Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors 1886 38-56

The 38-56 came out in 1887, answering a question that was never asked. Not an improvement on anything, but much as the Short Magnums of today, a way to produce another caliber to sell more guns. It was not more powerful than any other 1886 chamberings, quite the opposite, much like the 40-60 of the 1876 line-up.

It was never a desirable caliber, which made it just another cartridge in a pre-smokeless world. Today, it still suffers from an unenthusiastic acceptance, placing it on the least desirable list for the model 1886.

It still has plenty of potential for a deer cartridge and enough history and pedigree in an 1886 to make it still worthwhile to own and shoot.