This Old Girl Wants To Hunt

I spotted this one sitting in a gun shop in San Diego in Feb 07 and brought it home with me. It’s a Winchester 1886 made in 1891 chambered in .40-82.
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I was able to scrounge up brass and dies but no bullets. The correct diameter was .406 but the info I dug up in my old issues of Handloader magazine said to slug the bore since they varied from .406 to .410. I slugged this one and it measured .408. I sized some .41 Magnum bullets (.410) down to .408 and .409 but the rounds wouldn’t chamber. I finally got some .406 bullets about a month ago and loaded a couple of rounds. They wouldn’t chamber either. It appears that the newer brass has a thicker neck. I finally got serious about it last week and opened the neck of the chamber up a few thousandths and now they drop right in. While I had it apart I gave it a good cleaning since the action had always been stiff and rough. It’s amazing how much grit and dirt will accumulate inside a gun in a hundred years. Now it’s nice and slick. Finally after nearly four years it was ready to shoot. I had removed the sights to clean it so I centered them in their slots and raised the rear sight elevator to the second notch. I put up a big sheet of paper at 50 yards with a target in the middle. I was hoping to hit the paper. This was the first three shots. It sure surprised me.
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I wish I know the story of behind all the dents and dings in the wood. I bet it’s had an interesting life. I may add a few more to it tomorrow because this is the one that will be sitting in the deer stand with me in the morning.

GREAT looking rifle!!

J.B.

Great looking rifle and good job on getting the ammo to chamber -- sometimes a little trial and error is in order ... you sure make a fellow want to cry posting all these nice OLD rifles!!

Great looking rifle and target. I love the octagon barrel. Coming from out west, you wonder what all it has taken down. A 315 grain bullet would bring down anything walking in this continent.

120 years old and still doing the job. Gotta love it.

Keep sharing your treasures...I love seeing them...and dreaming "someday"...

fine rifle!!

Look like a grand ole gal, and with life still in her. Congraz!

Speechless!

ill take it! o this isnt classified, sorry! great looking old winchester

Well howd it do? See those 357s don't compare to that fine old winchester. I'll take one off your hands.

Joe S. wrote:Well howd it do? See those 357s don't compare to that fine old winchester. I'll take one off your hands.

Didn't see anything but squirrels. Not sure I'm ready to try a head shot on one of them. I'll try again this weekend.

I love an old Winchester. Congrats on getting her running.