rimless cartridges in an 1886?

[KWK]

Does the 1886 action require a rimmed cartridge?

I've never cycled rounds through one, and with the one I cycled empty, I didn't think to look at how the innards worked. I recall reading a hook draws rounds onto the carrier. I don't know if it would slip into the groove on a rimless case. I imagine it would, but some one here likely knows for sure. Thanks.

[Malamute]

I don't know if it requires a rimmed shell or not, I've not heard of anyone building one in a rimless round. The issue that would come to mind for me would be that the bolt face would have to be worked on for a small head size. It may not be worth it for most to do that level of work to use a rimless shell when so many good rimmed shells are available for the action.


Just curious, what would you want to convert one to, or why would you want to make one in a rimless chambering?

[KWK]

The 1886 is usually made in big bruiser rounds. The baby was the .33 WCF.

I was thinking more of a .30 or less. Chiappa is advertising a .444, which in Europe (its place of manufacture) is rated at the same pressure as the .257 Roberts; and that's what had me wondering what might be done with the action. Actually, one could make a rimmed .257 from 7x57R brass. For either, the bolt face from a .444 model wouldn't require much work, I'll guess.

Sound weird enough?

Yes, I could get a BLR, but it just doesn't interest me.

Perhaps more practical would be a 336 in a .25 Tomcat or the like, and that's what I've been leaning towards of late. Judging by what McPherson has written, a 336 in .250 Sav might work. The 336 is okay, but I prefer the lines of the 1886.

Just exploring the possibilities...

[M. M. Wright]

A 25-35 Ackley Improved in a 94 can be a real performer. Don't have P. O.s book in front of me right now but you might want to look at it's ballistics.

M. M.