Home Forums Lever Action Central Big Bore Levers Any .33 WCF fans?

Great lucky break right there.
I am reminded that at times, fortune can smile quite brightly. Your handload is right up there with factory ballistics. We used a couple different powders, but those 200 grain JFP's all clocked at or around 2200 fps. I read a brief by Brian Pearce a few years ago, where he had temporary custody of an almost N.I.B. 1886/33 WCF. I recall that he found the gun capable of sub-moa accuracy with factory loads. Ours was well used, and a little too tired to shoot that well, but the 33 accounted for all manner of big game and pests.
If I found a deal like yours, I would not think twice before picking it up!

I shoot an '86 rebarreled in .33 WCF. It has killed a nice whitetail buck with handloaded cast 240 gr fp bullets. First one killed him but the next two shots stopped him from running into posted land. He only went 20 yards total. The bullets were all full penetration through the chest. First one left to right and the next two at angles. Not too much meat ruined either. Nice gun needing a replacement butt stock and a peep sight installed. P/O reblued with the rebarrel. Rusty Z

Anyone here buy ready formed 33 WCF? One can start with 45-70 virgin brass, go to 40-65, then 38-56, then .33 WCF. I bought Starline 40-65 virgin brass as at the time I saw no economical 33s. Then I had only two steps to 33. Anyone have an economical source I could tap for cases? I had some reloads with the gun from a Connecticut Arms or other little known custom loader. Every load had a split somewhere. But I salvaged the 200 gr flatpoint jacketeds from them. Looked like the cases had not been annealed. RustyZ

I HAVE A SMALL AMOUMT OF EXPERIENCE WITH THE .33 WCF . I

I HAVE A SMALL AMOUNT OF EXPERIENCE WITH THE .33 WCF . ITS A CALIBER I LOAD AND SHOOT A LITTLE AND HAVE EVEN HAD THE PLEASURE TO HUNT WITH A FEW TIMES. IF I RECALL CORRECTLY OFF HAND MY LOADS ARE IN THE RANGE OF 2100 TO 2200 WITH 200 GRAIN FP HORNADY AND A CHARGE OF IMR 4064 . NOTHING FLASHY LIKE MOST CARTRIDGES FROM THIS TIME IT JUST WORKS WITHOUT ALOT OF FUSS AND FLASH.

Not doubtin you Loggah but that seems like an aweful high serial number for an experimental 71?
Our canadian prices keep rising faster than I care to see, I sold a minty 33wcf T/D last year for $2,500, & a minty 348 long Tang Deluxe for $2,500.
All that aside the .33 is still my fav 86, I kept a nice 33 rifle to play with. I just run a 45-70 into a .33 die, trim to length & neck turn & I'm good to go. Can't remember what load but I bought a bunch of Horn 200s when they came out. At 2,200fps or so will kill anything I care to shoot at

Sorry never could figure out how to get a whole gun in one pic



Hey I just discovered I even have a pic of my 33 rifle!

I am new to this site but in browsing through it I noticed this stuff about the .33 Winchester so figured that I would toss in my two bits worth. I have a .33 that was made in 1910 and is a "Take-Down" version. It was previously owned by an old Game Warden out of Anaconda, MT before I got my paws on it. Of course, being a Gun Nut as I am I did some messing around with it and through the course of playing with about 30 some odd loads and reading old magazine articles, I settled on using 53 grains of the old style 4831 with the Hornady 200 grain jacketed soft point. When I found out that they quit making that bullet, I found out that Buff Arms is now making that same bullet so I got a bunch and now am happy to have a bunch. As far as brass is concerned, I started using original cases and then went to 45-70 cases which are a snap to make into 33 cases and now Jamison is making .33 brass with the proper headstamp and it is nice stuff. I also picked up a Lee factory crimp die to go with all the other stuff. My rifle only has blueing wore off at the front of the frame and the rest of the blueing is about in 80% condition and the bore is almost factory bright. I don't think that it was ever fired much till I got hold of it. Hope this information is of interest. Oh one other thing, I also have an RCBS mold to go along with the rest of the stuff. .33 factory ammo is now at a premium at Gun Shows. Glad I got all mine when I did.

Here is a little more info. The chronographed velocities on that 4831 load came out for an average of 2033 feet per second and the muzzle energy came out at 1835foot pounds. It is dead on at 25 yards and again at 125 yards. The data for this load came from a 1977 issue of the Handloader. The other bullet mold that I have is or was made by Rapine and my rifle seems to like it better than the RCBS mold. I really like my little rifle and intend to pass it on to my son.

Late again to this 2011 subject. Over the years I have
gotten hold of 3 1886 rifles in 33 WCF. One was found
in Tucson, a LTWT half magazine version. One is a special order 2/3 magazine 1886 with checking. The last is a TD-LTWT half magazine rifle. They all shoot well.

I have a supply of Hornady FP bullets and some good Hawk bullets.
IMR 4198 is a good powder for the 33 with 200 gr bullets. The well constructed Hawk 200 gr bullets will kill
anything that walks in North America including Canada and Alaska.
Ben Lilly, the famous lion and bear hunter of the Southwest
in New Mexico and Arizona-carried an 1886 in 33 WCF.

Has anyone ever used the Hornady 250 grain round nosed bullets? Iv seen a box and just wondered as I only read about 200 grain bullets.

With any bullet weight beyond 210 gr-the velocity will drop off enough to affect mid range bullet trajectory.
That negates the intention of the 33 WCF/1886 cartridge.