Calibers for 1866 Winchester

[dogwood2]

I am interested in getting a Winchester clone of some type, but part of the fun for me is being historically accurate. Was the beautiful 1866 ever produced in any calibers other than the .44 rimfire? I would like to have a 44-40 or 38-40 if one would fit.

John M.

[Mike D.]

For all intents and purposes the 1866 was produced only in .44 Henry RF. A very few late models were made in .44 CF, a center fire version of the Henry cartridge.

[dogwood2]

Thanks for the information Mike D. I thought I remembered seeing one for sale that was chambered for .44 centerfire, and being uninformed, I assumed it was .44 WCF.

[coyote nose]

Boy I REALLY wish someone would make a repro in 44 RF AND a company would make rf ammo for it. Navy arms had someone in Brazil make 32 RF ammo, so the ammo may not be an issue as much as the guns are. I am REAL close to just making my own, but I guess step one would be to get an original to get measurements from. Well, actually step one thru 5 would be finishing the projects I already have started.

[handirifle]

Boy I REALLY wish someone would make a repro in 44 RF AND a company would make rf ammo for it. Navy arms had someone in Brazil make 32 RF ammo, so the ammo may not be an issue as much as the guns are. I am REAL close to just making my own, but I guess step one would be to get an original to get measurements from. Well, actually step one thru 5 would be finishing the projects I already have started.

I can REALLY relate to that one.

[tman]

+1. Always wanted an 1860 colt chambered in .44 henry rimfire flat and a ton of cheap ammo to burn.

[M. M. Wright]

Uberti and probly several others make the 66 clones in .38/.357, 44-40, 38-40, .45 Colt and possibly some other cals. The 44-40 is probably the closest you can get to being historically accurate.

[M. M. Wright]

Uberti and probly several others make the 66 clones in .38/.357, 44-40, 38-40, .45 Colt and possibly some other cals. The 44-40 is probably the closest you can get to being historically accurate.

[Grizzly Adams]

Boy I REALLY wish someone would make a repro in 44 RF AND a company would make rf ammo for it.

Uberti actually did make 44RF versions of the 1873 - very limited production. Passed one up that was for sale at Ron Peterson's in Albuquerque about 10 years ago. Beautiful rifle with fancy wood and engraving.

[coyote nose]

Boy I REALLY wish someone would make a repro in 44 RF AND a company would make rf ammo for it.

Uberti actually did make 44RF versions of the 1873 - very limited production. Passed one up that was for sale at Ron Peterson's in Albuquerque about 10 years ago. Beautiful rifle with fancy wood and engraving.

Didnt know this. Was the receiver shorter than the one they make in 44-40? The 44 RF is a shorter round and the carrier is thus shorter for the RF round.

[Buck Elliott]

Approximately a thousand of the last run of '66 ("improved Henry") rifles were chambered for the .44 Henry CF, and were shipped to South America on contract.. I believe a handful may have remained in the States, but number would be very small.. One does pop up, on a rare occasion..

I am not aware of any production '73s chambered for either "Henry" cartridge.. As has been mentioned, the receiver well and carrier are longer in the '73 than in the original Winchedter '66s...

[Malamute]

I believe way back when Navy arms made some of their early Henry replicas in 44 rf, and have had runs of ammo made a couple times, tho the price goes way up before long, as they are limited runs. I think it's been perhaps 20 years since they made a run of ammo.

[dogwood2]

I had no idea anyone had made .44 rimfire ammo in the last 80 years. Even if you could convince someone to manufacture it again, it would make for some pretty expensive shooting. It looks like I should be looking at the '73 models. An friend of mine who collects Winchesters says I should just get an original, but I would worry about shooting one very much. I have one in .38-40, but I bet it hasn't been shot in 90 years. It was found hidden in a chink of an old log cabin during a demolition job here in Southern Missouri. If that thing could talk!

J. Moody

[Griff]

I believe way back when Navy arms made some of their early Henry replicas in 44 rf, and have had runs of ammo made a couple times, tho the price goes way up before long, as they are limited runs. I think it's been perhaps 20 years since they made a run of ammo.

Fits with my recollection... tho' sometimes I mix them up with Dixie Gun Works for what they'd done years ago.

[Grizzly Adams]

Boy I REALLY wish someone would make a repro in 44 RF AND a company would make rf ammo for it.

Uberti actually did make 44RF versions of the 1873 - very limited production. Passed one up that was for sale at Ron Peterson's in Albuquerque about 10 years ago. Beautiful rifle with fancy wood and engraving.

Didnt know this. Was the receiver shorter than the one they make in 44-40? The 44 RF is a shorter round and the carrier is thus shorter for the RF round.

Wow! I am sorry. Sometimes I type faster than I think! The rifle I saw was NOT an 1873, it was an 1860 HENRY replica chamber for the 44RF. Now that I have corrected the record.........Not sure on the receiver and carrier dimensions, only the chambering. I also noted that it had the double firing pin for the rimfire cartridges as seen on the original Henry and 1866s.

My apology gentlemen.