Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Reloading the 33 WCF

As any reloader knows these days, reloading supplies are scarce. My supply of Win 748 and IMR 4320 I have used for loading my 33 Winchester are almost gone. I use Hawk 200 gr flat points for the bullets and Bertram brass. I am flush with bullets and brass.

I have pounds of AA2520, AA 2015, and AA2460 but none of my reloading books have any information on these powders with the 33 WCF. I checked with Accurate and they had no recommendation.

Since 2520 is within the burning range of 3031 to 4320 it should be an acceptable alternative. However, before I go experimenting with extrapolated loads I wanted to see if anyone has used the AA powders for the 33 WCF?

The Winchester is an 1886 model made around the turn of the century.

I will check to see what I loaded. Will get back to this at some point. Be Well, RZ.

My reference shows H4895 35.0gr to 45.0gr w/200gr bullet. powdr

powdr

Yup, my old NRA reloading handbook showed 3 IMR powders, 3031, 4895, 4064, and Win 748. Another load book had 4320 and I found it the best of the lot. I used all of the two powders the '86 liked. Years back I used all 4 of the powders shown in the NRA book and the old load book to see how they shot and for my rifle. 4320 and 748 gave the best results. As I say, I've some pounds of AA powders I bought on sale a couple of years ago and hoped to see if any other 33 WCF owners had used those powders.

Ken, if you have any H4198 try 28.0gr-34.0gr w/200gr bullet. powdr

Ken, if you have any H4198 try 28.0gr-34.0gr w/200gr bullet. powdr

MD wrote an article on the 33 Winchester - He called it the original Winchester 338 - December 2016. He used H-4895, IMR-4064,
& IMR-3031 with 200 grain bullets. Maximum velocity was with Jamison cases 42 grains H-4895 - 2,452, CCI200 primers.

H-4895 is my Huckleberry with a 200 grain Hornady. Muledeer’s article helped me immensely.

I was loading a 33 Win for a guy, who was handicapped but he sadly passed....

since you are in the position of only having the AA powders, 2015,& 2460.....

on a burn rate chart, 3031 is # 83, 2015 is # 80, and 2460 is # 89, if you have your charge for 3031, you can start lower with 2015 or
for 2460.. start at the 3031 max charge and work up if you need more velocity...

2520 is a hair slower than 4064, so you can use the 4064 load data and be safe...

4320 is no longer around.....

748 is a hair slower than 2520.....109 vs 103 on the burn rate chart...

so if you want to use 2520, start 3 or 4 grains down from 748 max loads....

I would load up my 338/06 to 33 Win Standards... but I settled on 35 grains of SR 4759, and a 200 grain Hornady SP... that gave me 2400 fps...

don't know if that helps... people think I tend to over think things....good luck on your quest.

Probably the best article on loading the 33 WCF cartridge is found in the Jan 1977 ed of Handloader Magazine-by Jim Hanson.
He tests newer powders like IMR-3031 and others.
Most accurate found through his chrono testing was H-4831. Close to filling the case, but velocity good-with
accuracy at 1 5/8 groups at 100 yds.
Hawk and discontinued Hornady bullets are the best by far.

The 1886 Winchester in 33 wcf- should not be pushed beyond 2200 FPS-as these rifles are 100 yrs old or older.

Adding this: Mike Venturino referenced a load in a lever action article for the 1886/33WCF. His chosen load for the 200 grain flat point used H-4350. I’ll find that article and get the specifics.

In 1977 the H4831 available was the original "military surplus" powder. It has changed some since then....

My .33 article in HANDLOADER includes several more recent powders.

H4895 turned out to be one of the best powders I tested for my HANDLOADER article, but I suspect any powder in that general burn-rate would work pretty well. Though some sphericals might benefit from a magnum primer.

You can probably look it up in the HL archives, but it also appeared in my BIG BOOK OF GUN GACK II, available through www.riflesandrecipes.com.

Yep. H4895 is my Huckleberry in my 1886/33WCF as well. Just figured I’d post another option for folks. Your article on the 33 WCF was the first instance I’d ever seen the “file down the point of the Nosler Partition” trick to arrive at a flat nose 200 grain bullet. 👍

Hornady has discontinued the 200 gr 33 WCF flat point, though I have a supply of Hornady 33 FPs left
but Hawk bullets consistently work better. The results in H-4831 that I have worked with
show best accuracy. Hawk 200 gr FP bullets are still available, while having the advantage
of working well in the 33 WCF velocity range.
As H-4198 is slightly slower than IMR 4198, it works well in my 1886 rifles.

The historical reference is that Ben Lilly used the 1886/33 WCF at the turn of the last century to hunt
the last grizzlies in the Southwest. He hunted in the Apache NF in AZ and what is now
the Gila wilderness in New Mexico.

The filed down nose of a 210 gr 338 Nosler will work-for the first round in the magazine and one in the chamber.
Been used for years. But it is a hard bullet and the nose still might upset a primer if not filed very carefully.
That bullet is excellent on elk and larger.

When I was loading for .33 WCF I corresponded with the late Ken Waters, at the time he was responding personally to readers questions I still have Ken's letters in my files. For an additional source of data check out Ken's article in Pet Loads.

Certainly a lot of responses here that don't help the OP one bit. He just wants to know which AA powder to use for his .33 Win levergun. HE DOESN'T HAVE ALL THE POWDERS folks are recommending.

Hopefully TCRken has a chronograph. Load up using the 2520 and see what it takes to get to 2,100 fps. If things looks safe there, cautiously approach 2,200 fps.

Since the OP hasn’t been back to the forum since January, he won’t see your post nor any others since then. As is so often the case, reviving a zombie thread does the OP no good service.




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