Mudpuppy
Welcome to the forum.
Collectively there is more knowledge about leverguns on this web site than anywhere else I have found on the net.
I found this site in ~2007 when I was, like you are now, looking for information about my 1886 in 40-82 caliber. I didn't start out with any ammo, but I found places on the web where I was able to buy loaded ammo for my gun so I could see if it was worth investing in a reloading outfit to feed the old girl. I now reload and the group size went from 4+" at 50 yards to 1.75" at 100 yards. There are volumes to write about what I learned in that process, but it has been a BLAST finding out how to make that rifle shoot well!
Gad Custom Cartridges sells 33 WCF ammo for $45 per box if you don't want to reload. I copied this info from their website for your info. You have to call to get service, but it was through the start that I got from Bernold at GCC, that that my quest began to get my old 86 up and running after an 80 year span without one round being fired through it.
Gad Custom Cartridges
N2143 County Road C
Medford Wisconsin 54451
Phone: 715-748-0919 (ask for Bernold)
E-mail: info@gadcustomcartridges.com
NOTE: We don't check e-mail every day so if a quick response is required, please call.Buffalo Arms
Buffalo Arms has a lot of cool stuff you will need. They also sell ammo for $54 per box. Check out their website at
Buffaloarm.com.
The responses you have received so far are a flavor of what you can expect from the guys on this site. They will advise you to leave your gun in its current configuration primarily because they don't make the old ones any more, and it is harder to find them in decent shape. Your gun is probably worth more as is than a new 86 in 45-70, so you could sell it, buy one of the new Winchesters, and have money left over.
If the gun was passed through your family or has special meaning to you, keep it, and learn where to find bullets or make them to reload it and shoot the heck out of it.
Enjoy the adventure!!