My 86 Winchester 45-90

[M. M. Wright]

Here is a picture of my 1886 Winchester in 45-90. The group was shot over the chronograph while working up a hunting load. 300 grain JHP over 30 grains of 5744. I tried shooting ffg at first but was only good for the first couple of shots then started wandering up and left. By the fifth shot, it could be 8 inches off. Going to 5744 with cast bullets was better but when I changed to jacketed bullets, EUREKA! The group measures 2.12 between centers.

When I bought the rifle, the bore looked hopeless but the price was so good that I planned to have it relined. A lot of cleaning and JB bore cleaner seems to have saved it.

M. M.

[pwl44m]

That is good to hear on the Bore as I will have to clean up My 92s, they dont look so good.
What makes Bullets wander with BP ? Does the bore get dirty or something ?

[M. M. Wright]

Yeah, the soot builds up quickly. Black powder cartridge rifle shooters blow at least 3 breaths through the bore with a blow tube so the moisture will soften the fouling. In my rifle, the rifling is not very deep. I guess it was made for jacketed bullets. It's still not very shiny either. Lead bullets like shiny bores.

M. M.

[southfork]

What kind of velocity and pressure are you getting with that 5744 load? Does your 1886 have a nickel steel barrel, or is the pressure kept low enough that there's no worry regardless?

[Sixgun]

Thats good shootin' and a easy load on the gun. If you went to a gas checked lead bullet, sized .459 you would most likely get the same accuracy and be able to shoot it all day for a couple of dollars. Plus, the lead bullet will be a bit easier on the old gal's bore.

I find 34 grains of 5744 and a 325 gas checked lead bullet duplicates the original 1500 fps load but with a bullet that is 25 grs. heavier.---------Sixgun





The rifling on the 1886's is thin, nothing that compares to the '73 which in my rifles is thick.

[Ysabel Kid]

Very cool!

[KirkD]

Sixgun is right about cast gas check bullets. They will likely shoot just as well as the jacketed bullets and be cheaper. I once had an original '86 in 45-90 and found that gas checked bullets shot a lot more accurate than the plain base in that particular rifle, although with some load experimentation, I could probably have gotten the plain base bullets to shoot well as well.

[3leggedturtle]

Between KirkD and MikeD the 86's are really start to look good. They always come up to shoulder so nice when i handle one in the candystore. Only Hard part is deciding between an original or repro. Looks like you never had that problem.

[M. M. Wright]

southfork,
You asked about the load and pressure. The 30 grain load duplicates ffg velocity pretty close. Here are the chronograph readings for the group shown.
1378
1371
1367
1365
1368
average is 1370 with an extreme variation of 13 fps
My old girl does not have the nickel steel barrel. I cleaned the bore today, after deer season is over. Only fired one shot for one deer and the barrel is looking much better now. Starting to look shiny! I think the 34 grain load sixgun mentioned is within the 28,000 SAAMI specs. I did crank the powder measure up to 34 for my hunting load. Will drag her out again for the Christmas doe hunt.


M. M.