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Thread: 1886 Winchester OAL

  1. #1
    Boolit Buddy
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    1886 Winchester OAL

    Can anyone advise the maximum overall cartridge length that will feed from the magazine tube in an 1886 chambered in 40-65?

  2. #2
    Boolit Buddy badguybuster's Avatar
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    I cant remember the oal that Winchester gave me but they did say that their chamber is exactly saami spec woth no.wiggle room. It is also specifically designed for 405 grain cast bullets with a narrow profile. I got frustrated.with mine and sent it off to have it lengthened slightly

  3. #3
    Boolit Grand Master pietro's Avatar
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    .

    The Model 1886 COL is .265", but the chamber can be throated to about .288" COL
    Now I lay me down to sleep
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    If I awake, and you're inside
    The coroner's van is your next ride

  4. #4
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    Thanks guys, but hoping for something different. To be more clear, my question is what max OAL cartridge length will feed from the magazine. With a Marlin, it is easy to clear a too-long cartridge feed from magazine tube jam. With the Winchester, it is a real project, so I was hoping someone had already done this work.

  5. #5
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    I don't know the exact answer, however the 1886 was designed to feed 2.4" cases like the 40-82 and 45-90 so I would think just about any rnfp bullet in a 2.1" 40-65 case should feed. My original 1886s @1888 and @1891 45-70 generally get the Lyman 457193 but I have also run many from 300 grain to 500 grain with no problems. My cartridges with the 457193 feed and function fine in an 1886 but are slightly too long to be ejected (un-fired) from two 1895's that I have tried.

  6. #6
    Boolit Grand Master pietro's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Fast Asleep View Post
    Thanks guys, but hoping for something different.

    To be more clear, my question is what max OAL cartridge length will feed from the magazine.

    As posted above, .288" (sorry if I wasn't clear).

    .
    Now I lay me down to sleep
    A gun beside me is what I keep
    If I awake, and you're inside
    The coroner's van is your next ride

  7. #7
    Boolit Buddy
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    Thanks guys

  8. #8
    Boolit Master
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    hpbear101,
    Yes it is noted that the M86 was chambered in the 2.4" cases, 40-82 and 45-90,
    BUT, please note that these cartridges came with SHORT ,lighter weight "express" bullets,
    So, the OAL for these cartridges was the same as for the 45-70, 40-65, etc that have 2.1" cases
    My original '86 will chamber a 500 gr RN bullet load, but will not eject, nor will they feed from the Magazine
    unless seated very much deeper than they should be.
    beltfed/arnie

  9. #9
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by Fast Asleep View Post
    Thanks guys, but hoping for something different. To be more clear, my question is what max OAL cartridge length will feed from the magazine. With a Marlin, it is easy to clear a too-long cartridge feed from magazine tube jam. With the Winchester, it is a real project, so I was hoping someone had already done this work.
    not so hard - use a pop stick or a screwdriver blade if you careful -
    1) push the lifter back down to bottom
    2) push the round forward into the magazine tube enough to clear the loading gate
    3) close the lever as you pull out the pop stick
    4) push the loading gate in
    5) wiggle the overlong round back out the loading gate
    did it yesterday with a 348 round in my chiappa 86 (OAL just a tad long for that action)
    Jeremy Arnold posted a video yesterday comparing 50 Alaskan to 50-110
    both shooting a 500grain jacketed boolit
    500 AK 1773fps = 3491 ftlb
    50-110 2282fps = 5783 ftlb
    both shot out of his 50-110 rifle
    Montana Rifleworks? did the conversion 2002 or thereabouts - gun still looks like NIB - but done some shooting.

  10. #10
    Boolit Master
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    facebook group is "big bore lever guns 45-70 and up 50-110"

  11. #11
    Boolit Master
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    The Winchester 1886 was never ever chambered in 45-60!




    Winchester 1876 round up:

  12. #12
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by 17nut View Post
    The Winchester 1886 was never ever chambered in 45-60!




    Winchester 1876 round up:
    ya got it back to front mate he said 40-65 ............................
    I think that was an 86 round? necked down from 45-70?

  13. #13
    Boolit Buddy
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    yes, 40-65 was a 1886 factory round.

  14. #14
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    I would have to write the 50 Alaskan is easily capable of pushing a 500 grain bullet well beyond 1773 FPS.
    We have crono'd our 50 Alaskan 1886 using IMR 4198 at 1865 fps pushing a 525 grain cast.
    We have fired the same cast with 3 more grains of 4198 with no nasty pressure issues but did not crono it as 1865 fps was fast enough for our needs.
    So I do think a 500 grain from our rifle would do 2000 fps and maybe more.
    "Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28
    Male Guanaco out in dry lakebed at 10,800 feet south of Arequipa.

  15. #15
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by missionary5155 View Post
    I would have to write the 50 Alaskan is easily capable of pushing a 500 grain bullet well beyond 1773 FPS.
    We have crono'd our 50 Alaskan 1886 using IMR 4198 at 1865 fps pushing a 525 grain cast.
    We have fired the same cast with 3 more grains of 4198 with no nasty pressure issues but did not crono it as 1865 fps was fast enough for our needs.
    So I do think a 500 grain from our rifle would do 2000 fps and maybe more.
    Jeremy Arnold told me H4198 in his Alaskan and H335 in his 50-110 - (didnt tell me how much)

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