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December 25, 2022
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I know it’s been reblued, and I’m okay with that. It hasn’t been overly buffed. The takedown is clean and tight. No pitting under the bluing. And the bore is very good, and it has some unique sights. I’m looking forward to shooting it.
November 7, 2015
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Some of us enjoy seeing a gun with character and the wood is a nice touch as well. Looking forward to a range report! That rear sight should prove interesting.
Mike
January 20, 2023
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Very handsome refinish and with a very interesting set of sights. Somebody cared enough about this rifle not to let it get rusty. Perhaps the same owner had the steel refinished by a smith who knew what he was doing. It looks good.
While I understand why collectors worship an all-original, high condition gun, I think it is wrong to say a knowledgeable and skillful refinish “wipes away a gun’s history and character.” What this rifle and others like it exemplify is a well-used but well cared-for piece. The Brits shoot in rainy weather and a man lucky enough to possess a matched pair of Boss bird guns is not going to let their steel go bare. The receivers are cased or coined with fine scroll that holds protective oil, but the barrels go back to the maker for “re-blacking” as required. Regularly. Americans who go shopping for such weapons expecting a huge discount are in for a rude shock.
I’m not suggesting refinishing an 1886 Winchester won’t affect its market price; it provably does. Nor do I condemn collectors who refuse to have a refinished gun in their collections. I do suggest voluably regarding with derision a fine piece that has been carefully and correctly refinished, is ignorant and short-sighted. The tail is wagging the dog. Caveat: “carefully and correctly” means an experienced collector has to look twice to be sure.
The stock has a lot of figure for what appears to be a standard grade rifle. Is the forearm as dark as it appears in the photo?
I assume this rifle has the 45-90 “express” barrel with 1-in-32 twist? How do you plan to load for it?
It looks like a fine adventure to me.
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
December 25, 2022
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Zebulon,
The forearm has the same wood as the stock, but is darker. Don’t know if it’s from oil or what.
I’m not comfortable with black powder loadings. So I’m planning on starting with a 350 grain LFPGC bullet sized to .459
And I’m starting with IMR 3031 and RL7, and loading for 1300-1400 fps.
I’d gladly listen to any suggestions.
It must have the 1 in 32 twist, as it has a 26″ barrel and the cleaning rod with a tight patch only made about 3/4 of a revolution.
March 31, 2009
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I’ve never shot a bullet over 300 grains in my 45-90’s. With IMR 3031 I use 43 grains with the 300 bullet for around 1,550 fps . You’ll have to use less powder with the heavier bullet. If you don’t have a chronograph you need to find some reliable data for this heavier bullet.
Be safe and start low and work up.
August 14, 2021
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BP is the only way to go in my 1886, then again I’m a BP Sharps shooter.
November 7, 2015
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Steven Gabrielli said
BP is the only way to go in my 1886, then again I’m a BP Sharps shooter.
Agreed. The 45-90 is at its best with BP in the Sharps or the 1886. Those big cases need to be filled with Holy Black.
Mike
January 20, 2023
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From what little I’ve seen of Holy Black in actual use, it makes an Unholy Mess.
My one adventure with muzzle loaders actually involved Pyrodex, which is even more corrosive. I had bought a Ruger 77/50 inline model – all stainless steel and laminate stock. Standard cleaning procedure was to remove the stock, remove the bolt and dump it into a pot of boiling water, followed by the barreled action. Retrieving the barrel via a wire temporarily attached to the trigger guard, several quarts of boiling water were pored down the barrel until it was shiny clean. Everything was fished out of the tank and laid on a towel to dry, which it did pretty quickly. Before the steel could oxidize at all, I sprayed BreakFree liberally inside and out of everything.
I would not like to contemplate doing this to my pristine 1886 45-90 Sporting Rifle. Because the receiver does not have removable sidelines, getting corrosive powder residue out of the lockwork would be a troublesome worry.
A single shot would be easier, I’d guess.
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
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