Home Forums Lever Action Central Big Bore Levers 1886 33WCF Rifle

purchased a 1886 in 33 WCF off gunsinternational.
It must be a mix master of some kind because it has a 24" lightweight barrel in 33 WCF but the serial no. is 623XX which is I think 1891 or so.
I'd post pics but the seller already pulled them. The seller is a outfit in Montana called the custom shop and apparently has a TV show on the outdoor network. I've never seen it.
It looked good in the photos, called the shop, the fellow acted like he didn't know much about Winchester's when I asked about the caliber & date of manufacture not gee-hawing. But said the patina matched to him and that the bore was good.
I'm buying it to use and the low price compared to other 1886's was in line for a non original, at least I hope it is.
I also checked before I bought and brass and bullets or available. It may have a .328 bore from what I can tell.
I'll post pics when it arrives. should ship on the 9th.
I stepped way out of my knowledge and comfort zone to buy this I sure hope I didn't step on something else.

Louie is a real piece of work. He hails from New York, came to Montana to be a big fish in a little pond.

If you really want to know about him ask Mike from Mike's Custom Shop in the same town.

Louie does usually have nice guns, but he isn't afraid to misrepresent them either. He has a Deluxe Sako 22 Hornet listed there. Pull that gun up, look at the barrel markings and then tell me it isn't a fake.

Hopefully your 1886 is correct.

It cant be correct with that caliber but it wasn't over 1500$

see if this works
http://www.gunsinternational.com/gu...om-1891-proofhouse-.cfm?gun_id=100784355

Not a bad looking gun, although it is put together. Tang screws are wrong, but can be replaced. You can shoot it and enjoy it for what it is. A New Winchester 1886 isn't as good, but I would rather have an earlier Browning for a shooter, although they weren't made in 33 WCF.

Took a while to receive the rifle. Since I was charged a 100$ to ship and insure you think I would have got it sooner. The good news is the bore is fantastic. But I need to field strip and clean it though.
I have ordered brass and bullets. Those aren't too easy to come by. Not sure which powder to use yet. Either 3031, 4064, or I believe 4198. If anyone has some suggestions on reloading the 33 WCF I would appreciate the input.

Mule Deer just had an article in Handloader or Rifle on the .33WCF.

Seemed like good info.

Thanks for the heads up!

I would look at AA 5744. It is a great powder for those kind of cartridges. The 33 WCF is a smokeless round from the beginning and you shouldn't have to worry about smokeless in this rifle like you might in the earlier 1886's.

the receiver is a 1891 case hardened receiver. I read in one article where a fellow had a circa 1900 '86 redone by Turnbull. He said the later blued receivers were made of better steel, in other words they didn't have to case harden them and were stronger.
To be safe I plan to get close to max but not all the way.