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Forums10
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Most Online1,335 Apr 27th, 2024
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 969 Likes: 38
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 969 Likes: 38 |
Does anyone know how I can get a copy of the American Rifleman magazine's tests of the Winchester Model 21?
The magazine tells me that their archives do not go that far back. So there is no joy there.
Is there any other place that can offer scanned copies of the tests?
Apparently these were the second batch of tests of the Model 21. The first had been done by Winchester in the 1930s. The American Rifleman tests were like a replay and somewhat more "scientific".
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 5,533 Likes: 169
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 5,533 Likes: 169 |
I have the Rifleman from 1945 forward if you can provide a date of issue in the mag. Mike
USAF RET 1971-95
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 969 Likes: 38
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 969 Likes: 38 |
The most reliable date I have seen is in the October 1963 issue. Would really appreciate seeing that article.
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 350
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 350 |
We know from experience, not testing, that the forearm and lower rib get ripped off of Winchester Model 21's with beavertail type forearms. That seems to be the only weak link in the Winchester Model 21. Shooters that hold on tight to the beavertail forearms of Win Mdl 21's take up a great deal of the recoil by way of the forearm and that force is taken by the forearm lug which is part of the lower rib. After a few thousand shots fired the lower rib gets loose. The first clue that the shooter has that something is wrong is when the forend begins to rattle. Most all of our SXS's have a weakness somewhere or other, the lower rib lug is the Win Mdl 21's weakness. Good Shooting To You, Jent
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 14,126 Likes: 198
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 14,126 Likes: 198 |
Heh heh, yup, it's a bad gun with a lot of bugs. Why would anyone want to know about the flawed AR tests that suggest that this gun is a piece of crap. Oh, the AR tests didn't suggest that? The "forend lug" is a fairly weak point on a Model 21, but the lousy gun doesn't have any other weaknesses that any of us would notice. My friend, Jent Mitchell, mentions a possible weak point, but many Model 21s are shot thousands of times with out the forend lug problem that he mentions. OK, I'll look up the tests and forward them to someone.
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 890
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 890 |
Anything mechanical can, and will, eventually break....a shotgun has not been made that is indestructible, and some are weaker in areas than others. An old time gunsmith once told me a Parker with double triggers and extractors would give tremendous service as they were tough, and to avoid any with single triggers and ejectors. He also rated the 21 as one of the best double guns with single triggers and ejectors. When I pressed him as to what he considered the best shotgun ever made, he simply replied; "A Remington 870, I'd hate to have to make a living repairing them."
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,889 Likes: 108
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,889 Likes: 108 |
Capt. Chas. Askins devoted about a page and a half to the Winchester Model 21 in the July 1930 issue of The American Rifleman. Mostly a regurgitation of the failing company's announcement of the gun, including lies about how light it was!! I searched through the remaining issues of 1930, 1931 and 1932 and didn't find a review of the Model 21. The American Rifleman for 1932 did have reviews of the Browning Superposed which the good Captain really took to in January, the Remington Model 32 in May by F.C. Ness, and Magnum Shotguns discussing the Ithaca Magnum-Ten NID in July again by Capt. Askins. I also checked the index for 1933 and nothing Model 21 was listed.
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,889 Likes: 108
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,889 Likes: 108 |
If Winchester, and other American double gun manufacturers had picked up on the J. Stevens Arms & Tool Co. method of doing a forearm loop, we wouldn't have so many problems today!!
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 969 Likes: 38
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 969 Likes: 38 |
I handled a model 21 for the first time a few weeks ago. After a lifetime of familiarity with English and European "best" it was a surprise.
It was a plain blued 21 built in the 30s, with a semi beavertail forend and it was solid, and I mean solid. The mechanical quality was a revelation.
THe loop problem is easily fixed by making a new loop with more surface area for the solder, something easy to do fif the gunsmith is not a prima donna. The Stevens loop is interesting but the same surface area can be had in a bottom loop.
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