Home Forums Lever Action Central Lever Actions - General Winchester 1886 in 45-90

I just purchased this gun and I can't find out a whole lot bout it. It's not in my gun values book. It is supposedly unfired but I can be sure. It however does not have its box of papers. It says LIMITED SERIES on the side and has a 26" octagon barrel. Serial number is 00xxx MN 86B. Winchester says it was a limited production in 2004 but that's it. Here are a few pics. Any info on production or value would be appreciated.

It looks great. And, you can shoot .45-70's in it. Your lucky guy to get it. Value, ask anything you want. Not many of these late .45-90's around.

I didn't realize you can shoot 70's in it. I'm not up on the big bore stuff really. Thanks for the info.

While 45-70 ammo will cycle through and shoot out of a 45-90, it is definitely not advised. Accuracy will be terrible, and you will ring the chamber before too many rounds. Get proper ammo.

Thanks. I also did some research. I bought 10 boxes of ultramax 45/90 with the rifle:). I don't thInk I'll ever shoot it that much.

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The barrel says "Black Powder Only" Does that mean anything to you?

At one of the SHOT Shows I asked a Browning representative about the same �warning� on the Browning .40-65 WCF BPCR M1885.

His response was that since SAAMI specs are not available and/or standardized for the so-called obsolete cartridges, it is the manufacturer's attempt to preclude/limit liability from an improperly or over/under loaded cartridge with �White Powder� -- AKA Smokeless/Nitro.

Also for info purposes I sold this gun locally for $1600 withn10 boxes of ultramax. I couldn't see myself shooting it much.

You have the same rifle as do I.

Note folding Marbles tand sight and folding Marbles barrel sight:


When I bought it new several years ago, I bought a box each of several top brand .45-70 300 grain jacketed bullets and a few brands of factory .45-90 ammo and the shot them all for accuracy and velocity.
All the .45-90 was of the cowboy action type of 300 and 500 grain bullets and shot OK but at modest velocity; due to reduced powder loads, they were not consistant unless the rifle was pointed up and then back down to get consistant powder position in case - fun, but not accurate or good hunting loads, so I shot them up for practice.
All the .45-70 ammo shot well and was quite accurate (much like .38 special ammo in a .357 mag revolver). I liked the Winchester Supreme 300 grain Nosler partition best and have found them very accurate and devastating on game.

My reason for wanting this particular 1886 rifle was to handload heavy loads for large and dangerous game. Many loads were tried and so far, my favorite heavy load is the 450 grain Kodiak heavy jacketed bullet at 2150 fps used for a shoot through knockdown on the running bison shown below:Though this bullet has knocked down an elephant with a brain shot, it did not penetrate the brain and only NF or Punch bullets will be used for ele in the future. With the 300 grain Nosler protected point ar 2200 fps, it has taken leopard and other thin skin game quite handily.


This is my favorite heavy rifle followed closely by my Miroku made 1895 .405 WCF light heavy.

Very nice!!

you might want to poke around on the Marlin site - lot's of lever gunners over there, 45-70 some posts on 45-90 too.

just fyi

Very nice looking rifle - it looks like a takedown too - post more pics