1886 basket case - work in progress

Walker · Post by **Walker** » Thu May 17, 2012 6:10 pm

The receiver was from a rifle in 40-82 that left the factory in 1888. It was over-buffed, had an after market 33wcf barrel and no wood when I got it. The barrel is someone's old black powder 45-90 that they had shortened and lightened. It's remarkable in that the bore is mirror bright. Sometime in the future, it may get a new 20 inch octagon barrel and full mag in either 45-70 (rational choice) or 50-100-450 (not so rational choice). The Stocks are from Treebone Carving with an NOS Winchester pad.

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BenT · Post by **BenT** » Thu May 17, 2012 6:26 pm

Doesn't look like a basket case to me. Nice !!!

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Thu May 17, 2012 6:28 pm

Mainehunter · Post by **Mainehunter** » Thu May 17, 2012 6:30 pm

I see a range report in the near future? RIGHT? NICE JOB! Like the wood!

Mainehunter

FWiedner · Post by **FWiedner** » Thu May 17, 2012 6:34 pm

I ain't no expert, but uh... Very Nice.

Walker · Post by **Walker** » Thu May 17, 2012 6:50 pm

Still need to get it to lift those long cartridges high enough to chamber. It starts to chamber the round, but the back of the shell isn't high enough to go straight in. What needs adjusted, the cartridge guide?

Freddy Brunner did the metalwork and fitted the stocks. Hand tools, pretty things, and I don't belong in the same room.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Thu May 17, 2012 7:34 pm

Need "before" pics! Lookin' good now tho'!

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Thu May 17, 2012 8:37 pm

Wow! That is a beautiful '86! Love that wood.

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Thu May 17, 2012 9:14 pm

Walker wrote:Hand tools, pretty things, and I don't belong in the same room.

Same here...!

Unfortunately, the same can be said for many in-business 'gunsmiths' I've dealt with, so sometimes I just ruin it myself, as it's cheaper...

toby · Post by **toby** » Thu May 17, 2012 10:00 pm

Nice basket case, have any before pics?

Walker · Post by **Walker** » Thu May 17, 2012 10:25 pm

Thanks guys for the comments. I never did take before shots. The receiver had been buffed with a heavy hand and reblued and had a lightweight 33wcf barrel on it.

I got it and the 45-90 barrel from a fine gentleman up around the great lakes area.

Post by **Chuck 100 yd** » Thu May 17, 2012 10:30 pm

Nice!!

1894c · Post by **1894c** » Thu May 17, 2012 11:28 pm

very cooool...looks great... :)

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Fri May 18, 2012 12:46 am

That's the best looking basket case I've ever seen.

kimwcook · Post by **kimwcook** » Fri May 18, 2012 3:11 am

Mainehunter wrote:I see a range report in the near future? RIGHT? NICE JOB! Like the wood!

Mainehunter

+1

Ben_Rumson · Post by **Ben_Rumson** » Fri May 18, 2012 5:17 pm

You've made it into a beauty.. Very Very Nice...

Shasta · Post by **Shasta** » Fri May 18, 2012 8:50 pm

Walker wrote:Still need to get it to lift those long cartridges high enough to chamber. It starts to chamber the round, but the back of the shell isn't high enough to go straight in. What needs adjusted, the cartridge guide?

Freddy Brunner did the metalwork and fitted the stocks. Hand tools, pretty things, and I don't belong in the same room.

That's a fine looking rifle you have there! The wood is spectacular!

I'm curious as to what bullet you are using? You say the back of the cartridge is not lifting high enough to chamber, but I'm thinking maybe the bullet itself is too long, creating an overly long loaded cartridge that cannot negotiate the angle of the cartridge lifter before hitting the top of the chamber. Have you tried shorter nosed bullets? Maybe you could see if a .45-70 round feeds through. If it does, then you know cartridge length is the problem.

I'm certainly no gunsmith, your problem just got me to thinking of a possible solution. Let us know if you find out what the cause was. It would no doubt be valuable information to know.

Good Luck! SHASTA

Les Staley · Post by **Les Staley** » Sat May 19, 2012 8:17 pm

The 45-90 Winchester was an express cartidge.. a 300 gr. bullet was the heaviest. so the overall cartridge length should not have been much more than a 45-70 with a 405 gr. bullet.. I think shasta is on to something.. try it.. hth.. Les

Walker · Post by **Walker** » Sun May 20, 2012 12:44 pm

The bullet is 325 grains making the OAL 2.76 inch. I don't have a 45-70 at the moment to see if it's the cartridge length. I'll let you know how that works. Thanks for the tips.

Terry

walks with gun · Post by **walks with gun** » Sun May 20, 2012 1:46 pm

Really like that rifle, love the octagon to round barrel, it looks like it's just begging to be taken on a lifetime of hunting - packing trips. Your a lucky man.

Mike D. · Post by **Mike D.** » Sun May 20, 2012 2:23 pm

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.

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Sun May 20, 2012 8:07 pm

Shasta wrote: I'm curious as to what bullet you are using? You say the back of the cartridge is not lifting high enough to chamber, but I'm thinking maybe the bullet itself is too long, creating an overly long loaded cartridge that cannot negotiate the angle of the cartridge lifter before hitting the top of the chamber. Have you tried shorter nosed bullets? Maybe you could see if a .45-70 round feeds through. If it does, then you know cartridge length is the problem.

Thats my thinking. My several 45-90's will hit the top of the chamber with 400 grain bullets that are seated long. I have to trim .100 or so off the brass so I can crimp them in the proper groove to make 'em feed.

Like Shasta says, 45-70's ought to feed with no issues-----------Sixgun

Walker · Post by **Walker** » Fri May 25, 2012 4:17 pm

Woohoo, got it to feed. The action was very tight, so it was hard to pop the lever fully open and get the cartridge lined up. After oiling and cycling the action a few dozen times and it chambers them fine.

Now I need to replace that front sight. I had to crank the tang sight all the way up to get it on paper. I'll post range results after that.

Thanks to all for the help.

Terry

1886 basket case - work in progress

1886 basket case - work in progress

Re: 1886 basket case - work in progress

Re: 1886 basket case - work in progress

Re: 1886 basket case - work in progress

Re: 1886 basket case - work in progress

Re: 1886 basket case - work in progress

Re: 1886 basket case - work in progress

Re: 1886 basket case - work in progress

Re: 1886 basket case - work in progress

Re: 1886 basket case - work in progress

Re: 1886 basket case - work in progress

Re: 1886 basket case - work in progress

Re: 1886 basket case - work in progress

Re: 1886 basket case - work in progress

Re: 1886 basket case - work in progress

Re: 1886 basket case - work in progress

Re: 1886 basket case - work in progress

Re: 1886 basket case - work in progress

Re: 1886 basket case - work in progress

Re: 1886 basket case - work in progress

Re: 1886 basket case - work in progress

Re: 1886 basket case - work in progress

Re: 1886 basket case - work in progress