Have a 1905 and a 1908 1886 in 33 WCF. Lyman used to make a 45-70 case reform die to 33 WCF. Required a lot of torque to re-form but they work.
One of the 1886 rifles is a Special Order with pistol grip and 2/3 magazine . Checking at forend and pistol grip.
This was the fore runner to the Model 71. I still have 3 or 4 boxes of the original 200 gr Hornadys. Hawk bullets now work well in the 200 gr weight
at 33 original pressure and velocity. IMR 4198 works well. Best velocity loadings stay around 2000 FPS-which work just fine.
Ben Lilly, the famous lion-bear hunter in AZ-NM carried a Winchester 86 in 33 WCF after bear, and killed large grizzlies with his rifle.
Marlin offered their 1895 in 33 WCF in the early 1900s. It was a popular cartridge .
The rapid taper 1886 extra light weight rifles weighed about the same as a 94 carbine, and were a lot more rifle chambered in 33 or 45-70.
