1886 winchester breach bolt interchangable?

[Walker]

Hey Guys, I'm working on a project and found an 86 breach bolt milled for the 98A bolt peep sight. How interchangeable are the 86 breach bolts? I really like the bolt peep on my m71 and thought it would be handy on a 33wcf.

Thanks,
Terry

[Eddie Southgate]

Looks like a m71 bolt . They quit making the '86 in 1935 and didn't make the bolt peep until 1936 . How is the sight marked ? The locking lugs on the m71 were tapered , the lugs on the '86 were not.

[Walker]

Hi Eddie,

The 86 breechbolt has the cutout for a cartridge guide spur on the right side (that semi-circular one). The Model 71 cartridge guide lacks the top spur so no cutout was needed. I've got both and other than that cutout they appear to be the same. Mr. Pickle's The Models of 1886 and 1892 on page 47 has a note on it. I've read that the firing pin had to be modified to work with the 98a too.

[Walker]

Eddie, forgot to mention the sight's not marked. It might be a reproduction.

Best, Terry