Winchester Model 1886 ammo - Photos added

[Stevens]

I inherited my Grandfather's Winchester 45-70 lever action, it looks to be in great shape. I believe it was manufactured in 1898. He lived in Hawaii and hunted goat and pig with it there.
I have a couple of boxes of modern 45-70 300 gr ammo and years ago fired 2 rounds through it with out any problem, but, I wonder if it is safe to use modern ammo in it?
Any idea or suggestions?
Thanks,
Steve W

 

[YkcorCal]

What a classic rifle and one of my all time favorite models and calibers! The Winchester 1886 in .45-70!

A hat tip to you!

 

[diyj98]

I'd stick to lead bullet cowboy loads. I know the old trapdoor steel barrels will wear out quickly with jacketed bullet loads, I'd think that old Winchester might as well.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Factory ammo is loaded to be safe in Trapdoor Springfield rifle with a much weaker action!

If your grandfather's rifle is in good operating condition, you are good to go!

When you reload more powerful loads that are still safe for weak actions, you will realize how mild the factory 300's really are!

My 86 is a modern production from 1986 but my trapdoor is from 1875.

Enjoy grandpa's gun, go kill a pig!

Ivan

 

[armadillo]

The 1886 action is very strong and can handle smokeless powder with no problem. Many of them were made for the 33 WCF which was one of the first smokeless cartridges.

 

[Shark Bait]

The action is strong enough, but I wonder how good the tempering of the steel is. That could effect barrel life. If it were my rifle I would stick to trapdoor loads with standard lead bullets, not hardcast. No need to hotrod that rifle.

 

[6GUNSONLY]

Your 1886 is safe with modern standard factory loads (I probably wouldn't shoot Buffalo Bore in it), and I doubt you are going to run enough ammo through it to worry about barrel wear. Shoot and enjoy it.

 

[s&wchad]

It depends...

A collector friend showed me a beautiful takedown 1886 in .45-70 that was destroyed from shooting a modern smokeless powder load. The barrel and receiver blew out and it took the forearm with it. I don't know if anyone was hurt and I don't know which ammo was used.

1886's we're designed for black powder until the early 1900's. The late '86's and the extra lightweight rifles were intended for smokeless powder. Winchester marked those barrels, "Nickel Steel - Especially for Smokeless Powder".

Some people may get away with it, but I wouldn't risk myself or the gun. If it's not marked for smokeless powder, I WOUD NOT shoot smokeless in it.

 

[Mblhopo]

Mine was made in 1888 I've had it for about 30yrs, and shoot it now and then with modern factory ammo with no problems at all...................................M*

 

[2152hq]

IIRC Winchester started using Nickel Steel for the bbls in the yr 1895 to confront the smokeless powder loads that were coming onto the market and their extra wear they could place on the softer bbl steel used before that.

It actually came about because of the intro of the smokeless only 30-30WCF that same yr in the Mod 1894.

The 1886 Model is very strong. But they all have a breaking point. There's no use in pushing 125+ yr old machinery to that breaking point just to see what'll happen.
Be kind to them and they'll last another few centurys.

 

[mauser9]

Aren't some older Winchesters marked with "Winchester Proof Steel" or stamped "Nickel Steel"on barrel? Can't recall the model but saw one years back with those markings.

 

[2152hq]

Early nickel steel bbls are marked with the steel type on the bottom of the bbl under the forearm. They will have markings of M.N.S.,C.N.S., or B.N.S on the bottom.
I don't recall what the M, C or B were (C might have been something like Crucible). The N.S. in all of them stood for Nickel Steel.

Then the Nickel Steel marking appeared on the top of the bbl visible with the other markings, bbl address and caliber.
Some markings used just 'Nickel Steel' some say 'Nickel Steel-Especially for Smokeless Powder'. Maybe others.

During the early use, the BP cartridges like the 32-40 and 38-55 bbls were made from what was called 'High Strength Steel'
If you special ordered your 1894 in 32-40 or 38-55 in 'WHV' (Winch High Vel for smokeless powder),,they made those BP cal bbls in Nickel Steel at that time as opposed to the High Strength Steel.
All that confusion between the BP cals, HighStrength Steel, WHV and Nickel Steel went away in 1910 when Winchester switched those older BP cal bbls to nickel steel production as well.

They again changed the steel type to read 'Winchester Proof Steel' sometime in the 1930's but I'm not sure when exactly done.
Pre 1935 I believe.
I'm not really sure if the steel changed from Nickel steel to something else either,,or just a marketing name change.

 

[Gene L]

Factory 45-70 is loaded to BP pressures, thanks to the American Lawyer. It shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Stevens]

Thanks to all for the replies and advice. I don't hunt anymore and have other other rifles for plinking and so on. I'll probably not be shooting this one any more unless I come across a box or two of cowboy load or other suitable load at a gunshow or shop. Now, if all the high water we have been having due to LOTS of rain should drive a black bear up into our yard I might have to load up the 45-70, just in case.
Steve W

 

[Shark Bait]

Got any pics to share?

 

[Drm50]

I have never be lucky enough to get a 1886 in 45/70. The last one I bid on went north of $5k. Fooling a lot with turn of century era rifles most will do better with lead bullets and smokeless dupes for BP. I'm talking about those chambered for BP cartridges. Even the rifles chambered in the early smokeless loads usually shoot round nose bullets the best. That what they were designed for. I never hood rod anything. If I need more power I buy the next thing up the ladder.

 

[Mblhopo]

WOW!....That looks exactly like mine, dark wood and all. Very nice!. You got yours a lot cheaper than mine though, mine was $1600.00 about 30yrs ago don't know what it's worth today, never sell it though. You will love shooting it....Enjoy!!......................................M*

 

[smithra_66]

I inherited my Grandfather's Winchester 45-70 lever action, it looks to be in great shape. I believe it was manufactured in 1898. He lived in Hawaii and hunted goat and pig with it there.
I have a couple of boxes of modern 45-70 300 gr ammo and years ago fired 2 rounds through it with out any problem, but, I wonder if it is safe to use modern ammo in it?
Any idea or suggestions?
Thanks,
Steve W

I would only shoot lead bullets in it, and probably only black powder.

Definitely I would not shoot the 300 gr. jacketed bullets. Usually those 300 grain loads are hot.

That said, the 1886 is mighty strong...but out of caution i would only shoot lead/black. The gun is just too valuable.

By the way: You can get a reloading outfit for that very cheap. A single stage press, a simple set of dies and a dipper are all you need if you are going to shoot black powder.