My "new / old" High Wall Winchester in .40-82 WCF ...!

[Reverend Al]

A friend of mine got this rifle from a neighbour of his about 10 years ago and he brought it to me to identify just what model it was and what cartridge it was chambered for. I identified it for him and then ran a cleaning rod and brush through the bore with some Hoppes #9 and confirmed that it was still in pretty good shape (just a little bit of very light pitting in the throat area, but lots of good, shiny rifling from there right up to the muzzle.) I asked him to sell it to me since I'd had an 1886 in .40-82 WCF years ago, foolishly sold it, but more intelligently had still kept the RCBS dies, a Lyman mould and about 100 rounds of brass formed from .45-90 cases. He said "no" I'll keep it for for the time being and of course I told him that if he ever was going to sell it that I wanted "first refusal" on it. I saw him at our local gun show last weekend and reminded him that I still wanted to buy this High Wall when he decided to let it go ... and he finally said "OK, come on over to the house next week and I'll sell it to you". So finally after just over 10 years of patient waiting I have this lovely old rifle in my hot little hands and can't wait to give it a light cleaning overall (there is some light surface rust on most of the exterior metalwork, but the bore is nice since I left a good coat of oil in the bore when I cleaned it for him 10 years ago). It is a Standard Sporting Rifle with a 30" #3 octagon barrel, standard rear sight (and the elevator is still there!) with a standard blade front. The serial number (27,XXX) puts it's date of manufacture in late 1888. Now I'm sure that I still have some of that reformed brass loaded up and have to find it so that I can get this out to the range and test it out!
[smilie=w:

http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd466/Reverend_Al/Misc/Winchester1885HighWall40-82WCF001Large_zpsbfe6f4a4.jpg (http://s1221.photobucket.com/user/Reverend_Al/media/Misc/Winchester1885HighWall40-82WCF001Large_zpsbfe6f4a4.jpg.html)

http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd466/Reverend_Al/Misc/Winchester1885HighWall40-82WCF002Large_zps63e7d023.jpg (http://s1221.photobucket.com/user/Reverend_Al/media/Misc/Winchester1885HighWall40-82WCF002Large_zps63e7d023.jpg.html)

http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd466/Reverend_Al/Misc/Winchester1885HighWall40-82WCF006Large_zpsfb9742b3.jpg (http://s1221.photobucket.com/user/Reverend_Al/media/Misc/Winchester1885HighWall40-82WCF006Large_zpsfb9742b3.jpg.html)

http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd466/Reverend_Al/Misc/Winchester1885HighWall40-82WCF003Large_zpsc4e9b5ad.jpg (http://s1221.photobucket.com/user/Reverend_Al/media/Misc/Winchester1885HighWall40-82WCF003Large_zpsc4e9b5ad.jpg.html)

http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd466/Reverend_Al/Misc/Winchester1885HighWall40-82WCF007Large_zps98f0271f.jpg (http://s1221.photobucket.com/user/Reverend_Al/media/Misc/Winchester1885HighWall40-82WCF007Large_zps98f0271f.jpg.html)

http://i1221.photobucket.com/albums/dd466/Reverend_Al/Misc/Winchester1885HighWall40-82WCF004Large_zps1ae07d93.jpg (http://s1221.photobucket.com/user/Reverend_Al/media/Misc/Winchester1885HighWall40-82WCF004Large_zps1ae07d93.jpg.html)

[Rifle 57]

Hey Al great snag on that one for sure, there should be a lot of fun left in that old girl !

[Uncle Jimbo]

Can I have second refusal on it, please.
:bigsmyl2::bigsmyl2::bigsmyl2:

[Reverend Al]

OK ... let's see ... I'm 61 now and I hope to make it to about 94 years old like my Grandfather did ... so call my wife about this rifle in about 33 years, OK?

:bigsmyl2:

[GOPHER SLAYER]

I have a few rounds of old 40-82 ammo. Great cartridge and a great rifle.

[earshot]

I've got a 1886 in .40-82. Guess the barrel is worn too much for it wouldn't shoot straight with soft, unsized bullets loaded with BP. Nice looking cartridge though.

[Reverend Al]

I didn't ever shoot my 1886 Winchester with BP, just with light smokeless loads and I plan to do the same with this 1885 single shot (with my sincere apologies to the BP enthusiasts on here). Accuracy was very poor in my '86 too until I read a copy of Mike Venturino's article on loading for the .40-82 cartridge and I took his advice to use a filler in those large capacity cases. My '86 went from huge, key-holing groups at 50 yards to nice round 2 1/2" groups at 100 yards. (Shot from a sandbag rest with the original iron sights and my poor eyesight.) From memory the load Mike suggested was about 35 grains of IMR3031 topped off with bulk cornmeal as a filler up to the base of the boolit (but don't take that load as gospel). I was using the standard Lyman 403169 plain base mould which throws an "express" type bullet of 240 grains that is proper for this cartridge. I'm fairly sure that I still have a few of those old loads stashed away with the dies and the rest of my formed brass (used .45-90's to make my .40-82's) and when I find them they will be the first loads I'll be trying out in this new / old 1885 single shot ...

[Uncle Jimbo]

OK ... let's see ... I'm 61 now and I hope to make it to about 94 years old like my Grandfather did ... so call my wife about this rifle in about 33 years, OK?

:bigsmyl2:

Humm, :???: Lets see, 33 years, I'm 65, that will make me 98. I probably won't be here, at least I hope not. But just in case, I still want second refusal on it.
:bigsmyl2:

[M-Tecs]

For light loads in 45-70 and 45-90 I have had great luck with Unique with no fillers. Should work equally well in a 40-82.

http://cartridgeloaders.com/article/40-82%20WCF%20load%20data.html