'New' Winchester Model 1886 (photos)

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Fri Sep 10, 2010 8:47 am

Gents, I'm a happy fellow. Yesterday I brought home an original Winchester Model 1886 .45-70 that was received in the Winchester warehouse July 1, 1890 and shipped out August 4, 1890. The bore is gorgeous, shiny with sharp rifling right from chamber throat to muzzle, action is crisp and it feed rounds slick as a whistle. I had to sell a couple of guns to make the purchase (an original Springfield Model 1888 and a Winchester Model 53 in 25-20), but it was worth it as far as I am concerned. I'm off to the range at lunch time to see how the old classic performs. Here's a couple photos .....

This first one shows some of the remaining case hardening colors still visible ....

and here's the whole rifle ....

1886 · Post by **1886** » Fri Sep 10, 2010 9:06 am

Another beauty. Will she be posing for any future calenders? 1886.

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Fri Sep 10, 2010 9:09 am

Probably not this year, as I already have another '86 in the 2011 calendar. But when I get a chance, I'll be making a nice desktop photo of the old rifle.

Chas. · Post by **Chas.** » Fri Sep 10, 2010 9:27 am

SLIPPERS!! WE NEED SLIPPERS!!

But it's a beautiful rilfe. Hope it shoots as good as it looks.

rangerider7 · Post by **rangerider7** » Fri Sep 10, 2010 9:28 am

Congratulations Kirk, that is a great looking "86". The one I have was made in 1889. It shoots great. Have fun. We seem to move in the same direction.

crystal river charli · Fri Sep 10, 2010 10:02 am

Sweet looking rifles Gents.

Charlie

Mike D. · Post by **Mike D.** » Fri Sep 10, 2010 10:26 am

That's a nice clean rifle, Kirk, and a much better investment than the one you had considered a few weeks back. I have a very similar 1890 vintage 1886, but mine is a .38-56 WCF.

rangerider7 · Post by **rangerider7** » Fri Sep 10, 2010 10:44 am

Mike D, so is mine. 38-56 is fun to shoot and accurate for me.

Mike D. · Post by **Mike D.** » Fri Sep 10, 2010 11:13 am

i have two .38-56s, that one and a 1907 vintage ELTD with special ordered 1/2 oct bbl. Both have mint bores, but the 1890 gun is .379 and the late on .376. I shoot mostly jacketed from the 1907 rifle and lead from the older one. Both are highly accurate and much more capable than my eyes are.

1886 · Post by **1886** » Fri Sep 10, 2010 11:21 am

Mike, That looks to be pretty good shooting from less than capable eyes! 1886.

TedH · Post by **TedH** » Fri Sep 10, 2010 11:24 am

Looks just beautiful!

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Fri Sep 10, 2010 11:40 am

MikeD, except for the caliber, our rifles are almost twins from the same year. For your interest, mine is serial # 46248. That takedown of yours is gorgeous!

Mike D. · Post by **Mike D.** » Fri Sep 10, 2010 11:41 am

1886 wrote:Mike, That looks to be pretty good shooting from less than capable eyes! 1886.

I didn't want to hijack Kirk's thread, but 1886s get me wound up. The rifle in that pic shot the 50 yd group with 200 gr .375 Sierra FPs pushed by 42 grs IMR 4895. It's a cracking HV load that's not to be used in the older mild steel steel barrels.

Mike D. · Post by **Mike D.** » Fri Sep 10, 2010 11:48 am

KirkD wrote:MikeD, except for the caliber, our rifles are almost twins from the same year. For your interest, mine is serial # 46248. That takedown of yours is gorgeous!

Kirk, my gun is 45925. The ELTD is 13790X. It's funny how captivating those rifles are. We get taken by their aesthetics and it becomes almost an obsession.

Cimarron Red · Post by **Cimarron Red** » Fri Sep 10, 2010 11:55 am

Beautiful rifles, guys. You're right, Mike. 86's are captivating!

fordwannabe · Post by **fordwannabe** » Fri Sep 10, 2010 4:09 pm

really 1886s are captivating? I wasn't aware! Ok I am a sarcastic sort! OH YEAH to all the guys that posted the pics
drool!!!!
I WANT ANOTHER ONE SOOO BAD, BUT MY KID KEEPS TALKING ABOUT WANTING TO EAT EVERYDAY.

lthardman · Post by **lthardman** » Fri Sep 10, 2010 4:40 pm

Absolutely gorgeous! Congratulations to all! I am going to change my drool bib now.

Batman1939 · Post by **Batman1939** » Fri Sep 10, 2010 4:46 pm

Beautiful old firearms Kirk and Mike. Wish I could "justify" getting an 1886. Those are very nice.

Gary

firefuzz · Post by **firefuzz** » Fri Sep 10, 2010 5:05 pm

Nice guns all around. I want another one, an original this time, so bad I can taste it. My '95 SRC in .30-40 Krag come first tho.

Rob

RIHMFIRE · Post by **RIHMFIRE** » Fri Sep 10, 2010 5:15 pm

real Beautiful rifles, guys.
wow!

gamekeeper · Post by **gamekeeper** » Fri Sep 10, 2010 5:33 pm

RIHMFIRE wrote:real Beautiful rifles, guys.
wow!

My thoughts exactly

JerryB · Post by **JerryB** » Fri Sep 10, 2010 5:49 pm

Kirk, I reckon that 86 will be in the deer woods this fall. very nice rifle.

.45colt · Post by **.45colt** » Fri Sep 10, 2010 6:52 pm

Yea right ....nice try. I'm not gonna get an original 86..I will..must resist.

.

kimwcook · Post by **kimwcook** » Fri Sep 10, 2010 9:44 pm

.45colt wrote:Yea right ....nice try. I'm not gonna get an original 86..I will..must resist. .

I totally understand your pain. I've got a Miroku '86 in 45-90 and it's a very well made piece, but it's not an original and that tends to haunt me.

Beautiful rifles guys.

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Fri Sep 10, 2010 11:08 pm

Excellent! Another fine find!!!

perry owens · Post by **perry owens** » Sat Sep 11, 2010 5:34 am

Missed this thread yesterday as I was busy stripping and cleaning my 4-digit serial number 1886 and putting back the original sights. It's a 40-65 and I could never get it to shoot accurately so I decided it had to go. The bore slugs at 0.408, which limits the available bullet types and the chamber is so tight that the only brass that will chamber is that which I form myself from Remington 45-70, pushed all the way into a 40-65 RCBS die without a shellholder, then knocked back out with a brass drift.

I have a Browning '86 that is superbly accurate, so it's not as if I really need the Winchester but, having read all the posts, I am thinking that I am privileged to own a piece of history like this and disposing of it will be something I would regret for a long time.
I have decided to keep the Winchester, have it put back on my licence and have another go at developing an accurate load.
Thanks guys.
Perry Owens

Borregos · Post by **Borregos** » Sat Sep 11, 2010 6:13 am

Nice one Kirk

Perry, I think that is a wise decision!!!

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Sat Sep 11, 2010 9:09 am

Perry, you might try a custom mould that drops them at .409 or .408. Use a soft cast alloy, and if the bullet is too large to chamber, take some of your cases, stick the end in a drill chuck, and then take a fine file and thin the case necks by filing the outside of the neck as the drill turns. You should be able to get away with .009 thick neck walls. If you have sized 45-70 brass down to 40 cal, chances are that the case neck walls are too thick anyway.

Pathfinder09 · Post by **Pathfinder09** » Sat Sep 11, 2010 9:14 am

B E A U T Y Kirk!

perry owens · Post by **perry owens** » Sat Sep 11, 2010 12:14 pm

Kirk, thanks for the tips. I have tracked down a Magma 40-65 mould that's claimed to drop at 0.410. Somewhere around I have an outside neck trimmer and I can turn a pilot for it if I need it. I have to form 40-65 from 45-70 as none of the UK suppliers ever have Starline 40-65 brass in stock.
Perry Owens

Post by **Old Savage** » Sat Sep 11, 2010 12:32 pm

Very nice Kirk, I wish you all that older stuff. I'll take the new ones.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Sat Sep 11, 2010 1:19 pm

Beautiful rifle Kirk.

My BIL collects 1886s the way I've collected 1894/94s... I just have the Browning .45-70 and am satisfied... as it's a shooter... but the originals have something the Browning lacks... But, as my BIL sez, "...I think Barrett Jackson has discovered the Winchester 1886!" Prices are just outta sight on auctions.

Perry,

How hard is Bertram brass to get ahold of in the UK? Maybe it ain't quite the quality of Jamison or Starline, but... I know my .40-90SBN cases are properly formed and sized for my Sharps. Being a member of the Commonwealth oughta count for something!

perry owens · Post by **perry owens** » Sat Sep 11, 2010 2:32 pm

Griff wrote:
Perry,

How hard is Bertram brass to get ahold of in the UK? Maybe it ain't quite the quality of Jamison or Starline, but... I know my .40-90SBN cases are properly formed and sized for my Sharps. Being a member of the Commonwealth oughta count for something!

Griff, one supplier lists it but it is the equivalent of $3 a piece. At that price it goes on the "last resort" list.
Perry Owens

Pop Watts · Post by **Pop Watts** » Sat Sep 11, 2010 5:16 pm

Beautiful rifle Kirk.

Pop.

Hombre · Post by **Hombre** » Sun Sep 12, 2010 3:17 am

Love to see all those "86". I am not sure but maybe this one also is made 1890. Serial 48338. Caliber 45-90.
Have been looking for one in 45-70 but so far no luck. Up to now I only have two in 45-90 and one in 50 Ex.
Best regards,
Stefan
sweden

the telegraphist · Post by **the telegraphist** » Sun Sep 12, 2010 6:11 am

Gents, they are all just so beautiful, thanks for sharing the pics. I would love one in 45/70, one will come my way one day.
Perry, dont even think of ridding yourself of that rifle, you will regret it I am sure. Treasure it.

Rgds

rjohns94 · Post by **rjohns94** » Sun Sep 12, 2010 7:19 am

Beautiful Rifles guys. There is just something about those 1886s.

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Sun Sep 12, 2010 8:07 am

Hombre wrote: I am not sure but maybe this one also is made 1890. Serial 48338. Caliber 45-90.

Stefan, you have a beautiful 86 there, with a half octagon and a button mag.

rangerider7 · Post by **rangerider7** » Sun Sep 12, 2010 11:28 am

This is my "86" shooter. I use it on hogs. It is in 33 Winchester, made around 1903 I think. It shoots great and I don't mind taken it into the brush. I bought it in the valley from a family that would not give me any provenance on it because of the lawsuits going on down there. There are 51 notches on the forearm. If it could only talk.

Hombre · Post by **Hombre** » Sun Sep 12, 2010 11:45 am

This one I must admit that I am very proud of. Made 1894, I think. Caliber 50 Ex. No octagonal barrel and full lenght magazine
but I still love it.
Best regards,
Stefan
Sweden

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Sun Sep 12, 2010 8:38 pm

Rangerider7, what do you do for brass and bullets for your 33 WCF?

Stefan, that is another beautiful '86. Did you mean to say 'button' magazine rather than 'full length' magazine?

RDB · Post by **RDB** » Mon Sep 13, 2010 2:07 am

Hombre wrote:Love to see all those "86". I am not sure but maybe this one also is made 1890. Serial 48338. Caliber 45-90.
Have been looking for one in 45-70 but so far no luck. Up to now I only have two in 45-90 and one in 50 Ex.
Best regards,
Stefan
sweden

I'd give my eye teeth for this one

Hombre · Post by **Hombre** » Mon Sep 13, 2010 3:15 am

KirkD wrote:Stefan, that is another beautiful '86. Did you mean to say 'button' magazine rather than 'full length' magazine?

KirkD, what I meant is that I should prefer a full lenght magazine and an octagonal barrel but that this is what I found.

Sorry for not being so good in explaining myself in the english language but I am working on it.

Best regards,
Stefan
Sweden

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Mon Sep 13, 2010 6:07 am

No problem, Stefan. The 50 Ex is a rare caliber and very desirable in any configuration. You are very fortunate to own one.

fordwannabe · Post by **fordwannabe** » Mon Sep 13, 2010 7:37 am

Hey Kirk, I am not Rangerider but.... I resize 45-70 brass using a 38-56 die to start and then I finish with a 33WCF die for my 86 in 33wcf. Now as for bullets I have a couple boxes of the long discontinued hornady 3315s which I hoard, and I am trying(with some pretty good success) to find a cast boolit load for the old girl using 5744. I am also a member of castboolits and several of the guys have sent me 338 to 340 cast 250 grain lead flat points which I am trying. I am in a group buy for a mold which is a flat point and designed to throw a fat 339 225 grain gas checked slug which I hope will be perfect for my 86. Hope this helps and when we get the molds if anybody wants some bullets to try, just give me a holler. Tom

rangerider7 · Post by **rangerider7** » Mon Sep 13, 2010 10:25 am

KirkD, I don't reload so I get them from http://www.gadcustomcartridges.com/
They shoot great.

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Mon Sep 13, 2010 1:01 pm

Thanks Fordwannabee and Rangerider7 for that info. Very interesting site and the price look quite reasonable.