Paco Kelly's Leverguns.com

Mike D.

Soon, Pitchy. Temps were hovering in the 105º range until yesterday, but we're supposed to have a cool down next week. No shade at the range at our ranch, so early AM will probably be best.

Mike D.

I've heard rumors that we have some deer out here in California on public lands. Good luck.... I don't know, Stew, but there sure used to be a few. We hunt private land, but the bucks all come down from Tehama public ground. The Modoc herds certainly have been reduced from what they were 50 years a...

Mike D.

I am in complete agreement with your cast iron rifle assessment, Griff, but it doesn't hold true with well made steel, like the Winchester Models 1886 and 1892. Care must be taken with smokeless in these guns, too, but the risk of severe damage by the use of that powder is reduced considerably. BP g...

Mike D.

Now that cherry harvest is done things have quieted down some so I went back to solve the problem with my .40-82 W.C.F. cartridges not fitting the chamber of my '86. I decided to ream the inside of the resized Starline .45-90 cases with a 13/32" drill bit. Merely twisting the bit in the case ne...

Mike D.

Congrats on a great draw, Tim. I hunted there often back before CA went stupid with this draw and zone idiocy. Used to be a preponderance of BIG 4X4s up there in the '60s and '70s. I'm just gonna do the G-1 thing again up on Mill Creek east of Los Molinos.

Mike D.

I have never used nor trusted 5744. Just more evidence against it's use. 20 grains is and awful puny load, something else must have goner wrong besides the powder.

Mike D.

I had a stock 327/365 '62 Roadster with both tops. Paid $1500, sold $2500 a year later in 1971. Got me a new Super Beetle, a MUCH better riding car.

Mike D.

What a GREAT story of your successful hunt. Congrats all around for a fine time and wonderful trophy.

Mike D.

Hard to say, but $10K AUS sounds like a bit much. The wood appears to be dry, but it may be the pics. Decent rifle that should bring $6-8K.

Mike D.

I know for a fact that the modern 1886 clones are good for 50K PSI and probably better. The SAAMI 28K is out of consideration for the thousands of original 1886 Winchesters and other older rifles that remain in use.

Mike D.

I agree with Ted H. Go with a Browning 1886, preferably in carbine configuration. The octagon barrel rifles are too heavy to lug around in the field.

Mike D.

Some high tech vehicles have smaller front wheels than rear.

Mike D.

If you bought it used could be a previous owner put in a lighter hammer spring. It was brand new in the box, couple-three years ago I first tried to fire it...no go, not even an indent on the primer. Sprayed WD 40 into it, soaked the pin, worked the dickens out of it and managed to fire a few round...

Mike D.

Condition one for me at all times when carrying a .45 ACP or .38 Super Colt Combat Commander.

Mike D.

1916, but it most likely wears an older soft steel barrel. The "A" signifies the threaded easily removed magazine tube. Not all guns with that feature had the "A" prefix following the serial number. Like Jack, said, blued with CCH hammer and lever only.

Mike D.

I have done them myself. Quite simple as a matter of fact. My next one will be done using original 1886 parts, including the bolt. MGW has what you will need. Browning 1886 parts. The Browning trigger and sear are one piece, unlike the funky Winchester's multiple pieces. P70150-Hammer M-1886 & M...

Mike D.

Not really very brutal. Comes on at 1800 around here so everyone can watch. Language is sort of crude, but a sign of the times. Nothing in comparison to the Sopranos or Deadwood.

Mike D.

Your best option is to replace the multi piece pin with a one piece, or better yet, install an original 1886 bolt from a late .33 caliber rifle.

Mike D.

Jack, you are a first class BSer.

Mike D.

IMO, the ultimate factory caliber for the '95 in 35 W.C.F. I have been shopping for a shotgun butt rifle in that caliber for some time., but all that you see at "reasonable" prices are those abominable crescents.

Mike D.

Two bidders, Dumb and Dumber.

Mike D.

2.76" fits easily into my .45-90s. You may have an issue with the carrier. Is the hook and cartridge guide in perfect alignment? All of my 1886s, regardless of caliber, will align a .45-90 cartridge with the chamber.

Mike D.

The lever link is not an inexpensive part at $60 per.

Mike D.

It was. Holes for a receiver sight were available on all 64s. Not common knowledge, and denied by some, but many of the end of series 1886s were drilled for receiver sights. With Winchester there is no such thing as "never happened". Something "new" turns up often enough to make ...

Mike D.

BP caliber '94s are usually not top barrel marked for smokeless powder unless specially ordered. Some guns did have NS barrels by a sort of "accident', if you will. These are marked on the bottom flat forward of the receiver. Markings are sometimes in a square or circle, but most often just the...

Mike D.

The sight was a no-brainer, but the standard rear barrel sight will not budge. I have been beating it to death with a brass punch and hammer to no avail. Applied break-free and will wait a while.

Mike D.

As mentioned yesterday in the "Two favorite guns" thread I put a vintage Lyman No 56A on my 1949 Winchester model 64.

Before:

After:

Mike D.

GB in particular is full of idiots trying to pass off junk Winchesters as "original and untouched". If I see another BS ad with "ultra rare .25-35" or "seldom seen .30 WCF" I'm gonna go bonkers. Well, I already am but that's another story. Most have the message to selle...

Mike D.

If I was to show two 1886s there would be certain calls for "levergun prejudice", so I won't go there. My "new favorites" are the Models 64 and 71. If you are wondering where the hood is for the 64 it's in the garage. I can't shoot worth a darn with those ugly hoods. Also, the gu...

Mike D.

The "40% rule" is a generally accepted safety margin for use of smokeless powder in antique firearms. An example might be the .45-70 cartridge. If you were going to use IMR 3031 in a original 1873 Springfield or 1881 Marlin your maximum charge would be 40% of 70 grains BP, or 28 grains. Th...

Mike D.

Not a bad BIN price, Don. If someone "needed" they should be all over that carbine.

Mike D.

I have never used fillers and don't advocate their use for any reason. Others may like them just fine, but to me their use is asking for trouble. Fill the case with adequate powder and go on your way.

Mike D.

Pitchy, you don't have to worry much about using more powder than the old 40% rule with the modern 1876 reproductions. I'm sure that they are sufficient to handle 25KPSI, but I don't go anywhere near that. I made one test using IMR 3031 and 300 grain Laser Cast LFNs. Dang lousy results from 45 grain...

Mike D.

Getting mine to load is still a work in progress, but 42 grains 4198 is a start.

Mike D.

Walker wrote:Mike, other than the price what was the giveaway on the aftermarket barrel?

The heavy diameter and the non-Winchester ramp.

Mike D.

No, totally NOT original. Aftermarket short barrel.

Mike D.

PayPal is fast, easy and free. I have no problems with it.

Mike D.

eBay, my favorite new source for reasonable 1886 parts.

Mike D.

I use Barnes TSXs and they are hollow points. One word, devastating.

Mike D.

Not "mutating", just molting. Removing old skin to show nice new clean one. I know how well .22 shot works, 'cause I nailed a cat with it as it vaulted the fence after it killed my neighbor's kitten. I loved it when the *** flipped and flopped for a few minutes.

Mike D.

Thanks, Kirk, I'll do something as soon as time allows. Shelved the project for a few weeks taking care of other issues. Here is one of my loaded rounds and how far it would enter into the chamber. http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/old86/CIMG3029.jpg http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/old86/CIM...

Mike D.

I don't know about bees in the UK, but we have been plagued by varroa mites, which has decimated hives in some areas. We have long been mostly insecticide free, instead preferring the "natural" pheromone application to disrupt the mating of the various pests. That and the gazillion bats th...

Mike D.

I'm from California, does that qualify?

Mike D.

Original 1886 Extra Lightweight solid frame with full length magazine in .50-110.

Mike D.

Had this problem with Remington brass in 44-40 and .429 bullets. Ran the loaded rounds through the sizing die and it swedged the bullets down to where the accuracy went away. Not a good fix even though they loaded in the chambers of my old Colts. I like the Forster neck turning tool best for fixing...

Mike D.

I decided that a chamber cast is a must, especially since the bullets are hard into the rifling, hence the hard chambering. I actually had to use a dowel to assist the unload since the bolt couldn't be opened with the lever. 1/8" rifling marks on the bullet tip. I'll wager the chamber is not fu...

Mike D.

Pitchy, if 'yer gonna use 3031 I would up the load to at least 40 grains in the .45-60. That's what I used in my 1884 original and it was fine. That little gun had the round barrel cut to 22" for some reason, but the bore was beautiful. I only gave 800 bucks for it and later traded it for an '8...

Mike D.

Pitchy, I tried 3031 in my Chaparall 45-75 carbine and did not like the results. 45 grains under a 300 grain Laser Cast LFN gave only 1366 FPS with absolutely abysmal results. The cases were badly sooted and the bullets were all over the place. Next I went with IMR 4198. MUCH better. 40 grains, same...

Mike D.

It is not an old worn chamber or bore, it is like new. I have never done a chamber cast and am not familiar with the process. What I did do was run 10 cases repeatedly though the full length sizing die and the outside neck diameters fell to .425. Next I will load one with a .406 bullet and see how i...

Mike D.

I have purchased a lot of vintage ammo from Ray. He is a great guy to deal with and offers nice discounts from his published prices.

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