[Carofreight]

Hey Folks, I am looking to buy a Winchester .356AE from a brother-in-law. The rifle is in great condition. I have learned that the .356 is no longer in production. I want to know the value and date this piece was manufactured. The SN# is 6266220. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[William Iorg]

You will find you cannot put a certan date of manufacture on the Big Bore rifles. I’ll add your serial number to the list.
You will have a fine rifle. There are several loading threads on the Beratooth boar. Post in one of them or start a new one. Plenty of 356 shooters here.

Serial numbers
http://shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=20221&highlight=big+bore+serial

Reloading thread
http://shootersforum.com/showthread... the cross bolt. Mine was purchased in 1988.

 

[Chris Cash]

Mine is 6029xxx (last 3 numbers omitted here) so yours should have come after mine, which was bought new in 1992. I believe the 356 Win. was no longer made after 1996 or 1998? So, that gives you a range.

For a like new Big Bore in 356 Win.....you'd be doing well to get it in the 450-650 range, though I would imagine prices have gone up on them and the sky is the limit on gun websites.

The 356 Win. will be a handload only proposition. But one of the finest lever rounds/rifles ever made, IHMO. It's a very versatile cartridges.....squirrels to big bears, it can do it all. Great fun with cast bullets at 35 Rem. velocities.

 

[SOSARMS]

I'm guessing that the 356 was not that popular. I wasn't even aware of the model until my distributor put their remaining inventory on fire sale. I bought either 2 or 3 for an absurd price..
As far as i know the 356 is still avail as factory ammo. I have a case of Winchester factory ammo.

 

[Tnhunter]

Hey Folks, I am looking to buy a Winchester .356AE from a brother-in-law. The rifle is in great condition. I have learned that the .356 is no longer in production. I want to know the value and date this piece was manufactured. The SN# is 6266220. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

If you knew nothing about the .356 prior to being "here", you might not be the best choice for someone to own one. it's a great cartridge, and one that should have been LOTS more popular than it turned out to be. As a hunting round, the .358 Win/BLR or .338ME are better choices, perhaps. The .338Fed is also a bit easier to deal with.

But, if you like the idea of the .356 and want a true classic to hunt with, go for it. I happen to own a .356Marlin, .375Marlin and .358 BLR and I can't imagine getting rid of even one of those three. But you'd better be a fan before you buy and plan to use the .356.

 

[TMair]

If you knew nothing about the .356 prior to being "here", you might not be the best choice for someone to own one. it's a great cartridge, and one that should have been LOTS more popular than it turned out to be. As a hunting round, the .358 Win/BLR or .338ME are better choices, perhaps. The .338Fed is also a bit easier to deal with.

But, if you like the idea of the .356 and want a true classic to hunt with, go for it. I happen to own a .356Marlin, .375Marlin and .358 BLR and I can't imagine getting rid of even one of those three. But you'd better be a fan before you buy and plan to use the .356.

This is all true...but...if you want to get a BB modle 94 I think this would be a great gun, I had a BB in 375 Win. I liked it ok, (apperently not enough to keep it ) but I realy don't think it is as good as the 356, I probably would have hung onto a 356, I just can't belive it never cought on, and winchester tried it twice!
Terry

 

[Chris Cash]

I'm guessing that the 356 was not that popular. I wasn't even aware of the model until my distributor put their remaining inventory on fire sale. I bought either 2 or 3 for an absurd price..
As far as i know the 356 is still avail as factory ammo. I have a case of Winchester factory ammo.

Yeah, you couldn't give them away back in the day....folks really missed out. Due to poorly constructed bullets of the time and gunwriters shooting it hunched over the bench and getting nailed by the recoil, the gun/cartridge got a bad rep. Recoil is no problem at all when you sit up and mine shoots very small groups. I love the slightly more hefty barrel.

You are a lucky man on all accounts, finding those rifles/cartridges. The case of factory 356 Win. is worth a small fortune today. Even back in the early 90's it was already 25 bucks a box, and now I would think much more pricey. Except in one instance, I have not seen factory ammo on the shelves, nor seen it offered for sale for a number of years. I have a few 250 gr. factories left that I keep for Elk or Bear, but load my own. The brass I believe is still available though I've been stocked pretty well for years. You can make 356 Win. from 444 Marlin using Redding form and trim dies, if brass ever dries up.

 

[Tnhunter]

Yeah, you couldn't give them away back in the day....folks really missed out. Due to poorly constructed bullets of the time and gunwriters shooting it hunched over the bench and getting nailed by the recoil, the gun/cartridge got a bad rep. Recoil is no problem at all when you sit up and mine shoots very small groups. I love the slightly more hefty barrel.

You are a lucky man on all accounts, finding those rifles/cartridges. The case of factory 356 Win. is worth a small fortune today. Even back in the early 90's it was already 25 bucks a box, and now I would think much more pricey. Except in one instance, I have not seen factory ammo on the shelves, nor seen it offered for sale for a number of years. I have a few 250 gr. factories left that I keep for Elk or Bear, but load my own. The brass I believe is still available though I've been stocked pretty well for years. You can make 356 Win. from 444 Marlin using Redding form and trim dies, if brass ever dries up.

They can still be bought loaded and fairly hotly at that from Conley, but they ain't cheap. I was very lucky when about a year or so ago I saw a posting on another forum where a fella had seen some in an old Mom & Pop store with the 25yr old price tags still on them. Six boxes total; four 200gr and two 250gr were soon all mine for the staggering amount of $120/shipped!! I should have also bought a lottery ticket that day too, I reckon!

 

[Chris Cash]

They can still be bought loaded and fairly hotly at that from Conley, but they ain't cheap. I was very lucky when about a year or so ago I saw a posting on another forum where a fella had seen some in an old Mom & Pop store with the 25yr old price tags still on them. Six boxes total; four 200gr and two 250gr were soon all mine for the staggering amount of $120/shipped!! I should have also bought a lottery ticket that day too, I reckon!

Ya did good! Wish I would have bought some more of that up...especially the 250's.
Went to Conley. 60+ bucks a box!!!!!! I need to go into business....that's must be about 80 % profit. This pic was taken before a non rebounding hammer and Ashley front sight was installed, no regrets on either. Still think the Williams is the best sight for the Win. 94, after having tried Ghost Rings for a while and gone back to the Williams for best accuracy.