing the red warning dot. When the
red dot is visible...

COCKING LEVER CATCHÑ
It is important that the breech be fully closed before your
rifle is fired. To help assure that this is always the case,
your Model 1895 has a cocking lever catch mechanism. 
It is the small hook-shaped part that protrudes from the
bottom of the receiver and engages the lever when it is
fully up. The catch holds the lever up, and keeps the bolt
in the locked position until downward pressure is exerted
by your hand on the lower portion of the two-piece 
finger lever.
To fire your...

12
Continually be aware of the position of the safety (manual
hammer stop) on your rifle. Check it both manually and
visually to avoid any chance of accidental discharge.
Always keep the safety in the ÒonÓ position unless you are
actually firing the rifle. It is a good idea to keep the action
open (with the finger lever down) at all times other than
when you are in the field and shooting is imminent.
IMPORTANT: IT IS ALWAYS RECOMMENDED
THAT THE ACTION BE KEPT OPEN AT ALL
TIMES WHEN YOUR RIFLE IS LAYING...

ting tolerances. This assures your gun of good part-to-part
fit for many years to come and is the sign of a finely crafted
firearm. 
LOADINGPROCEDURES
USE THE CORRECT AMMUNITION AS 
INDICATED BY THE INSCRIPTION ON THE
BARREL. AS EXPLAINED PREVIOUSLY,
BEFORE LOADING YOUR RIFLE MAKE SURE
ALL GREASE AND OIL HAVE BEEN REMOVED
FROM THE BARREL AND CHAMBER, AND
THAT THERE ARE NO OBSTRUCTIONS IN THE
BARREL OR ACTION AREAS. 
LOADING THE CHAMBER Ñ The chamber may be
loaded two ways:
1. Load the chamber by placing...

IN EITHER CASE, ALWAYS FIRST PLACE THE 
SAFETY (MANUAL HAMMER STOP) IN THE
ÒONÓ POSITION, AND THEN PLACE THE 
HAMMER INTO THE SAFETY (REBOUND),
POSITION UPON CLOSING THE ACTION.
LOADING THE MAGAZINE Ñ The magazine is
loaded by placing a cartridge directly into the non-
detachable magazine through the open action through the
top. 
1.
MAKE SURE THAT THE SAFETY (MANUAL
HAMMER STOP) IS IN THE ÒONÓ POSITION,
AND THEN OPEN THE ACTION.
2. Place a cartridge in down through the open receiver in
a vertical...

base is seated against the rear of the magazine and that
the bullet points have proper clearance at the front of the
magazine (See Figure 12).
5. Then, insert the next cartridge in the same manner,
pushing the preceding cartridge base down onto the previ-
ous cartridge just forward of the magazine feed guides,
then down into the magazine as explained in steps 3 and
4 (See figure 13). 
6. Repeat this procedure with each cartridge until the
magazine is fully loaded (four cartridges).
BEFORE LOADING, ALWAYS...

CLOSING THE ACTION AFTER LOADINGÑ
In two circumstances it may be necessary to prevent a car-
tridge from feeding from the magazine while the action is
closed. 
IN BOTH SITUATIONS, ALWAYS MAKE
SURE THE SAFETY (MANUAL HAMMER STOP) IS
IN THE ÒONÓ POSITION.
¥ If the magazine has been loaded to full capacity and you
wish to close the action without placing a cartridge in the
chamber it is necessary to push down on the top cartridge
with the fingers of your free hand while you close the
action (See figure...

BEFORE UNLOADING, CHECK TO ASSURE
THAT THE SAFETY (MANUAL HAMMER STOP)
IS IN THE ÒONÓ POSITION (SAFE) BY PULLING
IT FULLY TO THE REAR UNTIL THE ÒSÓ JUST
FORWARD OF THE SAFETY IS VISIBLE. KEEP
YOUR FINGER AWAY FROM THE TRIGGER
WHEN CYCLING THE ACTION.
1. WITH THE GUN POINTED IN A SAFE 
DIRECTION AND YOUR FINGER OFF THE 
TRIGGER, SWING THE FINGER LEVER DOWNWARD FULLY. THIS WILL EXTRACT ANY
CARTRIDGE FROM THE CHAMBER AND EJECT
IT. 
Capture (or pick up) the cartridge and return the finger
lever fully upward....

IMPORTANT: ALWAYS VISUALLY NOTE, BY
LOOKING THROUGH THE TOP OF THE OPEN
RECEIVER, THAT THE MAGAZINE FOLLOWER
IS SHOWINGÑAND NOT A CARTRIDGE (SEE
FIGURE 16). 
ALWAYS DOUBLE CHECK THAT NO CAR-
TRIDGE REMAINS IN THE CHAMBER (SEE FIG-
URE 17).
After the last live round is moved out of the magazine and
ejected, immediately lower the hammer to the safe
(rebound) position as explained previously.
IN THECASE OF AMISFIRE
Only rarely will modern factory ammunition experience a
misfire. If this ever happens to you...