{{infobox weapon , name = Winder musket , image = , caption = , origin = United States , type =

Rifle A rifle is a long gun, long-barreled firearm designed for accurate shooting and higher stopping power, with a gun barrel, barrel that has a helical or spiralling pattern of grooves (rifling) cut into the bore wall. In keeping with their focus o ...

, is_ranged = yes , is_bladed = , is_explosive = , is_artillery = , is_vehicle = , is_missile = , is_UK = , service = , used_by =

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...

, wars = , designer = , design_date = 1904 , manufacturer = , unit_cost = , production_date = , number = , variants = , spec_label = , weight = , length = , part_length = , width = , height = , diameter = , crew = , cartridge = .22 Short
.22 Long Rifle , cartridge_weight = , caliber = , barrels = , action =

Falling block action A falling-block action (also known as a sliding-block or dropping-block action) is a single-shot firearm action in which a solid metal breechblock slides vertically in grooves cut into the breech of the weapon and is actuated by a lever. Desc ...

, rate = , velocity = , range = , max_range = , feed = Single Shot, breechloading , sights = , breech = , recoil = , carriage = , elevation = , traverse = , blade_type = , hilt_type = , sheath_type = , head_type = , haft_type = , filling = , filling_weight = , detonation = , yield = , armour = , primary_armament = , secondary_armament = , engine = , engine_power = , pw_ratio = , transmission = , payload_capacity = , suspension = , clearance = , fuel_capacity = , vehicle_range = , speed = , guidance = , steering = , wingspan = , propellant = , ceiling = , altitude = , depth = , boost = , accuracy = , launch_platform = , transport = The Winder musket was a .22-caliber training rifle used by the US Army in the early 20th century.

History

The Winder musket was the brainchild of Colonel C. B. Winder, who advocated marksmanship training with a rifle of similar size and weight to a service rifle but chambered in .22 rimfire, which was both economical and suitable for indoor ranges. The Winder musket was based on the

Winchester Model 1885 The Winchester Model 1885 is a single-shot rifle with a falling-block action. It was principally designed by John Browning. Two models were produced, the Low Wall and the High Wall. History In 1878, the 23-year-old Browning designed a falling-b ...

single-shot rifle. Although it was never officially referred to as the Winder musket, the weapon was informally named in honor of Colonel C. B. Winder and has since generally been referred to as the Winder musket. Winder muskets were used for target and training purposes well into the early twentieth century. Many were purchased by the United States Ordnance, and many were issued to American N.R.A. affiliated rifle clubs. The Winder musket was superseded by the 1922 Model bolt-action training rifle, and remaining Winder muskets were sold.

Design and Features

The action for the Winder musket was originally developed by

John Browning John Moses Browning (January 23, 1855 – November 26, 1926) was an American firearm designer who developed many varieties of military and civilian firearms, cartridges, and gun mechanisms, many of which are still in use around the world. He ...

. Winchester bought the patent and manufacturing rights from Browning in 1883. The Winder musket featured a full stock and was chambered for .22 Short or .22 Long Rifle. It had a 28-inch barrel and an overall weight of 8.5 lbs.

Variants

The Winder musket was produced a "high wall" version and a "low wall" version, with the name referring to the height of the side walls of the action alongside the falling block and the hammer. There were two major high wall variants and one low wall variant. The Winder musket was also produced in both military and civilian versions.

References

* "The History of Winchester Firearms 1866-1992" By Thomas Henshaw * "Standard Catalog of Winchester Firearms" By Joseph Madden Cornell, Paul Goodwin Rifles of the United States